For Immediate Release
Wonder Works Day Camp Contact: Janny Stratichuk, 208-301-3478, jstratichuk@americanhumanist.org
American Humanist Association Contact: Merrill Miller, 202-238-9088 ext. 105, merrillmiller@americanhumanist.org
(Moscow, ID, July 28, 2014) — Last week the Humanists of the Palouse held their first annual day camp, called Wonder Works, for children in the Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, area. The camp ran for five days from July 21 to July 25, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm PDT, daily. Sixteen children attended the camp. Wonder Works Day Camp programs offered kids fun and educational experiences, giving them the opportunity to grow individually and contribute in a meaningful way to the local community, while discovering new interests and creating new friendships.
“The goal of Wonder Works is to offer local families an alternative to religion-based free programs such as Vacation Bible School, and to help them thrive and grow while school is out,” said Camp Director Janny Stratichuk. “Attending Wonder Works Day Camp is a great way to keep kids busy, active and learning during the summer.”
Wonder Works offered activities based around a progressing theme of individuality extending out into the larger world: Uniquely You, In Their Shoes, Building Community, Taking Care of Our World and Creating Peace. Activities included doing children’s yoga, exploring DNA science, making personalized placemats for clients of Meals on Wheels, building and stocking a Little Free Library, fostering environmental awareness and folding giant origami cranes for the Peace Crane Project.
Wonder Works Day Camp concluded with a celebratory picnic for all attendees and their families and friends at Phillips Farm Park in Moscow. Children enjoyed face painting and a scavenger hunt. Entertainment was provided by local band Henry C and the Willards and the Washington State University Raptor Club.
A local nonprofit and chapter of the American Humanist Association, the Humanists of the Palouse works directly in the community to bring awareness of living a good life without a god. Wonder Works Day Camp is the first secular day camp of its kind in the area. The organization’s hope is to provide children with a model for positive values that build character.
For more information, visit facebook.com/wonderworksdaycamp.
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The mission of Humanists of the Palouse is to advance community through rational thought and expanding knowledge. The organization defines humanism as a naturalistic philosophy that rejects all supernaturalism and relies primarily upon reason, science, democracy, and human compassion.
Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C, the American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists and other non-religious Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming philosophy of humanism, which—without beliefs in any gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.