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Camp at First Baptist helps deaf kids learn the Bible in their own language
It is perhaps the quietest vacation Bible school around, but that doesn't mean the kids aren't learning and having fun. They learn Bible stories, do crafts, have snacks and play games.
The only difference is that students at the Deaf Vacation Bible Camp can't hear and they communicate using American Sign Language.
Beth Driver, deaf ministry coordinator at First Baptist Church, where the camp is held, said it's hard for children to always be in the hearing world and go to other vacation Bible schools.
"That's why we set up the deaf vacation Bible camp," said Driver, who is deaf herself and uses sign language. The DVBC meets each Wednesday for seven weeks. They do traditional VBS activities and take trips to places such as the Nashville Zoo and Beech Bend as well.
Nola Thompson of Bowling Green, whose daughter Aleah, 10, attends the camp, said she thinks the camp is great.
"She looks forward to Wednesdays," Thompson said. "She loves everything associated with this camp." Thompson said the family keeps Aleah involved in the hearing world in many ways, but it is nice to have a place where she can come and be with other children and adults who are deaf.
"When it's all hearing people, they really have to concentrate," Thompson said. "Here, they can just be themselves." Kellie Douglas, 14, said coming to the camp is fun.
"I like the games," Kellie said. "I like everything." She also likes the other campers.
"They're all deaf like me," Kellie said.
Abriana Norris, 11, said she enjoys being with other kids who are deaf as well.
"It makes it more fun," Abriana said.
Derek Thompson, 18, Aleah's brother, who volunteers at the camp and knows how to sign, said the camp helps him better understand people who are deaf.
"We're used to summer camp and everybody is yelling and screaming," Derek Thompson said. "This is different." Miranda Stewart, who also volunteers at the camp, said that with so many camps for hearing kids in the summer, it's great to offer a camp specifically for children who are deaf. Stewart, who works with deaf children in the Warren County schools, said it's also good to get them together because there are so few deaf children around.
"This gives them an opportunity to be with other kids who are like them," Stewart said.
Driver, who has worked in the deaf ministry at First Baptist for 13 years, said the ministry offers various opportunities for people who are deaf. The ministry began in 1980 with interpreted worship services and has grown to include other programs.
The ministry now offers a Sunday school, which Driver teaches, occasional deaf worship services, interpretation at the regular service, a prayer group and various gatherings. The DVBC began around three years ago.
"It really touched my heart to set up a camp for deaf kids," Driver said. "It was a burden." Although the camp is unique in some ways, it is like every other vacation Bible school in others.
"The Bible says you must teach the children," Drive said. "It's our responsibility to teach them about Jesus." Although they can learn the Bible in a hearing setting, the DVBC gives them an opportunity to learn from the Bible in sign language and in a place where their teachers can truly communicate with them.
This is the third year for the DVBC, and Aleah has come all three years.
"We try to keep her involved in the hearing world," Nola Thompson said, "but it's good to do some things where she can come out of the hearing world. For them to come here, use sign language and learn the Bible, that's great." To see more of the Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to Bowling Green Daily News. Copyright (c) 2011, Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.
It is perhaps the quietest vacation Bible school around, but that doesn't mean the kids aren't learning and having fun. They learn Bible stories, do crafts, have snacks and play games.
The only difference is that students at the Deaf Vacation Bible Camp can't hear and they communicate using American Sign Language.
Beth Driver, deaf ministry coordinator at First Baptist Church, where the camp is held, said it's hard for children to always be in the hearing world and go to other vacation Bible schools.
"That's why we set up the deaf vacation Bible camp," said Driver, who is deaf herself and uses sign language. The DVBC meets each Wednesday for seven weeks. They do traditional VBS activities and take trips to places such as the Nashville Zoo and Beech Bend as well.
Nola Thompson of Bowling Green, whose daughter Aleah, 10, attends the camp, said she thinks the camp is great.
"She looks forward to Wednesdays," Thompson said. "She loves everything associated with this camp." Thompson said the family keeps Aleah involved in the hearing world in many ways, but it is nice to have a place where she can come and be with other children and adults who are deaf.
"When it's all hearing people, they really have to concentrate," Thompson said. "Here, they can just be themselves." Kellie Douglas, 14, said coming to the camp is fun.
"I like the games," Kellie said. "I like everything." She also likes the other campers.
"They're all deaf like me," Kellie said.
Abriana Norris, 11, said she enjoys being with other kids who are deaf as well.
"It makes it more fun," Abriana said.
Derek Thompson, 18, Aleah's brother, who volunteers at the camp and knows how to sign, said the camp helps him better understand people who are deaf.
"We're used to summer camp and everybody is yelling and screaming," Derek Thompson said. "This is different." Miranda Stewart, who also volunteers at the camp, said that with so many camps for hearing kids in the summer, it's great to offer a camp specifically for children who are deaf. Stewart, who works with deaf children in the Warren County schools, said it's also good to get them together because there are so few deaf children around.
"This gives them an opportunity to be with other kids who are like them," Stewart said.
Driver, who has worked in the deaf ministry at First Baptist for 13 years, said the ministry offers various opportunities for people who are deaf. The ministry began in 1980 with interpreted worship services and has grown to include other programs.
The ministry now offers a Sunday school, which Driver teaches, occasional deaf worship services, interpretation at the regular service, a prayer group and various gatherings. The DVBC began around three years ago.
"It really touched my heart to set up a camp for deaf kids," Driver said. "It was a burden." Although the camp is unique in some ways, it is like every other vacation Bible school in others.
"The Bible says you must teach the children," Drive said. "It's our responsibility to teach them about Jesus." Although they can learn the Bible in a hearing setting, the DVBC gives them an opportunity to learn from the Bible in sign language and in a place where their teachers can truly communicate with them.
This is the third year for the DVBC, and Aleah has come all three years.
"We try to keep her involved in the hearing world," Nola Thompson said, "but it's good to do some things where she can come out of the hearing world. For them to come here, use sign language and learn the Bible, that's great." To see more of the Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to Bowling Green Daily News. Copyright (c) 2011, Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.
