Meet the campers! Read the journal entries and then check out the Camp Journey to Freedom, 2007 slideshow.
Sample journal entries
Georgianna: Day One: Very interesting. It was the introduction of the Staff, Digital Camera handout, a series of awkward Ice Breakers and a Low Ropes Course. We also took a tour of the grounds. The meals are acceptable with the exception of the meat. There is a nice balance of lesieure and activity time. The sleeping arrangements are okay, if you don't mind bunk beds. The bathrooms could use improvements. Overall the first day was better than I expected.Day One and a Half: The second day was the beginning of the academic side of the JTF(Journey to Freedom). The transportation to Miami was fantastic. Class was interersting.Majority of the topics covered were a reinforcement of what I've learned in past years, so that was good.....
Hey there new campers,
My name is Sarah, I'm staying at Camp Cambell Guard. When the idea of a camp full of people you don't know flashes through your brain it's scary. Actually, there's nothing to be frightened of. All you need to do is remember that everyone is in the same boat. When I first came to camp I immediately met someone new ans started talking to her then I met the other kids from the cabin across from mine. It's super easy to get to know everyone because everyone feels like an outsider at first.
The first day and a half at camp you'll play a couple games and then you'll have a campfire. The activities you do involve getting to know everyone by learning communication skills and team work. You will play games suck as the human knot, all aboard, and the rope swing. The games are more or less to get you talking to everyone.
The second day at camp, or at Miami rather, you will learn quite a bit in history. You will however, take a pre-test. FYI: It's not hard at all so don't sweat it. If you're a history buff like me then you'll appreciate the lectures. If you're not a nerd, then you'll appreciate it as well.
So don't worry and have fun the two weeks you're here. You make fast friends, have fun making fun of yourselves, and don't worry if you're dreading a camp full of nerds and losers, don't because it's not that at all.
Merry: So... today is our first full day of the camp adventure. We have so far spent the day in class learning about the backround of slavery in America. The talks so far have been interesting and worth while. The camp deserves two thumbs up!
Marissa: Three things i liked at waveland are the house was extremely nice, the different types of buildings that there were and the last thing i liked was the guides were nice and they gave us a lot of information. The history of the family really surprised me because you hear about how slaves got beat but this family treated them like memebers and that was a little unusual. The first item i would recoomend is the movie with oprah, it was really realistic. The second item i would reccomentd is the big quilts on the first floor. The third thing i would reccomend is the big slave pin. It was intresting to hear the history behind it.
John: The first day of camp was filled with parents, confusion, fun, meet and greets, and deep conversations. Upon arriving at Camp Campbell we were introduced to the campers, teachers, and leaders. Lunch was very family oriented as not many people had reached out to talk to others. As the day progressed though we did team building exercises, got to know our cabin mates and finally began to mingle. By dinner most of the names were learned and everyone had exchanged at least a smile to the other JTF campers. We finally started acting like a group.
Later that night we all bundled into our beds and tried to sleep. Sleeping wasn't really an easy task though. When leaving the comfort of our beds for the roughness of cabin life we didn't expect our sleeping arrangements to be so difficult. There were clothes on empty beds, wet floors, and stiff mattresses. It should only be a matter of days before we adjust to the rough life, but until we do it will take its toll on us.
The next morning we woke up to yawning cabinmates and warm showers. After a breakfast of pancakes and sausage we loaded a bus on our way to Miami. The bus ride was cold, loud, and long. Maybe it was rough because we were tired, or maybe it was the contrast between hot and cold. Either way we made our way into the doors of Miami University Hamilton into a lecture hall. We were given our books from Martin Johnson and given a lecture by Dr. Bob Meckley. Lunch was Donatos and cookies- yes, noncamp food. A lecture from Dr. Gus Jones over political science showed us the purpose of the constitution and its relevance to today.
What a long two days it's been.
Ben: After the first few days with eachother, our adventures soon began starting in Lexington, Kentucky and to most recently down to Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite the the guided plantation walks, or the quick tours through museums, ones deep appreciation for history comes alive through the interesting lectures and creative discussions.
After traveling to the Waveland Historic Park, I now realize that the stereotypical life of the slaves was sometimes outside of the norm. The owners of the plantation, the Bryon's, commonly gave small luxuries to the slaves that many owners did not. In addition, I found the two kitchens on the premises (In and outside of the house) to be very interesting because of the fear that the house would burn.
Although the Plantation had given me a true essence of slave life, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center articulated that feeling by supporting it with a number of facts and included videos. I would recommend any student that visits the museum to be certain they view all videos and critically review on what slave life truly was like. In addition to the creative videos, the original John W. Anderson Cabin is a must see.
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