Has It Really Been 10 Years?

 This time 10 years ago all 7 of us were well established, living in Belize.  The 3 girls were enrolled in school.  Our first son, at 4, was living his best life enjoying preschool, while both boys enjoyed exploring & playing carefree with their Mayan friends in our neighborhood.  Andy had wrapped up teacher trainings on literacy & math, before diving into individual teacher evaluations throughout the district.  By this point, I was working alongside Andy to bring arts into the classroom while he engaged with the teachers.  

    Now, 10 years later, a lot has changed.  Punta Gorda, Belize has changed so much, the best of which is grocery stores that have doubled & tripled in size (think now, the size of an Aldi vs previously, the size of 7-11).  Smart phones are in every area, vehicles have doubled in numbers, the highway to Guatemala has been built (only on the Belize side, it ends at the border with a dirt road).  Best of all, Camp Creative has enjoyed serving children with the arts for 10 years--taking only a break in 2020 for Covid.  It has grown to be the largest, and truly one of the best camp programs in the entire country.  It is also one of the only successful volunteer programs that works with BOTH American volunteers & Belizean volunteers.  It is a true team effort, and unique among volunteer programs for this model.  

    This year, feeling the need to reconnect with the community & culture again on a deeper level, we plan to return as a family for an extended visit this summer.  We also feel this is a good way to keep in touch with the true needs of the community's children, even on an artistic level.  Additionally, our sons remember very little of the area & as they are now in middle school and soon, high school, they need to know more about a place that has become such an important part of our family's lives.  

    A plan to return for a 10 year anniversary trip has been in the works for a couple of years, but there is still SOOOO much planning to be done--especially since flights have doubled in the last couple of months (thanks Russia)!  Part of the plan is also to stay significantly longer, so we have found 2 furnished 1 bdrm apartments so squeeze our family into, as well as a long term vehicle rental.  All of this while still planning for the actual camp, and handling the details of our American volunteers' travel.  

    Now comes the best part: with an extended visit & a lot of us travelling, comes the opportunity to host a second Camp Creative!  This has been a long time dream of mine & it finally gets to come to fruition.  We've always been able to reach out to the nearly 2000 children living in the town of Punta Gorda.  What we haven't been able to do, until now, is reach out to some of the nearly 14,000 children living in the villages surrounding Punta Gorda.  These communities are generally indigenous, and significantly more isolated.  Service groups do often come out & visit schools in a village, but there are dozens of villages in the district, so they are vastly underserved.  Our second camp will be just 2 weeks after the first camp (with a little R&R squeezed in between). 

We could not be more excited to share these upcoming experiences with you.  The projects are (mostly) planned, a 'wish list' is coming together, and details are fitting together nicely.  You can still support our efforts by checking out the list of needed items.  Most importantly, we ask for your prayers as we continue to prepare for such a long visit & a double camp.  It will be busy, exhausting, probably a little frustrating, but most of all fun!  I feel so lucky that God has chosen us for this mission.  

Our planned camp dates are June 26-July 1 in Punta Gorda & July 11-15 in Big Falls village (about 30 minutes outside of town).  If you'd like to see how things are running day to day at camp, I'd encourage you to look at our facebook page, Kuhnert Family Mission to Belize.  It is a public page & can be viewed by facebook users & non-facebook users alike.  We try to add new pictures of camp each day as it's running.  

Thanks as always, for so much positive support, it means so much to us, but also to the children & teachers in Belize that benefit so much from it.  

A Return to Normalcy

     2020 was rough, in so many ways, especially for children.  Kids in Belize were no exception as they endured school at home, via packet system.  By late spring of 2021, children were finally allowed to return to school, in person semi regularly.  Kids are starved for creative outlets right now & we are so excited to be returning with Camp Creative! 

    Camp will look very different this year, with new covid protocols in place.  There we be more classrooms, and constant cleaning/disinfecting.  We hope to drum up more teacher volunteers, and groups will be much smaller.  Our prayer is that we won't have to turn away any children that wish to join us for camp.  In spite of restrictions & accommodations, I think this will still be a fantastic year of camp.  

    For now, you can find me behind a computer--figuring out project plans, ordering supplies, planning trip details, and prepping supplies.  If you're interested in helping with the latter, let me know.  If you'd like to help with supplies, check out the Wishlist tab at the top.  As plans progress, check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kuhnertfamilymission.  It is a public page, so a facebook account isn't necessary, and will likely have the most up to date info on all things Camp Creative.  

    Continued prayers & well wishes as details get hammered out are much appreciated!

Peace,

Julie

Coming Together

Camp Creative 2019 is coming together nicely. 

With a bit larger group of volunteers this year (6 in total), we are able to bring down a lot more supplies.  Our hope is that some of the projects will be able to be replicated in our teacher volunteers' classrooms next school year.  This is always our goal, and often we select projects that include supplies that can be obtained locally, with a very low budget.  This year I am optimistic that we can make that happen!

By clicking on the tab at the top of this blog titled Wish List you can see all of the items we are looking for.  Many are items needed in large quantities (last year we had 130+ campers).  If you wish to purchase a few items, please don't feel like you need to purchase ALL of the quantity.  We will gladly take any amount that you are able to donate.
Also, there are several items that you may have lying around OR can collect for free (did I mention that we need A LOT of foam trays?)

This list will be fluid and I hope to update it as the need arises.  If there is something you know that you can help with, please let us know so we can update it on here.

Any help given, and that has been given thus far: donations of supplies, eating our gooey butter cakes during fundraiser time, and especially prayers are always much appreciated.  We could not do this without your support.  Your little bit has, and will, make a difference to others 1000 miles away.

Thank you!!

Gearing Up

Thank you all so much for the continued prayers and support of something that began 6 years ago.  This year's gooey butter cake fundraiser was our most successful yet! We can help provide an awesome experience of art for both kids and their teachers this summer.

Many of you have been asking about smaller ways to help and so we've provided a 'wish list' of items for camp this year.  To find out more, simply scroll to the top of the page and click on the Wish List tab.  We've included many items that we feel will be especially helpful this year at camp.

As always, please continue to keep our efforts in your prayers and thoughts.

Thanks!

Lucky #7 for Camp Creative

It's spring time in St. Louis and that means it's time to dive in and prepare for Camp Creative!  This will be our 7th year of sharing God's love through the arts in Punta Gorda Belize.  Since 7 is a lucky number, we know this year is going to be AH-MAZING!  Over the years we have served hundreds of children; giving them an opportunity to express themselves through art and creativity.  We've also equipped a multitude of teachers & classrooms with tools to aid in learning with their own students.  It's been a real blessing working along side some amazingly dedicated teachers in Belize. 

Each year we work hard to introduce new project ideas with the goal of both unique opportunity and sustainability in mind.  We want the children to be able to experience new things but also hope that the teachers can share their new knowledge and supplies with their future students.

To do this, we need YOUR help.  

Local peeps, indulge in one, or two, or a dozen, gooey butter cakes with our back-by-popular-demand Camp Creative Cakes Bailey's chocolate chip gooey butter cake fundraiser (see flyer for details).  The final pick up date is right around the corner on Mother's day weekend.  Feel free to share the flyer or blog to share with anyone whom you think may be interested.  The more cakes we sell the more ways we can help the campers & teachers.  We ask that you let us know by Tuesday May 8  if you wish to order for the May 11 weekend.  Last year's fundraiser was our most successful ever. Your donations enabled us to purchase umbrellas with the camp logo for every camper to paint (perfect for a town that sees 165+ inches of rain each year) as well as provide very specific classroom supplies, manipulatives, and educational materials for our Belizean teacher volunteers.

 Check our Facebook page or blog site regularly for ‘wish list’ of items to donate to camp.  A small donation makes a BIG difference. This year we're especially looking for classroom materials and educational manipulatives for our teacher volunteers.  Have something to donate, or want to purchase a something to donate? We'd love it!  Our Belizean volunteers are always looking for more classroom tools.  Note: one of our regular volunteers is a middle school science teacher & is always looking for more tools & supplies. The other volunteers work with kids from preschool to 6th grade.

Please continue to keep an eye out for large suitcases to donate from garage sales, empty closets, or thrift stores—we need these to transport all of our camp supplies (thanks to previous donations, we are currently well stocked in medium sized suitcases).  

Looking to step outside the box & serve?  Come help! Volunteers make a HUGE difference.  This year our 17 year old will be joining us for her first trip back since moving away.  She is very excited to be contributing and would love it if you would join us.  Camp runs from July 2-6. Punta Gorda Belize is both safe and beautiful, right on the sea just miles from the rainforest.  English is a common language too. Artistic ability is NOT a requirement as there are numerous logistical matters that need to be taken care of as well and you can help in many different ways.   We will put you to good use regardless of whether you are 15 or 65.  

Can't come but still want to be involved?  We’re always looking for project ideas that kids of all ages can enjoy & we’d love help with the planning this year.  

Have a few hours to spare this summer? Preparation for camp is the most time consuming aspect and your help in this area would be awesome.  Even a few hours of cutting, counting, or sorting (in our home or at your own convenience) could help tremendously.  

Thanks for all your prayers & encouragement.  We continue to be in awe of the support you've given so that we can serve others.

God's Blessings & Peace,

Julie & Andy Kuhnert

Camp Creative Year 5 is a Go!

Hello Friends & Family:

Preparations are under way for the 5^th year of the Camp Creative summer art camp program.  What started as a simple ‘God-wink’ has turned into a staple for the community in southern Belize.  Last year we served about 130 kids with each year getting bigger & bigger.  Kids look forward to this week of camp literally all year long.

Camp Creative would not be possible year after year if not for the help and support of so many of you.  I am so touched and overwhelmed by the number of people looking to help in ways both big and small. 

This year, we need your help to serve the future Picassos and Michelangelos in Southern Belize through the gift of art.  “I’m not an artist”, you say? There are LOTS of ways you can help from simple to complex:

1.        Local peeps, indulge in one, or two, or a dozen, gooey butter cakes with our first ever Camp Creative Cakes gooey butter cake fundraiser (see attached flyer for details). 

2.       Check our Facebook page or this blog site regularly for ‘wish list’ of items to donate to camp.  Paintbrushes maybe? Or yarn? Or what about a backpack? A small donation makes a big difference.

3.       Keep an eye out for large suitcases to donate from garage sales, empty closets, or thrift stores—we need these to transport all of our camp supplies.

4.       Come help!  You, yes you are invited.  Camp is the week of 6/27-7/1.  This is the first time camp does NOT conflict with the 4^th of July and we’d love to have you.  Punta Gorda Belize is both safe and beautiful, right on the sea just miles from the rainforest.  English is a common language too. Artistic ability is NOT a requirement—there are numerous logistical matters that need to be taken care of as well.  No help will be turned away.  We will put you to good use regardless of whether you are 15 or 65. 

5.       Can’t come but wanna help with planning? We want you!  We’re always looking for project ideas that kids of all ages can enjoy & I’d love help with the planning this year.  This might involve one or two short meetings or even just sending along some links of great ideas (bearing in mind my budget is tight and my suitcases are tighter).

Thanks for all of your support & prayers.  It’s been a true blessing to see this come to fruition year after year.

Blessings,

Julie & Andy 

Thirty-One Fundraiser for Camp Creative

With fall upon us, and Christmas just around the corner, we think this is the perfect opportunity to hold a Thirty-One products fundraiser to benefit next summer's Camp Creative.  Thirty-One is a great resource for bags in all shapes & sizes, for men, women, and kids, and the best part, they can all be personalized!  20% of the sales go directly to Camp Creative.  Here's the link for our online fundraiser (the fundraiser ends October 23):
www.mythirtyone.com/651239/shop/Party/EventDetail/8637391