Take Me Out To The Ballgame: Visiting the AT&T Garden

July 9, 2018

LifeMoves | Family Crossroads campers had been waiting in anticipation all week for their Friday field trip: a visit to AT&T park! The field trip, however, was no ordinary tour of the baseball field. This adventure took our campers to the AT&T edible garden, where the outdoors become a classroom for curious and hungry minds. Walking into the garden, the campers and counselors admired the beautiful interior that was bursting with green. Then, they looked up.

Located right behind the centerfield wall and below the Giant’s scoreboard, the view outside the garden was just as spectacular. Beyond the fences lay the enormous baseball field and bleachers, a stunning contrast from the lush garden surrounding the campers. “Why is there a net above us?” a young boy asked. “Great question!” responded the garden’s chef, gathering the children into a circle,  “When there are games, we want to protect our garden and our visitors from the flying baseballs. Now, who’s ready for a scavenger hunt?”

 

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The kids familiarized themselves with the garden with a bingo-style hunt for the edible plants. Campers walked along the plant beds, searching for signs of vegetables about to sprout and squealing in delight when they found a fruit to mark off on their bingo sheet. Once the scavenger hunt ended, the campers cheered when they learned they would be making their lunch from all the fresh food around them! At one station, the campers sliced and skewered fruit for kabobs while learning about what each delicious plant does for the body. Next, each child tried their hand at making flatbread by helping the chef make homemade tomato sauce and loading up on toppings of fresh vegetables.

While their organic lunch was in the oven, the campers saw first hand where their leftover food would be composted. The chef brought out a big box and campers crowded around it. Upon lifting up the top, murmurs grew to exclamations as they realized it was a worm bin!  A lucky camper was picked to feed the worms the compostable scraps, and the rest of the children took it all in as the chef described what was going on within the dirt. The campers intense focus on the worm bin was only broken when it was announced that food was ready!

Hot out of the oven, the flatbread was quickly devoured. Content and tired, the campers finished off their meal with the fruit kabobs and sat taking in the vibrant greenery the garden had to offer. At the end of the day, the kids left with both full stomachs and an appreciation for healthy and fresh food. LifeMoves | Family Crossroads was delighted to spend the day in the Giants garden, an oasis hidden within the bustle of AT&T park.

 

 

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Stars on Ice: LifeMoves | Villa Goes Skating

July 6, 2018

Campers and counselors at LifeMoves | Villa grabbed their warm, winter clothes on Tuesday and headed to the ice rink at Solar4America Ice in San Jose. Excited for a day of ice-skating, the children entered the building talking amongst themselves about the afternoon ahead. The sound of conversation died down as each camper looked around in awe at the enormity of the ice complex. Eyes widened further when they learned the San Jose Sharks team trained in the facility they were standing in! The campers were thrilled to get out on the ice.

Once their skates were on and snug, the children made their way to the edge of the rink, holding tightly to their counselors’ hands. With the help of buckets conveniently stacked to help skaters balance on the ice, the campers stepped one by one onto the ice. Shaky legs made for a slow beginning, and many hesitantly skated near the safety of the rink walls. Practice makes perfect, however, and soon even the smallest campers were confidently skating the entire length of the rink.

 

For the remainder of the field trip, children raced each other back and forth, laughed as they watched their warm breath in the cold air, and even tested skating without the buckets. The campers were reluctant to leave the impressive rink, but they were all smiles headed back to camp. Tuesday was very successful at LifeMoves | Villa, as they escaped from the hot weather outside and cooled down for the day at the ice rink. We are so thankful for the generous support from the community that enables amazing trips like this, and are excited to share more stories about adventures at camp!

 

 

Kathryn Gets Movin’: Handball at LifeMoves | Haven Family House

July 3, 2018

This week, we are very lucky to have a special guest visiting summer camp. Kathryn, a local Girl Scout, joins LifeMoves | Haven Family House this week to lead a handful of sports and physical education workshops! During this time, campers get moving and participate in high intensity games that engage both their bodies and minds. On Monday afternoon, the campers walked outside to discover the empty parking lot had been transformed into a sports arena. Goals were set up at each end and colorful bouncy balls were strewn across the pavement. Kathryn announced the first activity as a game of handball, a combination of soccer and basketball.

The children broke up into two groups and began what would be called “the coolest game ever” by a young camper. Team spirit was roused with each pass of the ball, and when Kathryn announced that it was time for counselors to join teams, the handball court erupted in cheers. Shouts of “I’m open!” and “nice shot!” rang out as the ball whizzed up and down the court. At one point, the trailing team huddled together for a meeting, urging each other to “get their head in the game.” The pep talk seemed to work, and the team flawlessly executed the next play.

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After the game, the campers were given free time to use the balls and goals to create new games under the helpful guidance of Kathryn. Campers took turns with her, describing their ideas and then running to grab a ball with excitement on their faces. For the entirety of the afternoon, the kids never slowed down, and Kathryn was right there alongside them racing down the court, playing goalie, and connecting with each camper.

When asked how she came up with her specific project, Kathryn responded, “I was already aware of LifeMoves because my troop has done work for them before, and I wanted to do something more that combined my love of working with kids and volunteering. I know how much it means for the kids here to have somewhere to be and to have activities to do during the summer, and watching the campers have so much fun is the best feeling!” Indeed, the LifeMoves | Haven Family House campers finished camp on Monday exhausted but cheerful, ready to tell their parents about the momentous handball game at summer camp. We are inspired by Kathryn’s dedication to doing service and helping families in a time of transition.

 

Our Future Picassos and Monets: Rainbow Art Studio Visits LifeMoves | Villa

June 29, 2018

This week, we want to highlight Rainbow Art Studio, a group who volunteers at LifeMoves | Villa in San Jose. Rainbow Art Studio hosts hands-on art classes for students throughout the Bay Area, and this summer, they are offering their expertise at our summer camp! Weekly, the studio brings high school volunteers to LifeMoves | Villa to lead engaging workshops that expose children to concepts such as color, composition, and perspective. Rainbow Art Studio is a perfect fit for our campers because they customize their programs to fulfill the needs and goals of each student. The wide variety of projects to choose from ensure that every camper participates enthusiastically.

 

On Thursday, Rainbow Art Studio arrived at LifeMoves | Villa with boxes full of colorful prints, photos, and paper. The high school volunteers announced to the inquisitive children that they would be collaging! Stacks of magazines and catalogs were laid out on the table, and campers were handed scissors, glue sticks, and paper. With inspiration from the instructors that separate pieces can harmonize to form a more powerful whole, the children were set free to create a unique piece of art. Creative suggestions from the volunteers guided each camper in an individual direction that excited them. Some focused on maintaining a color scheme, while others cut out letters of their name. Other campers simply used images they liked while adding their own drawings.

Each camper’s finished piece had a different flare distinct to their personality. By the end of the afternoon, every child had taken away a worthy lesson, whether it was about refining a certain skill or simply a positive experience that changed their attitude about art. We are so thankful for the personalization of art education that Rainbow Art Studio cultivates, and we are excited to see the all amazing artwork the campers create this summer!

 

 

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Pizza Party: Campers Become Chefs for the Day

June 29, 2018

This week, campers at LifeMoves | First Step for Families stepped into the culinary world for the day at Pizza My Heart in Burlingame!  The hungry campers arrived at the restaurant just before lunch on Thursday, where they were greeted by friendly staff who, to the delight of the children, presented everyone with their own Pizza My Heart t-shirt! The field trip began with a tour of the restaurant. As the campers made their way around the building, their attention became fixed on a man throwing an enormous piece of dough in the air. Gathering behind the counter, their eyes followed every movement as the dough was pulled and stretched into a thin circle.

Once the impressive display was finished, the campers tried out their pizza making skills with their own pizzas. The wide array of toppings sparked heated debates about what was the ultimate topping combination, and by the time the pizzas were ready to go in the oven, each child proudly held up their plate, declaring that their personal pie would be the greatest. Waiting for the final product, campers busied themselves by coloring pizza-themed drawings and exchanging pizza jokes: “Shout out to olive my people!” earned an outburst of laughter. “Is there pizza in everyone’s heart?” a giggly four-year-old challenged her counselor.

The giddy fun made the wait for their lunch manageable, but the minute the pizzas were taken out of the oven, the campers wasted no time digging into their hot slices. With plenty of pizza puns and delicious food to go around, lunch was easily the highlight of the day at LifeMoves | First Step for Families. Full bellies and pizza sauce-stained t-shirts were a sure sign of a great afternoon at Pizza My Heart.

 

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There She Blows! Baking Soda Volcanoes at Camp

June 26, 2018

Our campers at LifeMoves | Haven Family House became scientists for the morning and participated in a classic experiment: baking soda volcanos!  As campers gathered around the picnic benches, counselors explained how the simple ingredients of vinegar, baking soda, laundry detergent, and food coloring could create a fantastic eruption that resembled red-hot lava oozing out of a volcano.

First, the campers got creative and decorated volcanoes. Some drew scenes of an explosion, full of lava and fire, while others covered their volcanoes with smiley faces and hearts. “Can we take them home with us?” a camper asked enthusiastically. When learning that the eruption would be so messy the volcano would not be salvageable, she thought for a moment, then shouted, “Really? AWESOME!”

Next, campers got to work mixing the vinegar solution and measuring out baking soda to put inside their volcano. While campers stirred, counselors filled them in on the chemical reaction of a base and acid like baking soda and vinegar. Silence fell over the campers as the counselors stood with the vinegar mixtures over the volcanoes, ready to count off for each volcano. “3…2…1…” they chanted, and a chorus of exclamations broke out from the campers as each volcano bubbled over before their eyes. In the backyard of LifeMoves | Haven Family House, science came to life in a very exciting way! This small activity truly captivated the minds of our young scientists, and left them craving more science fun.

 

 

 

 

Campers in the Kitchen: Homemade Quesadillas and Guacamole

June 22, 2018

As lunchtime approached at LifeMoves | Haven Family House, campers were rolling up their sleeves for a hands-on cooking class. The menu: quesadillas and guacamole! The counselors set up the two separate stations in the garden with fresh and delicious looking ingredients. Campers then made their way to the quesadilla station, where they heaped mountains of cheese and chicken into fresh tortillas.

Counselors took the quesadillas to the kitchen to cook, while the campers headed to the guacamole station. Each child was given a bowl to make their own personal serving. They got to work scooping avocado and chopping tomato. Next, it was time to add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Each camper carefully added these finishing touches and proudly showed off their final product to friends.

Soon after, counselors brought back the children’s cooked quesadillas, and the campers crowded around the garden picnic tables for the feast. Their eyes lit up, and it was clear that they were proud of the meal they had made on their own. Upon her first bite of the quesadilla, a young camper exclaimed, “It tastes even better because I made it myself!” Lunchtime was all smiles, and between bites of their delicious food, the campers were already discussing what they wanted to cook next.

 

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A Day at the Tech Museum!

June 21, 2018

It’s only day four of Summer Adventure Camp, but campers are already participating in remarkable activities! On Tuesday, the campers at LifeMoves | Haven Family House headed to the Tech Museum in San Jose, a Museum dedicated to STEAM and innovation, conveniently located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The Tech Museum boasts interactive exhibits that allow children to step into the worlds of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and space simulations.

Under the supervision and guidance of our amazing volunteer counselors, campers spent the day soaking up sights and sounds that capture how technology can inform positive and fun change. At one exhibit, some of the children were fascinated by robots being built, some the same size or even larger than the campers! Others enjoyed creating Lego animals with the help of artificial intelligence at the “Reboot Reality” exhibit. A few campers even created beautiful pieces of art using a digital brush that allows for three-dimensional drawings! These were just a few of the many engaging activities that sparked creativity in our future artists and engineers.

Our campers are the world’s future leaders who are growing up in the age of technological breakthroughs. Their day at the Tech Museum was the perfect opportunity to play and engage with new technology while inspiring them to think about our future in innovation!

 

Field Trip Fun at Google Headquarters

June 20, 2018

Our campers at LifeMoves | Villa had the very special opportunity to visit Google for their first field trip. After morning circle time, counselors packed up lunches and loaded up the bus for the all-day excursion to the company’s headquarters in Mountain View. Upon arrival, campers and counselors alike were in awe of the campus, impressed by the colorful surroundings and the exciting projects that were going on within the vibrant walls. The Silicon Valley Google location is regarded as one of the most impressive tech campuses, and throughout the trip, the children were able to see how Google combines hard work and fun first-hand.

Very fittingly, the tour of the tech company was packed with engaging sights and activities. The campers were instantly enamored by the larger-than-life desserts outside the main building, stopping to pose in front of the giant treats. Another highlight of the trip included the indoor ball pit. Colorful balls were flying through the air and the sound of laughter echoed down the hall. Of course, there were also plenty of electronics for the children to play with, such as an arcade room full of games! Many of the campers said, however, that they loved running around and exploring the grassy, outdoor areas of the campus the most.

The campers raved about the amazing things they did and saw the entire day. The trip to Google Headquarters was a definite hit with the LifeMoves | Villa campers, and LifeMoves is grateful for the generous support that allows our campers to have experiences like this. We are so excited for the many field trips ahead!

 

A camper takes a break from jumping around the ball pit for a photo
Campers especially loved the smiley gingerbread man
Group photo!
A huge Android candy dispenser!

School’s Out: Gearing Up For Camp

June 14, 2018

 

 

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As summer quickly approaches, camp counselors at LifeMoves are gearing up for another year of Achieving Career and Educational Success (ACES) Summer Adventure Camp. Training is in full swing, and our team of counselors are busy planning activities and field trips that give campers a look into the world of STEAM. Past camp adventures have included exploring elementary physics at CuriOdyssey, cooling off with homemade ice cream, traversing Huddart Park for a day of outdoor activities, and even getting a peek into artificial intelligence by programming robots!

For many homeless families, summer can come with the stress of finding childcare and a place for their children to grow while they are out of school. Through your support, LifeMoves provides children from our six family shelters a summer full of engaging events. The campers will get to experience the joy of summer, while also unlocking their potential in STEAM and beyond.  The 2018 Summer Adventure Camp officially begins on June 18 and we are so excited to share the many memories that our young campers are bound to make. Follow along on our blog this summer for photos, videos, and updates!