Camino Claro Blog http://caminoclaro.org/blog Bringing communities together through education. Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:52:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 en The other day I opened my mailbox… http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/08/the-other-day-i-opened-my-mailbox/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/08/the-other-day-i-opened-my-mailbox/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:52:15 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=678 …and to my pleasant surprise, I found that a manila envelope had arrived from Pavones, Costa Rica. Inside was a handmade We Miss You card, addressed to me and Raphel and signed by dozens of little hands. The signatures and messages in all colors and sizes, some charmingly illegible, brought tears to my eyes and gave me a feeling of Pavones-sickness (one need only to go there once to know what I’m taking about). It has been over a year since Raphel and I left Pavones to resume our US-bound lives. In that time I know we have both thought about ECC and the community constantly, as well as felt an overwhelming amount of pride and gratitude toward Lisa for carrying on the dream. The card was a touching and thoughtful gesture- thank you Lisa and all the ECC students- Raphel and I miss you too! A visit to our tropical home is in the works for next year…

My tissues are out of reach, so enough with the sap and let’s get on with the updates!

Thanks Volunteers

A big Thank You is in order for several volunteers who have been working with Escuela Camino Claro recently. ECC has flourished over the past five years because of community support, donations, and the hard work of its volunteers:

Jillian, Shooting Star’s substitute yoga instructor, is leaving and will sorely be missed. Her acro yoga and stretching classes were a great addition to ECC’s repertoire.

Thank you also to Laura Guitar and her daughters for your volunteered time and donations of play-dough, books, and coloring books!

Anne, our volunteer from France, has been helping out with Center Time and introducing new, fun activities, such as homemade natural play-dough.

The most recent arrival from Oregon, Listen (and her daughter Rose), will be volunteering at Center Time, Farmers Markets, and hopefully by sharing her computer skills. What an exciting prospect, since computers don’t bode well with humidity and dust… perhaps a revival of ECC’s computer literacy classes?

Multicultural Fair Highlights

This year’s Annual Feria Multicultural was the biggest one yet! The Fair started in 2009 (see blog post here) and aims to bring all parts of the community together while highlighting the multiculturalism that exists in Costa Rica. This year it turned out to be beautifully organized, with 18 schools participating and many countries being represented. ECC represented The United States and Mexico (Lisa’s homelands!) with a theme of “humankind as one big family.” There were performances of multicultural dances, from hula to karate, music, food, speeches, and even a marching band. Thanks to Gayle, Bobby, Cabinas Carols, Kayla, and Gail for their help in raising funds for ECC.

Well done, Pavones!

Otras Noticias

  • Farmer’s markets continue to prosper. July’s market incorporated a garage sale to split profits with Punta Banco’s Community Library.
  • The long-awaited ECC school store is up and running. Lisa has created a space for students, parents, and the rest of the community to buy and sell books, art supplies, toys, quality used clothes and shoes, handmade crafts, and Guaymi artesania.
  • The core classes continue to grow and change: children’s English classes, adult Spanish classes, and all-ages Center time.

Keep in touch for the next post,

Signing off for now

-Jeili (Haley spelled in Costa Rican)

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/08/the-other-day-i-opened-my-mailbox/feed/ Spring has sprung http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/05/spring-has-sprung/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/05/spring-has-sprung/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 22:29:16 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=663 Spring greetings from Escuela Camino Claro!

What’s been happening at ECC the past few months?

‘Tis about time for some ECC updates, tidbits, news, and other anecdotes.

Earth Day

ECC celebrated Earth Week by joining in on a community beach cleanup, followed by an Easter celebration at the community center. Lisa facilitated several Earth Day- inspired activities, turning the day into an educational and fun-filled celebration. As you can see, bilingual bingo finds its way into every celebration…

Farmer’s Market

The Farmer’s Market continues is the Pura Vida fashion (relaxed and non-hurried). Now that several of these monthly markets have taken place, it’s catching on! A great way for local ticos, foreign residents, Guaymi indigenous, and tourists to share their goods and produce. Plus we all need a stimulus in the economy, right?

Other Classes and Activities

ECC’s bilingual programs and daycare continue on with great success and increasing attendance. We wouldn’t be nearly as successful without the help from The EDGE Charitable Foundation and their generous donation of school supplies.

Creating a Thank You banner is a great excuse for an art project…

…The final product!

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/05/spring-has-sprung/feed/ Thank You THE EDGE http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/03/thank-you-the-edge/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/03/thank-you-the-edge/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:54:30 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=646

On a four-month-long journey via car, plane, taxi, bus, and rickety wagon, The EDGE school supplies have finally made it to Escuela Camino Claro in Pavones.

It doesn’t look like much, right? A few cardboard boxes, some packages, but believe me- a little goes a long way for this grass roots non-profit community education center. Notebooks, paper, pencils, pens… these bountiful treasures help support Escuela Camino Claro, bring the community together, and nourish our souls!

The EDGE Charitable Foundation

The Early Development of Global Education (EDGE) Charitable Foundation welcomed Escuela Camino Claro (ECC) as a charity member in March 2009. The EDGE Children for Children Charitable Foundation, an international program of the Miami-based foundation, provides environmental education, advocacy, and services to children globally while fostering connections with children in the US. ECC is proud to be among their list of much-deserving international charity groups.

Their spring fundraiser, The Green Masquerade Ball, and partnership with Staples, Allied Paper, and Board Member Jose Martinez resulted in these school supplies arriving on our doorstep lats week!

Thank You The EDGE!!

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/03/thank-you-the-edge/feed/ Farmer’s Market http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/02/farmers-market/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/02/farmers-market/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:53:01 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=633 Escuela Camino Claro’s Farmer’s Market:
Becoming a great success!

Despite the rain, the 2nd official Farmer’s Market brought a great turnout and many parts of the community came together to buy/sell/trade an array of local items. Handmade arts and crafts, locally-grown fruits & veggies, and yummy baked goods were some of the highlights.

ECC will host a Farmer’s Market the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month

Come visit us! And stay tuned for more pictures and information as this event becomes a fixture in the community.

Local Guaymi Indigenous selling their traditional clothing and crafts

More local talent

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/02/farmers-market/feed/ Thanks for the shout-out http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/01/thanks-for-the-shout-out/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/01/thanks-for-the-shout-out/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:31:30 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=625 Escuela Camino Claro was recently mentioned in the
Good Morning Pavones blog

Click here to check it out!

Good Morning Pavones is a wonderful resource for news directly from Pavones: articles about life in a surfing community, travel in Costa Rica, local events and services, investing, the environment, and more. If you’re interested in our community center and want to know more about what’s going on in the area, I urge you all to take a peek.

Thanks for mentioning ECC!

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/01/thanks-for-the-shout-out/feed/ Escuela Camino Claro Fundraiser http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/01/escuela-camino-claro-fundraiser/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/01/escuela-camino-claro-fundraiser/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:24:48 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=616 Escuela Camino Claro Fundraiser & Silent Auction

December 2010

Bring on the New Year!

What a grand way to wrap up 2010 and introduce ECC’s next academic year by hosting a community event for a good cause, as well as having a party! This is the second official fundraiser held in Pavones, among the very community that ECC strives to serve, making this event extra special for everyone involved (and abroad!).

Lisa Thrash, the current manager/administrator at Escuela Camino Claro, did a great job organizing the silent auction and putting the whole thing together. Lisa, Raphel and I wish we could have been there!

Words of gratitude

Lisa would like to thank the following individuals and local businesses for their help and support during this event:

“The ECC Fundraiser was a great success! A great big thank you to all our wonderful friends who donated their goods and services; those who spread the word and those who attended.

Just to name a few:

La Pina Restaurant for hosting the fundraiser and donating 40% of the sales to ECC (Rosella, you cook exquisite Italian food)
Sassy, my right-hand (wo)man
Mira Olas (one- night stay)
Katie at Pavones Yoga Center (massage)
Maruja, guided horse tour
Bar La Plaza (dinner for two)
Cafe de La Suerte (lunch for two)
La Sirena (Brazillian dress)
Ebenezer (dinner for two)
Clear River Adventure (bike/kayak rental for two)
Pavones Hotshotz (souvenir photo cd of Pavones)
Casa Tranquilo (one night stay for two with surf lesson)
Brent’s Dents ($50 ding repair)

Pura Vida and Happy New Year

From Escuela Camino Claro

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2011/01/escuela-camino-claro-fundraiser/feed/ Another rainy season survived http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/12/another-rainy-season-survived/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/12/another-rainy-season-survived/#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:51:56 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=592 Lisa held down the fort during the rainiest rainy-season ever (but don’t we say that every year?). This is not an easy task, but when the sun begins to shine and the walls dry out, spirits are lifted once again.

An update from Lisa~

Although the open hours have decreased in the past few months, the children continue to enjoy ECC on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Even through the rainiest season on record, they are still arriving! We have added on a Mystery Center: a weekly theme-inspired creative center that inspires the children in different ways. We’ve already done some painting and gardening projects, and activities like a science lab and a Christmas art project center are in the works for December. Of course, the coloring room, game table, puzzle table, and reading center (where they either read a book to one of the volunteers or they can have one read to them…..depending on the age) are ongoing.

Funds are very low in the community due to the extra long rainy season and minimal tourist money coming in, so the families have really enjoyed ECC’s free programs. Needless to say, the paid language classes dwindled down due to that as well, however they should pick up in a month. The rainy season has been so intense it wasn’t practical or possible to start the Farmer’s Market….but now that the sun has come out, it’s time! The 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month will be our Farmer’s Market day!

In February, with the help of Jaime and Gerardo, we will be incorporating a new program into ECC’s repertoire: A homeschooling program called Maestro en Casa, designed for the numerous high school drop-outs. Escuela Camino Claro will provide the space two to three days a week for a few hours. The tutor will be Gerardo who has a finger on the pulse of the community and knows who needs the assistance and encouragement. Gerardo was last year’s ESL teacher for youth and adults- and they love him! Also, we have four laptops that are just waiting for our computer genius, Dean, to arrive back in town so they can come back to life. Computers have a knack for dying on us in the tropics. Then ECC can offer a free cmputer/Internet lab for the Maestro en Casa program and the Guaymi Indigenous who just can’t afford the high priced Internet service in Pavones. We’re getting ready to do a fundraiser…will keep you posted as it manifests!

Holiday Wishlist

For anyone in the area, the school has a wish list: Spanish books, bookshelves, a floor lamp or large lamp, metal bars for two windows (for the school store). For most of you who don’t live in or around Pavones, donations are always welcome as we continue to pay rent, and electric, phone, and internet bills.

To donate via Paypal (safe and secure!) go to ECC’s website here or contact Haley and Raphel at info@caminoclaro.org

To contact Lisa Thrash: call (506)2776-2245 or (506)2776-2243, or email rainbowcountrysurfers@yahoo.com.

We are on Facebook: Lisa Thrash and Escuela Camino Claro. See recent photos and… say hi :)

Thank you sun for coming out! and thanks to all of you who have supported ECC in the past, those that continue to support us, and those that will in the future!

Pura Vida, Lisa

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/12/another-rainy-season-survived/feed/ Fall 2010 Newsletter http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/12/fall-2010-newsletter/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/12/fall-2010-newsletter/#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:55:21 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=593
Time is flying by at Escuela Camino Claro and we have lots to report from last fall,
so without further ado:

New Management

Lisa Thrash, one of ECC’s teachers for the past two years, has taken over the administrative duties of the community education center since Raphel and I will not have a physical presence in Pavones this school year. She is an excellent candidate for the position because, over the years, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to the students and to the community at large, as well as being a skilled teacher. Lisa believes in ECC’s mission and is dedicated to upholding its values and high educational standards. Since it’s proved challenging, at times, to relinquish complete control of the school, it’s a relief to leave ECC in a pair of familiar and capable hands. We’re happy to be working with Lisa from the states and providing her with a support system while she takes charge with full creative control!  Go Lisa!

New activities and services

While our 2010 volunteer teacher, Jacob Smithers, did an excellent job engaging ECC students in a variety of classes and community improvement projects, there are a few new activities worth mentioning.

The most noteworthy was the grand opening of ECC’s new Educational Open House on September 9th, coinciding with Costa Rica’s national holiday, Children’s Day. The Open House is a new program where ECC opens its doors to the community for two hours twice a week and anyone is welcome to come and partake in the education and art-related “stations.” Some of the stations include drawing and coloring, puzzles and other games, reading, bingo, English intercambio, and singing and dancing, while incorporating The EDGE environmental education curriculum as much as possible. In addition, one of ECC’s classroom will be a “toddler’s room,” set up specifically for toddlers and their moms to play and interact with each other. In turn, the Open House will be able to combine many ages, skill levels, and languages even more than before and let everyone get loose and have some fun.

Also an exciting development: Lisa is in the process of obtaining a business license so that ECC can sell arts, crafts, and home-grown produce at the new Green Fair/Farmers Market. Although this project is still in the works, its purpose is to allow local artisans to display their work, create a community gathering space, and foster the relationship between ECC and the community. A portion of sales will go to fund ECC and keep it afloat.

ECC now has a garden! Amidst the tangles of the backyard jungle, Lisa has worked with ECC students to put together a small veggie garden. Life sure does thrive in this tropical environment, so I’m sure there will be some salads to snack on in the near future - or sell at the Farmer’s Market.

Last but not least, it important to mention that the English Immersion classes for the little kiddos are still ECC’s most a successful program. The 3-5 year-olds and their parents, of course, love this bilingual class: there is a constant demand. Eliana, a local high school student, continues as Lisa’s part-time assistant. Adult ESL classes will start up again by mid-October (even in the rainy season… unbelievable!)

Pura Vida…

… FUNDRAISER, that is!  Although not as lucrative as I’d hoped, it sure was a blast! Thanks to Craig Chee and his band, Luckey’s Tavern, and everyone in Eugene that came out to celebrate with us and donate to the cause. Hawaiian ukulele music in a bar in Eugene, Oregon raising money for a school in Costa Rica… a bit out of the ordinary, indeed! I know a lot of you couldn’t make it, but don’t fret, you can always make it up to us by donating on our website.

ECC thanks you for your continued support, insight, and pura vida spirit. Keep it coming!

~Haley (and Raphel! and Lisa!)

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/12/fall-2010-newsletter/feed/ Mucho Gusto Mel http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/08/mucho-gusto-mel/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/08/mucho-gusto-mel/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:35:06 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=588 A word from our new guest teacher

Allow me to introduce Melissa Smithers, Escuela Camino Claro’s guest teacher who has been volunteering for the month of August:

I came to Costa Rica at the beginning of July and I absolutely love it here in Pavones. I adore going to the library in the mornings and reading with the children, and I’ve been enjoying helping Jake with his classes as well as working with ECC’s English reading classes. I’ve been working with kids most of my life, starting when I was 12 years old helping out some of my parents’ friends who had young children. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and both of my parents work in the school district there, so it seems natural that I would be involved with kids myself. While I was at Seattle University studying for a BA in Liberal Studies, I volunteered for a developmental preschool and worked especially with kids who had autism and other behavior issues. I also traveled to Mexico for 9 months, in 2009, and volunteered for a number of different projects including a non-profit farm that cared for donated animals and a children’s orphanage. I also taught free English classes during my travels.

I love traveling and exploring new places, meeting new people, and trying new foods! When I’m not working with kids in the US, I’m generally working around food and have worked at several bakery/cafes in Seattle. I feel so lucky to be able to meet all these kids in Pavones and come experience life here! I hope to make it back some day to do more teaching.

Photo by Jake: “the kids have taken to Mel real quick, imagine that. the library is consistently filled with the murmur of reading and the miracle of childrens’ laughter.. ha ha, not joke. and for the most part neither are forced, but merely encouraged with prizes of candy or pencils. go Mel!”

]]> http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/08/mucho-gusto-mel/feed/ Kid’s photography http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/08/kids-photography/ http://caminoclaro.org/blog/2010/08/kids-photography/#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:27:57 +0000 Haley http://caminoclaro.org/blog/?p=575 A few years ago no one even knew how to work a digital camera…

…now Escuela Camino Claro students have their very own online photography blog! Jacob’s creativity and skill as an educator and photographer has brought this exciting new addition to ECC’s class repertoire.  The kids that are in his Computer Literacy and Digital Photography class are learning much more than the location of the computer’s power button and how to simply type in a word processing program- in a self-directed homework project they created their own photo journalism by taking pictures of their surroundings, writing stories about it, and even helping to upload the pics on the site. They are way ahead of the game when it comes to technology (still struggling with this myself!) AND they put their artistic talents and imagination to use. That’s what I like to see.

Click here to check out the blog. It’s pretty cute (see below) and surprisingly thoughtful. One of their projects was to find all the letters in their names in nature, very creative.

Here’s an example of what you will see- sorry if you don’t speak Spanish. At least the picture is pretty.

Una Flor

de Korana

Mi primera foto es una flor muy bonita yo la encontre en el jardin de mi casa.  Me gusta mucho su color y me gusta mucho su color y me gusta el sabor de la flor tambien por que es muy asida.  Mi mama lo tiene en dos colores en blanca y rosado.

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