Readers-Writers Summer Workshop – a day camp like no other

The answer is day camp, but a very special one that offers a very special program. Readers-Writers Summer Workshop, affectionately called “Reading Camp”, is an award-winning program that is celebrating its eighteenth year in 2007. It began in 1989 at Our Lady of Peace School in Fabreville, and was the co- initiative of a teacher, Beverly Beauvais, a principal, Yola Bagi, and a school Board consultant, Ann Cohen. It later moved to Terry Fox School where it has been located ever since. For the last six years it has also taken place at St. Paul School in Duvernay. Thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the principals and teachers of the host schools, Readers-Writers has continued to flourish at these locations. It couldn’t happen without their invaluable cooperation. Each of the locations is under the direction of a head teacher and BeverlyBeauvais is now the program’s Director. In 1996 she was awarded a Hilroy fellowship for the excellence of the program.

But make no mistake. This is not a paper-and-pen, sitting at desks in rows, summer school activity. Upon entering the school one witnesses a joyful, festive, creative celebration of literature.

A new theme is chosen by each group every summer and all the daily activities evolve from it. Activities include cooking, arts and crafts, gardening, music, drama and playwriting, historical and scientific research.

Among the topics chosen last year were such interesting and amusing ones as: How to Eat Fried Worms, Really Ridiculous Robert Munsch, Africa, Jungle Beat, Dreams, Forensic Spies, Things That Fly, Tropical Islands, Life Is Beautiful and Aesop’s Fables. They provided many opportunities for research and adventure.

Each year there is an invited guest. Over the years the guest list has included a magician, musicians, poets, story tellers and a reptile trainer. In 2006 the children participated in an African djembé drum circle and also learned a beautiful African song which they performed for their delighted parents.

At the close of the workshop the children host an “Authors Tea” for family and friends. During this joyful celebration the “authors” are the children themselves, and they have an opportunity to read their own “published” stories for an audience. The “tea” is food and drink prepared and served by the children. The school takes on a very festive air as, along with displaying their writings and works of art, some groups also perform an original play or sketch and of course their songs. A wonderful time is had by all.

This year the program will be offered at Terry Fox School in Auteuil and at St. Paul School in Duvernay. Opening day comes just in time, as children are beginning to tire of summer vacation. Their friends are away, they are “bored” and they have “nothing to do”. Just in time also to get the creative juices flowing before school reopens, it will run from July 30 to August 17, 2007, weekdays from 9:00 until noon. For more information you may contact Beverly Beauvais at 450-973-9439 or visit the website at: www.r-wsw.org , or attend one of the following evening information sessions: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at Terry Fox School, 900 Av. des Lacasse, Auteuil, 7:30 pm; Thursday, May 3, 2007 at St. Paul School Annex, 1305 De l'Assomption, Duvernay, 7:00 pm.