9/11/01 Update: Camp New Ground

Dear friends in Christ,

The voices of children are echoing this summer throughout Lutheran church halls in New York and New Jersey. The children are attending "Camp New Ground," a program of Lutheran Disaster Response designed to assist children completing kindergarten through eight grades to deal with issues of trauma associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In its second year, "New Ground" is overseen by Camp Koinonia NYC and directed by the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer. Professional counselors and trained staff engage children in conversation and activities that allow them to think and talk about their feelings. Church settings are places where children can bring their fears and joys.

This year Camp New Ground began on Monday, July 7, at Bethlehem, Baldwin; Bethlehem, Brooklyn; Epiphany, Bronx; Holy Trinity, Bellrose; Our Savior's, Brooklyn, Transfiguration, Bronx; and Trinity, Brooklyn. A visit by reporter Wendy Healy to Holy Trinity, on July 8 and found 36 happy campers. How are the children doing after 9/11? "They're doing just great," said Stella Woodroffe, a credentialed school counselor who is the on-site mental health professional through New Ground's association with the Lutheran Counseling Center. "The fact that so many of them came back from last summer means that they're having a great time," said Woodroffe.

A very fine article about Camp New Ground was written recently by May Ann Bourbeau, Staff Writer for The Home News Tribune of New Brunswick, New Jersey (www.thnt.com). In her copywriten report, published 7/23/03, she writes,

"East Brunswick: Though it happened nearly two years ago, many children are still affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The New Ground Day Camp at Nativity Evangelical Lutheran Church last week offered to give those children an outlet to discuss their lingering feelings.

"It's all done in a fun way. The 24 children who enrolled spent last week at the church learning about God and themselves, while at the same time making crafts, singing songs, performing skits and playing games. "'Last year, the kids were having nightmares,' said Marie Segal, a church member who is also a child and adolescent psychologist. 'Research shows that many children have probably moved from nightmares to a sense of loneliness. We don't know what they're feeling because their feelings have moved inward. It's naive to think that the world we're living in today does not affect them.'

"Segal, an East Brunswick resident and Kean University professor, took a week's vacation to counsel the children at the camp. She helped the children in kindergarten through eighth grade discuss issues that have affected them more recently, such as the war in Iraq and school lockdown drills.

"'The program helps them understand their feelings, helps them grow and take control over their world,' she said. 'We help them build a sense of confidence, let them know that adults are here to support them, and so is the spiritual world. Why wouldn't I take a vacation for that? It's the best present you can give a child.'

"The participants attended a morning worship service each day, followed by a craft, some games and a Bible discussion. Each then met with an adviser.

"'The program gave the children tools to deal with their traumatic thoughts and feelings,' said Pastor Jill Ellen Collict. 'They learned to develop the skills to cope. It's important because they still live with the fear that something will happen again.'

"The campers made a collage of things that are important to them, such as favorite foods, words and pictures of family. Then they discussed why they put each item on the collage. They sang interactive songs with fun delivery, such as a prayer that was put to the 'Superman' theme.

"'It gives them the opportunity to come here, establish friendships and feel comfortable,' said Connie Kurpgeweit of Nebraska, team coordinator for Camp Koinonia, a Lutheran Christian camp in Highland Lake, N.Y. 'It's not hard to open up to the right person, and Marie is the right person.'

"The program is sponsored by the Lutheran Disaster Response of New York. The curriculum was created by Camp Koinonia. Adult and high school youth members also assisted in the program.

"Nancy Oberwanowicz, site coordinator for the congregation, was on the 48th floor of Building Two of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit.

"'At times, it's still hard for me to talk about it,' she said.

"She not only had to deal with her own feelings about the life-altering incident, but those of her now 9-year-old daughter, Hope.

"'It hit her hard,' Oberwanowicz said. 'Sometimes she still has anxiety issues when we're separated.'

"Though Hope wasn't thrilled with the idea of going to Bible camp last summer, she gave it a try.

"'I didn't want to be there on my birthday,' she said. 'I didn't think it would be any fun. But they surprised me with a cake. I made a lot of friends last year and some of them came back this year.'

"Hope said she had a lot of fun but also learned a lot in the program.

"'They helped me handle my problems and stress about that day,' she said. 'After a while, it wasn't a problem anymore. Everyone has to move on in life. Sometimes, I still get kind of scared when my mother leaves the house because I think something will happen to her. But the counselor is really nice and she helped me so much. And I learned that the Holy Spirit is always with you just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.'"

Your generosity has made the development of "New Ground Day Camp" as a Lutheran gift to children traumatized by the September 11, 2001 acts of terrorism. Your continuing prayers and contributions enable this gift to be continued again this year and in future years.

To contribute to the on-going efforts in response to 9/11/01:

ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "9/11: Comfort and Renew"
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764

Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster

LC-MS World Relief - "9/11: Comfort and Renew"
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810

Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438

Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) will continue its mission of bringing together the resources and efforts of Lutherans to people in need, and reaching out to others with Gospel hope and help.

Yours in Christ,

Gil Furst

Gilbert B. Furst (written on Wednesday July 30, 2003 at 10:15 a.m.). Director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in Society) and Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS) 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493 Please visit our new website