Training a Child for Good Works

Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

(Proverbs 22:6)

I cannot believe that today is the last day of May. This month has passed by so quickly, that I never got to provide an update that our son was selected to attend the National Flight Academy program. I am excited to share that he was one of one hundred lucky students selected to represent the Memphis metro area. I am even more excited to share that the expense of the program was sponsored and paid for by FedEx, strong community advocates for STEM education.

So with that news, we entered a new season. As a corporate sponsor, FedEx provided transportation from Memphis to the naval base in Pensacola, FL. As the parents of an only child, last night was our first time handing off our child to complete strangers for a nine hour bus ride that crossed five state lines. Sure, he has attended sleep away camps before (in 2013, he was selected to attend the Lonestar Leadership Academy near Dallas, but we dropped him off and made sure that a he and the camp had the emergency contact number of a close family member, if needed). In this situation, we had to trust that we have raised a good child and prepared him to represent his family, his city, and the program well.

Although sending our child off for a week was semi-new to us, the NFA program provided parents and students with a handbook that clearly explained all protocols and procedures. That came as no surprise, considering that the camp takes place on a military base. I am sharing the guidelines for anyone with children attending their first sleep away camp:

Conquering Home Sickness

The key to dealing with homesickness is to prepare the child in advance:

• Do ask a close friend or relative to register for the same session your child is attending.
• Do have your child spend the night with friends or relatives.
• Do discuss what the program will be like before your child leaves home, addressing any concerns.
• Do not tell children you will rescue them if they do not like the program.
• Do assure your child of your love.
• Do send along a favorite stuffed animal.
• Do not go into great detail about what your child may be missing at home.

If, despite all efforts, your child does become homesick:

• Do acknowledge your child’s feelings.
• Do reassure your child of your love.
• Do reassure your child the program is an opportunity for children to grow, mature and gain independence.
• Do not mention how much you miss your child.

It’s been over twelve hours since the departure. He has sent us a couple of text messages, but no calls as of yet. My mother reminded me that I acted the same way when I attended my first sleep away camp (Camp Couchdale), not calling as a way of demonstrating my independence, so, I had to laugh at the way that life as a way of repeating itself. We prepared him for this moment to prove that when required, he will not depart from the home training instilled in him. How are you training the children in for family or community to be prepared for the good works and opportunities afforded to them? Please comment or send me an email to latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

A Promise of Good Works

And this shall be a sign to you,

You shall eat this year such as grows of itself;

and the second year that which springs of the same:

and in the third year

sow you, and reap, and plant vineyards,

and eat the fruit thereof.

(Isaiah 37:30)

 I do not know what is about being in Arkansas that makes me write as if my life experiences were a metaphor for agriculture: sowing, reaping, planting, harvesting… I digress. Ever felt like you were in a wilderness, a place where nothing seems to grow? Sometimes, you simply have to weather the seasons, do the work, and continue to plant and sow until the harvest. Succeeding at anything in life, like farming, is a process that is not for the faint.  However, you keep toiling, looking for the sign of the fulfillment of the prophecy, or the promise…

Are you familiar with the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp? The camp provides 48 rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students the opportunity to enhance their proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education while living on a college campus - all at no cost to the child or family. I became aware of this program sponsored by The Harris Foundation when we lived in Beaumont and knew some of the beneficiary attendees from the Lamar University camp. Well, the twenty sites for the 2015 camp season have been announced. I am glad to see that the University of Arkansas – Little Rock is one of the named camp locations. (NOTE:  I am still researching to see which school districts are recruiting students for the competitive 48 spots.)




Summer 2015 Summer Science Camp Sites

To be eligible to apply, students should:

• Be members of a traditionally underserved and underrepresented population;
• Be entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade in the fall of 2015;
• Have a GPA of at least “B” overall in mathematics and science;
• Score at the median to superior level on standardized mathematics and science tests;
• Write a 250-word essay describing their interest in the camp and STEM;
• Be interviewed, if deemed necessary;
• Have exhibited an interest in mathematics and science; and
• Have strong recommendations from their current mathematics and science teachers.

To learn more, visit http://theharrisfoundation.org/sitecontent/565/summer-science-camp/category/457/education.aspx

 
The science camp opportunity reminds me of my first exposure to opportunities in STEM related fields. I did not attend my first on-campus camp until the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, but I remember how the experience motivated me to toil harder. Imagine the promise that lies ahead for the students who are exposed and graced to attend these camps in the 6th, 7^th, or 8^th grades! Imagine the promise of how this type of engagement could change the trajectory of children who live in the wilderness of those underserved, underrepresented communities and populations!  If not this camp, how can we advocate to get more of our young people exposed and engaged in other STEM focused camps? What are you doing in your local community in teaching children that it is never too early to begin toiling and working toward the promise of good works? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/


Preparing Kids for Good Works

Every writing which is written by The Spirit is profitable for teaching,

correcting, and training in righteousness;

that children may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for all good works.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

This weekend, we dropped our son off for his first sleep-away-camp. It sounded like a good idea, when he first got the invitation for the leadership academy. During the week of preparation, I realized that this was the first time that he would be away from us and not in the presence of our family, friends, or church members. I was a little apprehensive, until I thought about my first camping experience…

I was not a member of 4-H or FFA (Future Farmers of America) but somehow, during the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school, I was selected to attend a summer leadership program at Camp Couchdale, near Hot Springs, AR. No one else from Stuttgart participated during the same week as me, so it sounded like a good idea to ride the camp-sponsored bus. My parents were told to have me at a designated gas-station at the Hazen exit on I-40 for pick up. During the wait, I realized that I would not know anyone once they drove away. I was nervous when I first stepped on the bus, but a group of kids from Cotton Plant immediately invited me to sit with them, and they became my friends for the week (and for a lifetime).

I researched Camp Couchdale to see if it was still in operation and I was happy to learn that the mission continues--to educate and inspire lifelong leadership through horticultural service learning. I do not remember much about the horticultural activities, but I do remember the impact of knowing that my parents trusted me enough to allow me to go to this camp and not wanting to disappoint them. Now that I am on the other side of this experience, I realize that as parents, we try our best to teach our kids to do the right things and hope that they follow suit when not in our presence. I pray that our son has watched our example of when we do not know what to do, we know who to call upon for correction and guidance. I look forward to hearing his stories about his camping experiences and leadership application.

My grandmother told me that parents know their children, who is a leader and who needs to be lead. I feel confident that we are doing good job of preparing our child and appreciate the confirmation from his teacher, who nominated him to participate in this leadership academy. I am no longer apprehensive. Instead, I am excited as my son takes an initial step toward his journey of leadership and training for his good works. What childhood experience do you remember having an impact on your desire to do good works? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.