Summer Fun

As the Mercy Ships Academy runs with the American school year so the children have their summer vaccation mid year from early June to early August. This is also the transition time between grades. Many families take the opportunity to go home for good or for holidays and fundrasing efforts during this time. For the kids who are left behind (and their parents) this could be a vvvveeeeeerrryyyy looooonnnggg two months if it wasn't for the wonderful Academy Summer Program-yay, yay, yay!!! The biblically backboned Summer Program runs for the middle four weeks of the holidays and offers an amazing program from 9am-3pm for children from pre-school to grade 8. This year the program was run by the fun, energetic and creative Margo and Sam Zupke, accompained by their kids, Matt and Micah. The Zupkes have led the program many times before and lets just say the kids are NEVER bored and sleep like a log!

Bureh Beach-the kids went once a week. I am not sure what is going on in this photo but have a close look at some of the kids expressions-they are priceless! Jess is the one with her hands to her face on the left.

One thing that Margo and Sam did was get the kids off the ship! Above is the beautiful Charlotte Falls.

On the day trip to the falls the kids also took in Tacugama Chimpanzee Sancturary where chimps are rescued and rehabilitated. Above are the group of kids who went.

I am sure he is not picking his nose!! Funny thing Jess told me....when she had to go to the toilet at the sancturary the toilets were right next to the chimps and they were pounding on the courragated metal walls while she was in there. Talk about performance pressure-lol.

They even had a Dog Show. The younger kids were the dogs and the older kids were the owners. They made masks in the morning and put on their show in the afternoon. The "dogs" were put through their paces with all kinds of tricks and skills. Jessica's "dog" was her friend Deborah who was a Jack Russell Terrier.

Games, games, games-plenty of games to be had!

Um.......ouch?

The older group had a wild time giving their leaders, Sam and Annilies a makeover. I think the results speak for themselves!

Several sessions of baking took place in the crew galley including the yummy cupcakes for the parents at the Parents Evening.

The kids visited the Team House off ship at the Swiss Embassy and had a great day swimming, playing tennis, doing crafts and generally having a great time. They even had lunch cooked for them. Above are Jess and her friend, Josie.

The older kids thought it was pretty cool to have Monday crepes and Friday waffles in the cafe!

The summer program would not be complete without many visits to the Hope Centre. Our kids brightened the days of so many local kids recovering from or awaiting surgery. Jess above with friends, Josh and Matt.

The older kids, Josie, Micah, Jess, Matt, Elliot and Josh.

Every week all the kids visited the hospital wards to play, sing and do craft with the patients. 

Jess and Josie building blocks with a patient.

Everyone!!!! Summer program rocks!!