Camp Constitution

Camp Constitution  has created an Uncle Sam album on its Vimeo page.  The album consists of a video of a walk through the Uncle Sam House in Mason, NH, a walk through the Uncle Sam Poster Museum in Sonoma, CA, an interview of “The Life and Times of Uncle Sam” author, George Jacques,  a presentation by Fred Polinish of Uncle Sam at Camp Constitution, a 1970′s documentary on Uncle Sam,” A man Named Sam”-an interview of Jean-Pierre and Cecile Mouraux, owners of the Uncle Sam House and Uncle Sam Museum, which was produced by the Arlington, MA public access station, and a video of the Uncle Sam Statue in Troy, NY.

Camp Constitution’s motto is ”Honoring the Past…Teaching the Present…Preparing the Future.”  We think that by keeping the memory of Uncle Sam Wilson alive we help to  accomplish all three.    Check out the videos

http://vimeo.com/album/1774785

There are parallels between the US Department of Education and the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter’s Order of the Phoenix. This centralized governing educational bureaucracy is run by corrupt high officials who appear to be disoriented and incompetent, but are conspiring with Lord Voldemort to weaken Hogwart’s School, so the students do not learn what is necessary to defend themselves against his quest for power and dominance.  The Ministry heads are disdainful and patronizing towards teachers, students and muggle’s.  The result is a faltering educational system that compromises the vulnerable and captive students and places them in jeopardy.

Hogwarts’ educational program is undermined by Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Dolores Umbridge, whose personage, brightly colored clothing and upbeat tone of voice makes one mistake her as a well-meaning delightful person.  She first is assigned as a teacher to provide instruction on “Defence Against the Dark Arts,” while she proceeds to actually make the children defenseless against them. The Ministry promotes her as Hogwarts’ “High Inquisitor” with power to inspect and remove teachers. She ultimately succeeds as Headmaster to control curriculum and the administration of Hogwarts.  The shrewd students, who are determined to learn, go underground and begin teaching themselves what they must know to survive.

Mirroring this is the US Department of Education whose numerous costly mandates and initiatives also impede children’s ability to learn.  Taking phonics out of reading programs, for example, in favor of “whole word recognition” is like expecting Hogwarts’ students to cast spells before they know how to pronounce them syllabically.  Get a syllable wrong, and you have the wrong spell.  You aim for one outcome but arrive at another.

While the outcomes are fictitious for Harry Potter and his friends, the sad realities our children struggle through in their classrooms are not.

Earl C. Wallace, is author of  The Three-Dimensional Leader: Negotiating Your Mission, Resources and Context.   His blogs in 300 words or less give busy people 3-D MRC leadership & problem solving insights. To learn to see your work in 3-D, visit www.ThreeDimensionalLeader.com or Email him at EarlW@ThreeDimensionalLeader.com

This is a link to an article and video  from our friend William Landers of Ameriborn

News honoring the Pilgrims.  Happy Thanksgiving from Camp Constitution.

http://www.ameribornnews.com/2011/11/23/1124/

http://www.ameribornnews.com/2011/11/23/1124/

Tea Partry Meeting

Camp Constitution was invited to speak at the Mechanicsville Tea Party, Mechanicsville, Virginia last week.    The topic:  How to start a family camp program.  Camp director Hal Shurtleff accompanied by his son Nathaniel, and daughter, Emily (both veteran campers) were welcomed by an enthusiastic group.  Mr. Shurtleff  conducted a power point presentation (see link) discussing  Camp Constitution’s history, goals,  successful family camp program in New Hampshire, and how to start a camp.  The presentation was well received and we are optimistic  that Camp Constitution will have a sister camp program in Virginia or at the very least, a bus load of new campers at next year’s family camp in New hampshire.

Camp Constitution wants to thank the good folks with the Mechanicsville Tea Party especially its president, Mr. Gerry Baugh, and attorney Sandy Sanders who originally extended the invitation.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/73471925/Camp-Constitution-Power-Point-Presentation

Congratulations to James Perloff on composing the best book of science I have yet read!  “Tornado In a Junkyard” clearly and intelligently explains evolution as a theory and exactly how it cannot earn the title of fact.  Every teenager should read this book.  -from Katie Bartleson