Day 8

Hola!

        It seems like we just arrived here in the Dominican Republic a few days ago; time flies when you’re very busy.  Unfortunately, today was the last day of camp here at the Ecological Foundation as Michael, Ronnie, Brittany and I ran the camp for the kids.  We decided it would be a good idea to take the kids to the beach.  Amazingly, despite living right here in the Dominican Republic, they don’t get the chance to go there that often.  When we told the kids yesterday that we were going to the beach, they erupted with joy and applause.  The looks on their faces were priceless and something I will never forget. 

Walking the campers to the beach. 

        Today, we started out the camp with a dynamica and a short lesson on character.   We started off the lesson with a recap of what the other VT athletes had taught the kids earlier in the week, and then followed with our own lesson on character.  We emphasized that character includes self-discipline, core values, sense of identity, and emotional security; all the things we have learned from our time as Virginia Tech student athletes.  The kids were very receptive to our lesson and seemed to retain a lot of the information that we had taught them throughout the week.   It was very rewarding to know that the kids absorbed much of the information and feel like we are making a difference.

       Immediately following the lesson, we took the kids to the beach and they absolutely loved the experience!  They were swimming, splashing, doing handstands, and riding the airplane float.  We also brought a giant tarp to make a slip and slide into the beach!  As it turned out, it was somewhat of an organized chaos, but the kids had a really great time, and that’s all that mattered to us. 

       After the beach trip, we handed out certificates to each participant of the camp.  It was a great feeling to see the expressions on their faces when each child received their respective certificate.  I could see the sense of accomplishment in their eyes and the joy it brought to all of them.  However, I could also tell it was a bittersweet feeling for most of the kids, because they wanted to come back for another day, and I have to admit, so did I. 

      I have had such a great time with everyone at the camp and couldn’t have asked for a better experience.  I have learned so much from the DPV representatives, the kids, and also learned a lot about myself on this trip.  I couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity. 

Trey Gresh


***here's a couple more pics from the last few days***

Jared keeps a close eye on a camper.

 

Kelly hasn't gone a day without having a camper in her arms. 

On our way to the batey, our bus got a flat tire which turned
out to be a pretty cool time to check out the town we were in,
 take some pics and eat some of the best pina (pinapple) in our lives.