Dangling precariously 15 feet off the ground, 11-year-old Kamal Black struggled to keep upright while the instructors below shouted to him in Spanish. In the climbing barn at The International Camp of Languages near Fombell, such a sight was not unusual.
Celebrating its 25th year last week, The International Camp of Languages, a weeklong overnight camp at Camp Kon-O-Kwee, served as a European vacation for many of the young attendees.
"There's such a love in my heart for this camp," said Helena Schaefers, the camp director. "At the end of the week, the kids go away with quite a bit of the language, and they feel they've gotten a jump-start because of their week here."
The 35 campers in grades two through nine began their language study or advanced their skills in German, French or Spanish while participating in group leaning sessions and such activities as swimming, cooking, canoeing, crafts and sports. Certified instructors and language majors spoke the languages to the campers throughout the week, even at mealtime.
Envious of her older brother's Spanish after taking a class at school, Madeline Howard, 10, jumped at the chance to attend the camp after she learned a friend was going.
"I love it here," Howard gushed. "It sounded really fun, and I knew I'd make a lot of new friends. I'm surprised at how much I've learned in one week, too."
After visiting the Concordia Language Villages in Moorhead, Minn., Ann Jenkins, a retired French teacher from Bradford Woods, decided a language immersion camp was needed closer to the East Coast. In 1985, Jenkins founded the International Camp of Languages, with only German being offered to campers. After five years, the increasing number of campers prompted Jenkins to add French, then Spanish seven years later.
After 10 years, Jenkins relinquished control of the camp to care for her elderly parents. Schaefers, a retired German teacher from Manchester Elementary in North Side, took over.
"I told them I would continue to direct the camp in their place," Schaefers said. "I didn't want the camp to die. I just wanted to keep it going, especially so my grandchildren could come."
Fifteen years on the job this month, Schaefers has thrown herself into keeping the camp alive and thriving, even bringing her two daughters with her when they were young, and now her grandson.
Many campers relish their return each year, even taking on leadership positions. Attending camp for the last six years and starting his first year as a junior counselor, Sam Grueber, 16, said he started learning German in the fourth grade and plans on using the language when he goes into international business in college.
"I don't know what it is, I just keep wanting to come back," Grueber said. "My first year, it just sparked my interest in a foreign language. Now I want other campers to experience the same."
