Braille Camp 2006
July 10 – 21, 10 am – 3 pm
Monday – Friday
Braille Camp 2006 involved many group activities, lots of one-on-ones, and small groups of new-found playmates. Braille Camp included stories, songs, dancing, bowling, doll house dramas, and lots of playing with different sizes of balls each day.
There were impromptu jam sessions with drums, a trombone, harmonica, ukulele, guitar, 22-string harp, rattles and chimes, and a two-manual organ.
Special events were bowling at Robin Hood Lanes, pottery with Becky Bell, the Toucans Steel Drum Band, and French songs and dances with Janet Rayor.
Bowling at Robin Hood Lanes
On Friday of the first week of camp, campers traveled a block down the road to Robin Hood Lanes for some bowling time. The Everett Herald and The Seattle Times newspapers sent sports writers to cover the events.
For many children it was a first time experience; a few had bowled before. The management at Robin Hood Lanes donated the cost of the lanes and the shoes and was very helpful and accommodating. Thank you all!
Pottery with Becky
Becky Bell, a University District artist who is visually impaired, returned for her second year as a guest instructor at Braille Camp.
While the children were in a circle, Becky passed around several of her pottery pieces for them to feel and discover their many shapes
When the children were assembled at the tables, a portion of clay was distributed to each child. Much pounding ensued as they flattened their clay in readiness to craft an object. With help from the volunteers, several creations emerged: snakes, bowls, a cup, birds, and various imaginary creatures.
The children delighted in displaying their clay crusted hands as they were marched to the restroom to clean up. How exciting it was to see and feel the pieces after they were glazed and fired by ceramic artists at the local Frances Anderson Center.
Toucans Steel Drum Band
The Toucans, a well known steel drum band in the Seattle area for nearly 15 years, have thrilled and delighted many people with their calypso music.
Everyone at the Louis Braille Schoolhouse was up on their feet and swaying to the beat. A few children ventured under the drums and listened with glee as the vibrations came down to them. Everyone in the room was moving to the music with big smiles on their faces.
They say that one day in the late 1930’s a young man in Trinidad discovered that a dented section of an oil barrel head could produce a musical tone! And thus was born the steel drum band.
French Songs and Dances
With fingers fluttering like birds’ wings, feet stomping, and bodies swaying, Janet Rayor took the children to France in song. Janet is a singer with Rouge, a French Cabaret entertainment quartet comprised of a violinist, guitarist, and accordionist. Janet formed the group in 1995, and they perform at festivals, parties, fundraisers, weddings, dances, and concerts.
As the children sat in a circle, Janet sat down in their midst and taught them four French folk songs, interpreting the words as they sang along. Each song included many hand motions, which engendered giggles and much enthusiasm.
It was time to be up on their feet as Janet played a CD of music played by her group, Rouge. Each child received special attention as she walked around the circle demonstrating the beat of the guitar on their shoulders or legs. While holding hands, Janet called out some simple dance steps to accompany the music.
Bowling, Newspapers, Friends and Family
During Braille Camp, several newspapers stopped by to gather information for articles. The reporters caught the children bowling, creating jewelry, checking out a tactile map of the USA, seeing what a taxidermy bobcat and raccoon look like up close, helping make lunch, and providing actions and sound effects for songs and stories.
On the last day of camp, the grandfather of one of the campers treated everyone to lunch at McDonalds.