ElmOlinoMich.com
Title
El Molino - Campamento de Verano - Erongaricuaro Michoacan - Mexico
Contact
- CASEac
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Description
About El Molino, Erongarícuaro, Michoacán The El Molino camp, the primary activity of the Centro de Actividades y Servicios Educactivos A.C., is situated in the village of Erongarícuaro near Lake Pátzcuaro in the state of Michoacán, about 20 minutes beyond the small city Pátzcuaro. The altitude is 7000 feet so it can be hot in the day and cool at night. It is very quiet except on market mornings and has little through traffic. The children are housed in a converted grain mill from the XVI century, called El Molino, set in well kept gardens, with football fields, fish ponds, etc. They sleep in dormitories designated for boys or girls and the number of children per room varies. There are rooms for children from 6-8 years old, from 9-10 year olds, and from 11-13 year olds. Bathrooms are attached to each room and two counsellors sleep in the room. Care begins at the moment of arrival, at the time of boarding a chartered bus in Mexico City , or in the airport. On arrival to the Molino a meeting is held in the child's room and the room counsellors explain what is expected, how to keep the room tidy, etc. These counsellors take charge of the room banks (children's money); supervise the daily hot showers, usually after the morning workshop when it's warm and sunny. The counsellors are experienced and caring and will follow out any special instructions e.g. take the child to toilet in the middle of the night. Further meetings are held to discuss children's feelings or any problems. One of the first room group activities is an earthquake drill. There is a high ratio of counsellors to children. They come from a variety of backgrounds. Peter Smith is the director, and Fidel Maldonado (a local primary school headmaster), along with Carmen Hernandez (an anthropologist and outdoor specialist), QFB Claudia Nava, who administers all medicines, Martin Ruiz and psychologist Pilar Rodriguez. All share the organization and supervision. Quite a number of the counsellors are native to Erongarícuaro, have a certain level of education and have trained and worked in El Molino over years to be sensitive to children's needs. There are other counsellors, who are graduates in other fields and are having years of experience in camps. The director is always around and involved in all aspects of the camp. There is comfortable relationship between all members of the staff-a very discrete hierarchy. The ethos is child centred and different personalities and varied needs of the children are accepted. There are clear limits. With a high ratio of staff all areas of the camp are well supervised. When the children go to their workshops through the village, the helper who accompanies them has very specific instructions on how to look after the group. Care is taken at all times to insure the children's safety. Claudia Nava, an experienced staff member, receives the medical forms and any medicine which children are currently taking. She immediately notes any instructions and is responsible for administering the medicine. All staff members administer first aid. Parents will be informed about any medical treatment required during the camp. For minor accidents, cuts, grazes, etc. the children are given excellent immediate attention and on going care. For anything more serious, children will be taken to the doctor. Contact from home by telephone or fax in not encouraged during the camp. Were there to be an emergency or medical question the parents would be contacted. The workshops are at the centre of the camp activities and there is a strong educational element from both the academic and social points of view. This camp provides a unique opportunity for the children to extend and apply their learning beyond the classroom and home environments. The workshop leaders are knowledgeable in their fields and the children participate in activities which are not available to them in school. A variety of workshops are provided. Many are field sciences that include natural resource management and have specialist teachers: field biology, bacteriology, ecology, botany, alternate energies, experiments with nature, and the animal care in their habitats workshops. Some of the crafts workshops are sedentary and in the home of local craftsmen(women): weaving, paper mache, perfumery, “alebrijes”, “deshilado”, and traditional cooking. There are also artistic workshops lead by professional artists: music, writing, linoleum engraving and printing, radio production, geometric design and a jewellery workshop. There are schools that design the camp around academic themes such as “water” or “16 th century history and science.” The workshops are then integrated into the field studies. There are many sport activities and games including soccer and volleyball. In the summer a mini-world cup and a mini-Olympics are organized. Evenings include night hikes, camp fires, team games, singing, dance classes, art, and theatre games. The www.elmolinomich.com site has the medical forms and lists of what to bring to the camp. The medical form serves as the inscription form. Deposits to reserve a place in the camp are organized with the office in Mexico D.F. at telephone 55-55-40-63-73. The Mexico D F. office's e-mail is: caseac@prodigy.net.mx For the summer camps the deposits and payments are organized through the México D.F. office. The schools that participate during the school year inform the parents directly about the deposits and payment schedules.
