1.

INTERFAITH CAMP WILL INVITE YOUTH OF MUSLIM, JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, BUDDHIST, AND OTHER TRADITIONS TO SHARE FUMMER CAMP FUN WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER'S BELIEFS
By Sallie Shawl

** The rationale? A camp, with its natural setting and recreational activities, is an ideal place for youth to discover each other's common humanity. **

Channel (Tacoma, WA)
Associated Ministries
October 2005
Vol. 36, No. 8, Page 6

http://www.associatedministries.org/channelPDF/channel2005oct.pdf

It all started with a DVD called "Trust Me," a documentary film about a group of 33 boys -- equal numbers of Christians, Jews. and Muslims -- who spent a week together at a camp in North Carolina dur­ing the summer after 9/11. They had such a good time together, and seemed to have such a meaningful experience, that when the DVD was over, the group of us watch­ing it said, “We’ve got to do that here in Pierce County.”

Nine months later, quite a bit of progress has been made and the camp is scheduled for the last week of August 2006 at Camp Seymour on the Key Peninsula. Planning meetings thus far have included people from (in alphabetical order) Associated Ministries, Bahá’ís of Pierce County, Camp Seymour and the YMCA, Interfaith Works (Olympia), Mas Alah, the Islamic Centers of both Olympia and Tacoma, the newly-forming Islamic Educational and Com­munity Center, People for Peace, Justice & Healing, the South Sound Peace & Justice Center, Temple Beth El, and Temple Beth Hatfiloh (Olympia).

After probing conversations during several meetings, it became clear that the planning group wants to be active in provid­ing opportunities to create a more peaceful and just world. Toward that end, the camp will offer a safe place for youth from a variety of faith and religious perspectives to be themselves and express their beliefs and practices as part of a diverse group. The expectation is that campers’ growing understanding of each other’s worldviews will result in greater respect, appreciation, empathy and compassion.

Dawud Hassan Mateen of Tacoma’s Islamic Educational and Community Center says, “The camp fits beautifully with our desire to dialog with others, which helps dispel misunderstandings.”

Linda Frank, a local community activist, noted that when she took her junior-high aged religious education class to different houses of worship “to observe similarities and differences for themselves, they were really excited . . . and it gave them a broader sense of connectedness with others.” She added, “I think kids have the potential to be more strongly united with their faith tradition when they can gain adult acknowl­edgement that religion, like a language, is a route for connection . . . and that there are many roads that lead to the same place.”

The rationale? A camp, with its natural setting and recreational activities, is an ideal place for youth to discover each other’s common humanity. By providing time and space for youth to get to know each other’s stories, they will become aware of each other’s spiritual practices, and most importantly, generally play and have a great time together.

While the camp in the documentary consisted of 33 boys, aged 9-13, represent­ing the Abrahamic faiths, our camp will be for both boys and girls entering the 7th and 8th grades. Given the diverse population in Pierce County, the camp was also expanded to include non-Abrahamic traditions.

The coordinating organizations are seeking outside funding so that there is no cost to attend the camp (donations are welcome). In order to ensure that the camp population is balanced, prospective campers will apply to attend, as distinguished from registering. Several pre-camp events will be held to build awareness and support for the camp. A number of post-camp events will also be held to support relationships forged during the camp itself.

We highly recommend seeing "Trust Me," the documentary. It is available to borrow through the Tacoma Public Library or, if you live in the county, by calling Associated Ministries at (253) 383-3056, ext 105.

In addition, we invite you to join us as we begin forming the necessary working committees to make this camp a reality. For further information, call Julie Landau at (253) 265-3822 or Sallie Shawl at (253) 383-3056, ext. 105.

2.

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR INTERFAITH CAMP
By Sallie Shawl

Channel (Tacoma, WA)
Associated Ministries
October 2005
Vol. 36, No. 8, Page 6

http://www.associatedministries.org/channelPDF/channel2005oct.pdf

Tom Rawson, the banjo-toting folk­singer and storyteller from Seattle performs a benefit concert in Tacoma on Nov. 5 for the South Sound Peace & Justice Center (SSPJC), a program of Associated Min­istries.

Proceeds from this concert will go di­rectly to the Interfaith Camp scheduled for August of 2006 (see article above). Come and enjoy an evening of warm-hearted mu­sic while being one of the first to financially support this peace-making camp.

Rawson, who has been likened to Pete Seeger, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most talented and engaging folksingers, with songs that display great heart, hu­mor, and wit. In addition to the banjo, he accompanies himself on the lap dulcimer and guitar.

Micki Perry of the Three Rivers Folklore Society in the Tri-Cities wrote, “Saying that Tom sings folk songs and tells stories is like saying Lance Armstrong rides bicycles. In the style of the great Pete Seeger, Tom is at the top of his craft. He’s a master of warmth and wit that draws his audience to feel and participate in his music.”

Tom has been singing and storytelling on stage for about half of his fifty years. He is a song collector with a goal of spreading the songs of contemporary songwriters as well as keeping some of the older traditional songs alive. He has performed at many local and regional events including the Tumbleweed Music Festival, Northwest Folklife Festival, Victoria Folk Music So­ciety Concerts, and Seattle Second Sunday House Concerts. Tom has performed with folk music regulars Bill Staines, Linda Allen, and Anne Weiss.

Sue Irwin of the Nanaimo Folk Connec­tion in British Columbia wrote, “You are what we folkies strive to be and to see -- a musician that can connect with the audience and make the whole folk music art form relevant to each person there.”

Support the Interfaith Camp and join us on Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Antique Sandwich Company, 5102 North Pearl, Tacoma. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance by calling (253) 383-3056, ext 105, or at the door.