Traveling Junior Coaches CAN DO (Despite Hurricane Ernesto!)
This camp was held on Tuesday August 7- the day that Hurricane Ernesto arrived! This camp set all NEW RECORDS!! We hope that it will provide some ideas for other districts as there are many benefits to all concerned. We think this concept can be expanded to allow junior coaches to travel to other districts. They get to see some of “their Belize”, experience life in a village that is different from theirs, develop their leadership and teaching skills and help kids in other parts of Belize learn chess.
The Red Bank Story
Tony Sho is the only active player in Red Bank Village and he had no chess set in the village, until our qualifying tournament, when he won a chess set. Later he played in Olympiad on the winning “SHO TIME” team. He wanted to conduct a chess camp in his village, but there were a few challenges...
LIKE no boards, no help, no adult to assist and no money to put on a camp. BUT there were kids who wanted to learn chess and Tony had the “never give up” Stann Creek Chess Family to count on.
We thought that there were enough Junior Coaches in our district to send some to help Tony, so here is what happened:
- Pedro Pixabaj organized 3 leaders from Silk Grass, Ivor Pixabaj, Henry Bull and Herman Bull to go to Red Bank to help
- Marciano Acal stepped up to be the adult contact for the planned 4 day beginner camp
- Tony and friends found food and lodging in the village for the 3 visiting coaches
- some money was found and some fruit was served
- 16 beginners signed up and the camp was planned to start on Tuesday Aug 7
- Unfortunately a hurricane was approaching and we had to decide to go or no go
- With great courage the parents and village said ”lets GO” and off they went!
Here are the results of the camp
- the camp was planned for 4 days
- the kids learned all their lessons in 3 days
- So they concluded the camp one day early. This is because the teachers taught more effectively than expected, and the kids learned more quickly than expected. SO we are very proud of all the participants of this camp
- Parents in both villages felt the camp was a success
- the Junior leaders want to do it again
- the kids in Red Bank want to play chess when school starts
Does it get any better than this??
Special thanks to Marciano Acal and Pedro Pixabaj who kept believing in the Junior Leaders and their camp. Congratulations to Tony, Ivor, Henry and Herman who lead the camp.
