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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 Claudia Solorio. 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, electronic messengers and fax is 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, linology, 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, hat-making, “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.
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