Vacation Bible School Camp

Dozens of children took a break from the pool and other fun events at Camp Loud Thunder to learn about other campers.

As the children gathered around in a big circle beneath a cluster of old oak trees--i shared the story and inspiration behind my first children's book--Willie's Wagon.

After the presentation, I invited a friend to come up and talk, too. Dani is a cancer survivor. This was her final year as a camper at The Heart Connection's Oncology Camp (I call it cancer camp for short). This year was her final year as a camper. Next year she will be a councilor.

It was great to see all of the children listening carefully to what she was saying. She talked about how similar 'cancer camp' is to their bible camp. She talked about friendships formed that she will treasure for ever. Friendships being formed right now at camps all over the area.

The kids asked a lot of questions--like 'what is was like to lose your hair'? But they are doing more than asking questions and having fun at camp. These boys and girls are competing to see who can raise the most money this week. That money will go to -----you guessed it, send children to cancer camp next year.

Great job kids at Vacation Bible School Camp! You are making a difference!

Frogs, Snakes, and Catfish in the Pool!

I have never been to camp before. As a child, we spent most of our summers playing sports with neighbors and heading to a small cabin our family had at a place called Twin Lakes.

Twin Lakes had a deep pool (20 feet deep) with a sand bottom. Sometimes the lake-fed pool would be home to small catfish that would fin your feet when the screen came off the pump. There were also countless frogs swimming beside you. Occasionally a water snake would appear right beside us! Of course because the water was cloudy, you had no idea what was under you.

Willie has been going to more friendly camps. Next week we are presenting at a vacation bible camp in Andalusia, Illinois. The kids there want to raise moeny to send a sick child to cancer camp next year. We are also set up to visit a new camp, Camp Genesis, that caters to children who have had a family member affected by cancer.

Willie is off to camp--- no fish, snakes or frogs to worry about :)

Gary

So now that we are blogging, I am eager to hear from you. In particular, I want to hear from those of you who have attended a Willie's Wagon event! There have been a lot. We visited over 55 schools so far! We expect this year to exceed that as we get ready to launch Willie's next adventure.

Thanks for taking part!

Do any kids read when they don't have to? Yes!!!

Who says kids don't read during the summer? I just had a great turn-out for an event at the Burlington, Iowa public library. We filled the reading room with about 150 people!

The local newspapers and radio stations, as well as the really sharp library staff, did a great job of getting the word out. Then--the parents and kids did the rest! We had a fun presentation and hopefully inspired some children.

Speaking of inspiring---I was the speaker at a Burlington Rotary luncheon as well today. I got to meet a group of boys and girls they call 'Rota-kids'. No--not robo cop.

These kids commit to doing something special for a charity of their choosing. We are giving them 100 copies of Willie's Wagon to sell at the local Fareway grocery store. They will keep all the proceeds to donate to the charity of their choice. They have done other fundraisers in the past. One of them included helping support the humane society. Another was giving tennis balls to police dogs in the area for training and fun.

What a great group of kids.

Let's keep this thing going. Groups are jumping on the bandwagon to support and promote Willie's Wagon!

Okay--so now we are blogging! It's been a cool first few months with Willie's Wagon and all of the events and charities around it.

I welcome your thoughts, appreciate your help and look forward to you joining the adventure that is Willie's Wagon!

About Willie's Wagon

There is something about a child’s smile: that simple, naïve grin that is full of energy—full of life—full of unfiltered love and happiness.

Maybe that is why it touches me so much to see a child without a smile, children who are so sick they have to strain to manage a grin. Those images inspired me to write my first children’s book. I fully understand I won’t cure cancer, I won’t end suffering, I won’t make tumors disappear—but I can do my part to try to bring a smile back.

Willie’s Wagon is a story about a seven year old boy trying to understand himself and his place in this world. On this journey he learns that there is so much more to life than just what he needs. He makes a discovery not just of a wagon—but of himself and what he can do for others. Reaching out to help bring a smile to the faces of children fighting cancer becomes his mission.
It is a story that I hope will inspire healthy children to follow Willie's lead—or at least to better understand what they have to be thankful for.

Portions of the sales of this book will support Gilda’s Club’s very important children’s outreach program and help send kids with cancer to a special camp called The Heart Connection Summer Cancer Camp. Why send kids to camp? My interest in sending kids to camp stems from my enjoying camping with my own two sons. I want to help children who may not otherwise get the experience of camping. This special camp for children with cancer has a complete medical staff that can meet the needs of very sick children who get the rare chance to leave the hospital bed or their bedrooms to be like other kids—if only for a day or a week.

I hope you jump on the bandwagon—Willie’s Wagon.

Visit the Willie's Wagon Web site.