Jodie De Jesus ’21
An OKS service tradition of many years, Camp Cornelia gives two students the annual opportunity to collaborate with other Holy Child high school students from all over the country. Together, the group plans and hosts a summer enrichment and mentoring program for the fourth graders of the Cornelia Connelly Center, another Holy Child school located in New York City.
Toward the end of the 2019-2020 school year, rising senior Jodie De Jesus ’21 and rising junior Megan Fehrenbach ’22 were chosen to take part in the summer camp. Mrs. Van Kalsbeck, Upper School theology teacher, participated as the faculty representative for OKS. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that with the COVID-19 pandemic still rampant, the program would not be able to run – at least not in the way it had in the past. However, that didn’t stop the students!
For the first time ever, Camp Cornelia was converted to an all-virtual format. Instead of spending six days in New York City, Jodie and Megan, along with the other students, opted to host the program over Zoom for the summer of 2020. They were split into small groups, comprised of three students from varying Holy Child schools as well as a faculty mentor. On every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in July, the high schoolers met with the Connelly Center fourth graders in these small groups and led them in virtual lessons and fun activities.
Fehrenbach stated, “It was an extremely rewarding experience, and I’m glad we were able to find some community and positivity amid the chaos of the pandemic.” She also looks forward to participating in a new, special opportunity, in which students can continue their virtual mentoring with the fourth graders throughout the school year.
Albeit a little different from past years, it’s evident that Camp Cornelia was still a success. Even a global pandemic wasn’t enough to break the bonds between the Holy Child family!