Creation Vacation 2011

The below narrative was written by Gracie Garcia, Program Director at Bienestar Housing Development Corporation and family coordinator for Western Washington County Creation Vacation.  For the past three years, she has participated in Creation Vacation family camp with Bienestar families, and this year, was joined by Family Friends (volunteers who accompany families) primarily from Cornelius, Hillsboro and Beaverton, but also from Troutdale and Seaside. 

JULY 2011 CREATION VACATION REPORT

What is Creation Vacation? Creation Vacation is a program of the United Methodist Church offering very low-income families the opportunity to experience a few days of family vacation, enjoying a supportive community and the wonder of creation. For many, it is a respite from the struggles of daily life. The United Methodist Church once again provided funding for Bienestar families. 

Camp Magruder is situated along one of the most pristine stretches of ocean and beach in the Pacific Northwest. The camp is located at the end of Old Pacific Highway just south of the small coastal community of Rockaway Beach, Oregon. The camp has been hosting camp & retreat programs for children, youth, adults and families since 1945.

    
Mira Conklin from the Cornelius church met with the families during the year, preparing them for the time they will spend at camp, followed up after camp through continued contact as friends.

Reverend Eric Conklin and his wife, Mira, from the Cornelius United Methodist Church, are long time community partners and graciously arranged the sponsorship of 15 Bienestar families this year (27 adults and 40 children).  This is the third year that our Bienestar families have had the opportunity to participate in the Creation Vacation program.  Our families came from Elm Park, Jose Echeverria, Willow Park, and Montebello, Sierra West, Sunset Gardens and Reedville apartments. For some of our families this was the first time they experienced this retreat. The church recruits volunteers who serve as “Family Friends” assigned to each Bienestar family to be sure they have a good time.  These cross cultural connections are continued in many cases during the year.

Our families enjoyed a three day retreat in comfortable accommodations in the camp's 16 lodges and rustic cabins and enjoyed nutritious and delicious home style buffet meals prepared on-site, including home-made breads and soups, fresh fruit and vegetables, vegetarian and vegan alternatives and wonderful hospitality in the Carrier Lodge. Families worked cooperatively agreeing to kitchen patrol duties such as setting tables, cleaning tables after meals, and washing dishes.  Families participated in a salsa making contest and everyone enjoyed tasting the different salsas.

They explored trails that meander through dunes, forest, and wetland areas between Smith Lake and the Pacific Ocean. Children and their parents enjoyed the big swing, basketball court, volleyball pit, tetherball, sports fields, playground, table tennis, and archery, kite flying at the beach, boating, swimming, canoeing, wave jumping and use of the campfire circle.  Arts and crafts activities included; a Family Friend (United Methodist church volunteer) taking family photos and families making picture frames. Moms and children also loved making paper tissue flowers, boys and dads learned to make paper airplanes.

          

One family said they were worried that the children would be bored without their IPods and video games but with all the activities that were offered they never once said they were bored or mentioned their video games.  This gave them the idea of planning activities at home and using the community resources.  This family time was positively memorable and the Bienestar families were very appreciative of the opportunity to enjoy this experience.

                                 

Respectfully Submitted,

Gracie Garcia and Staff