Cathedral Camps Newsletter: September 2010

CATHEDRAL CAMPS e-newsletter: September 2010

In this newsletter.....

Cathedral Camps 2010 | In this newsletter we would like to congratulate all our campers and offer our warmest thanks for all their hard work this summer.

Spotlight on Wells and Leicester Cathedral Camp 2010 | Have you ever wondered what a camp would be like? Well read more about this years camps at Wells and Leicester.

Meet a Cathedral Camp Leader | Emma Jones

ReFresh does Make A Difference Day | Read about our events scheduled for 1/2 Term Week.

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Greetings Campers!

Congratulations to everyone who attended - or hosted! - a Camp this summer.
The feedback we have had from camps and campers has been great with people already signing up to the 2011 programme!
Over the next few weeks we look forward to hearing more of your stories, seeing more of your pictures and seeing some of you at our MADD ReFresh events!

Rebecca


		Cathedral Camps 2010 Congratulations to all those who attended a Cathedral Camp this summer. We hope you had a wonderful time. We have had great feedback from the venues and are hoping to put some of your pictures and stories up on the website. This year we saw over 200 campers and leaders visit 27 camps. Many campers were returning for a second (or third!) year; with old campers making up 11% of all our campers in 2010. We see this as a wonderful endorsement of the camps and a great sign of the strength of the 'camp community'. Not only did we return to old favourites such as Truro and Canterbury Cathedral, but we also visited several new venues including Islington Union Chapel; which is a popular concert venue as well as a beautiful place of worship. If you have stories and pictures from your camp please do email them into cathedralcamps@csv.org.uk.



		Cathedral Camps at Wells Cathedral 2010 From 18th-25th August a group of 12 volunteers spent a week at Wells Cathedral trying to dodge the rain and get some outside jobs done! The campers came from across Britain, Belgium, France and Spain. Jobs varied from clearing drains and gutters, to transporting rotten scaffolding planks, edging and wedding paths and painting railings. Some of the jobs were not the sort of things you might expect: jetwashing the Quire roof and uncovering the foundations of a Saxon Church within the grounds. There were of course jobs to do when it rained (which it did-far too much!) such as washing railing, vacumming spiral staircases and polishing the Quire stalls. There were also opportunities to see things a regular visitor would not. Treats at Wells included visits to the Triforium, seeing the clock mechanism, a trip to the top of Central Tower, and a party in Vicars' Hall (part of the famous Vicars' Close), and a chance to meet the Very Revd Richard Lewis, a former Chairman of Cathedral Camps. Camp Leader Julia Thompson said: "We had a wonderful week, despite the seemingly constant rain. The group gelled really well, and the Cathedral Works staff and Virgers were a fantastic help. It was great to be able to see the difference we made to the Cathedral, and the Cathedral staff were so appreciative of our visit."



		Cathedral Camps visits Leicester Cathedral On 18th August 7 Campers and 3 leaders arrvied at Leicester Cathedral for a week of volunteering. Campers stayed in the Cathedral grounds, camping in the Cathedral Centre and brushing up on their monopoly and Articulate skills. The Campers had a varied work week, dividing their time between cleaning and re-waxing main cathedral gates; clearing the Cathedral Centre Yard and cellar; and polishing the stonework in the Chancel. New leader Ibi Brookes said: "I really didn't know what to expect from Leicester Cathedral or from the campers, this being my first ever time on a camp. After a day or two of getting to know each other, the week turned into the best of my summer. I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of campers all of whom were highly motivated and had a great sense of humour. We had an energetic and fun atmosphere made better by being such a lovely venue. Can't wait for next year!"



		Meet a Cathedral Camps leader: Emma Jones After spending a great week as a camper on a Cathedral Camp last summer, I decided to put myself forward as a leader for this year’s CCT Dartmoor and Exeter Camp. While I would not consider myself a natural leader, I wanted the opportunity to test out my leadership skills and get more involved with Cathedral Camps whilst meeting new people. I was certainly not disappointed with my experience as a leader – in fact I would say that it was even more enjoyable than taking part as a camper. Not only did I find it easier to mingle with the whole group, but I also enjoyed the position of responsibility – the bright yellow t-shirts were also a bonus! Doing or leading a Cathedral Camp is a fantastic way to make a difference by contributing to the conservation of historical churches and cathedrals while meeting new people from all over the country, and even from around the world. But above all – it’s fun!



		ReFresh is getting involved with Make A Difference Day! This year Cathedral Camps' ReFresh project is signing up to CSV's annual Make A Difference Day. Make a Difference Day is the UKs largest annual day of volunteering; with over 50,000 volunteers signing up at projects across the UK in 2008. This year we are hoping to hold events throughout the Half-term week leading up to Saturday 30th October. We will be hosting events in Birmingham and London (venues TBC). If you are interested in a day of volunteering that week, please keep an eye on our website or email Rebecca for more details. Click here to visit our website




If you run a faith building and feel it could benefit from a day of volunteering activity email Rebecca about organising an event in your building. ReFresh and Cathedral Camps are always looking to work with new venues and new groups of young people so please get in touch if you think your group of young people or venue might benefit from a day of volunteering. Cannot read this email, click here; Forward this mailing to a friend.