[Editor’s Note: Restore Ministries is located in Elizabeth, New Jersey, operating out of Second Presbyterian Church. Linwood Bagby, Founder and Executive Director, has been at Grace Presbyterian Church numerous times. You can learn more about Restore Ministries by visiting their website or by following them on Facebook or Instagram (@restore_ministries_inc).]
ACE Summer Program is Approaching:
Learning, Safe and Fun Experiences
Student’s Profile: Mezziah
Hello! My name is Mezziah Taylor. Last summer, I participated in the ACE Summer Program with Restore Ministries, Inc. Today, I want to share some of my experiences by giving you a detailed look at my participation and how this program positively impacted me. When I heard that I would have a summer job for the first time ever, I was extremely excited, and wondered what Restore had in mind for me. I was thrilled to meet new people and ecstatic to learn what the job experience would be like. Although I was eager to get started, mandatory training at Johnsonburg Camp came first. When I first got to Johnsonburg Camp, I was stunned by the beauty and serenity of the location.
Training for this summer job was very collaborative and provided me with an opportunity to meet lots of people! We played some of the games that we, as counselors, would be doing with the campers. Additionally, we learned CPR, which was interesting, informative and an important skill to have. As a side note, all my peers became CPR certified; I also met lots of new people! Training also reviewed the theme for ACE Summer Program: Environmental Justice. Although I was never a super environmentally conscious person, by summer’s end, both the campers and I had learned a lot!
One of the projects that stood out for me was, “Adopt-APark,” which we completed at Warinanco Park. This activity was physically demanding, yet fun! Additionally, it was very satisfying to know that I helped the environment by removing invasive species and picking up trash from one of NJ’s beautiful parks. Another favorite activity was with the Institute of Music for Children. All these activities were very fun and informative. We learned about different art styles, artists, music genres, and instruments from different cultures. Additionally, we worked with pottery, painted, made masks, and learned about digital art and graphic design. And there’s more: we created our own companies and designed the logos. We also acquired new dance skills were educated about music styles. All these learning experiences broadened our minds, helped campers reach new levels of artistry, and equipped all of us with a better understanding of different cultures. Our minds continued to be broadened by another field trip: NOMA, Newark Museum of Art. The kids and I saw so many beautiful paintings and sculptures, including sculptures of animals!
Working in small groups was one of the most challenging and transformative experiences for me. For example, we read books to the campers, played games, and completed arts and crafts projects that were based on the book we read together. The games we played together gave campers a deeper understanding of and engaging way to work with and learn from the environment.
ACE Summer Program in National Newsletter!
Arts Community Enrichment Summer Program – Elizabeth, NJ.
From HEART Issue 21, 4th Quarter 2023, Pages 10 &11
“On July 19th, EPA Region 2, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) Environmental Response Team, and OEM CMAD provided an outreach event to students who are studying environmental justice and science during the summer. The Arts Community Enrichment (ACE) summer program is based in an underserved community and intended to enhance the educational experiences of students from Elizabeth, NJ. Over 30 students, ranging from rising 3rd graders to rising 12th graders, were given an overview of EPA’s mission and a tour of the EPA Edison facility and laboratory, followed by some hands-on experiences. These interactive sessions, including environmental sampling, air monitoring and mobile lab chemical analysis, were designed to inform the students on different paths of education and, hopefully, will inspire some to explore paths leading to careers in protecting human health and the environment. Feedback from the ACE leadership was very positive and the potential for repeating the event next year was discussed.”
THANK YOU EPA!
Volunteer’s Message
Greetings from Mary Beth Charters! I’m a second career interfaith chaplain, retired Learning Disabilities Teacher–Consultant, and volunteer with Restore Ministries after-school program. My experiences over the past year have underscored this program’s mission: to provide a safe, positive, and welcoming environment where participants are enriched and nurtured, community is built and a plethora of diverse activities are experienced. My role includes welcoming and engaging with program participants, and supporting the young adult and adult staff. My LDTC background naturally facilitates homework completion, which is an integral program component. As a volunteer, veteran educator and parent, this caring, welcoming community is highly recommended for any school-age child.
Program Director’s Message
In this edition, we briefly reflect upon the resounding success of last year’s ACE Summer Program and, looking forward, we include a snapshot of the exciting preparations for this summer. More detailed information can be found in the community flyer (enclosed). Registration has begun and program slots are filling up, which is a testimony to the program’s popularity and effectiveness. Rest assured, with your support, we will offer a month of learning and appreciation of the arts. A variety of experiences will provide campers and junior counselors with functional skills and hands-on work experiences. We will learn about social justice issues, participate in fun, recreational activities, and take a variety of cultural trips. The campers will take home many fulfilling summer experiences. We will be offering summer jobs and related training to Union County participants. This year’s training program will include three days of CPR, First Aid, and team building. Additionally, training will include familiarity with the summer curriculum, classroom and small group management skills, job descriptions and responsibilities, and the guidelines to ensure the safety of campers and junior counselors. The opportunity to be a junior counselor encourages and challenges youth workers in an environment where they will learn and practice leadership skills. I hope you enjoy the articles that reflect perspectives on last year’s Restore ACE Summer Program work. Your participation is essential for this summer. All our efforts to plan and execute an outstanding summer experience for campers and junior counselors is possible with your generous financial contribution. We are looking forward to another successful and blessed summer.
Ximena Carrasco, Program Director