As the Summer Holiday kicked off, so did the excitement at the Acorn Centre. The team has worked with other local organizations to create a wonderful program of activities for the kids on the Estate. Sports, crafts, cooking workshops, outdoor activities and exciting field trips in the area. Since I am only here two days of the week, I have missed out on some of the fun (crafting and cooking!) BUT I have had the pleasure of finally getting down to Billy's Lake and getting to enjoy all the amazing progress the team have made in beautifying that area! It's amazing how different it is from when I was last here writing the grant for the project. John and his volunteers have accomplished SO much and the lake is a serene little haven...well, until the kids arrive! It's tough to catch a whole lot of fish with all the squealing and running about, not to mention the locals (swans) getting in the way. The kids really enjoy the process and it is wonderful to see them learning something new and constructive.
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| Proud of his catch! |
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| John baiting a line. |
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| Doris and Boris |
Coffee afternoons have also taken on a whole new life with the kids coming out to participate. I have worked hard to put together some extra activities to engage them. (Thank goodness for Pinterest!) I even built my own game involving some high risk sawing! It was a fun challenge to try to come up with things using the resources we already have and also to keep the supplies simple. Some of the kids have a LOT of energy but we had great success in keeping them busy and making the time something to which they've looked forward.
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| Not sure who is cuter! |
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| She only had a little help with the 50 cup challenge! |
Along side the Centre activities, we teamed up with our church and another church on our neighboring estate, Leigh Park. We realized some people in the area do not get the opportunity to have a family vacation and how important that time is to creating lasting happy memories. With the financial support of the churches and organizations, we were able to secure a campsite to set-up a fully-loaded trailer tent (that was loaned to us from a local school) over 6 weeks and provide a place for some families to go. The camp site, on Hayling Island, has a pool and play area and is a short walk from the beach and a fun-fair. Our hope was to set-up the site to include everything the family would need so they could kick-back, relax, and just enjoy one another. The feedback has been amazing and many people blessed by this treat. The weather hasn't even been too bad!
As the Summer comes to a close, I am amazed at how fast the time is going. I have been here for over half of my time, which is hard to believe! I look forward to the approaching fall and the beauty that comes with it. In the meantime, we will enjoy the final days of the English Summer...and wearing flip flops even when it's barely 70.
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| Hayling Island at Sunset |
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