The Christel House office bustled with excitement the third week in June, as we welcomed six students from our international learning centers… Angel and Zakeer from India, Jesus and Magda from Mexico and Kyle and Chad from South Africa arrived in Indianapolis a few days before heading to Culver Academy for a summer of classes ranging from sailing, ice skating and fencing to math, English, jazz band and art.



Culver Academy, which is located approximately 2 hours north of Indianapolis, generously provides scholarships on an annual basis which enable Christel House students to participate in the world renowned Culver Summer Leadership Camp. The students spent their first few days in the United States adjusting to the heat and humidity of Indiana in the summertime and catching up with their Christel House “cousins” from around the world. They also visited the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, toured RCI and spent time with Christel House employees and our families. There was even an impromptu jam session one night.
On Friday, we packed up three cars with blankets, sheets, uniforms, luggage, fans—and the students, and made the two hour drive to Culver Academy, which is located on Lake Maxinkuckee. More than 1300 students from 30 different countries participate in the three-year program which focuses on character development, personal responsibility, self discipline, and respect for self and others. Kyle and Jesus will graduate from the program this August. Zakeer, Angel and Chad will return next year for their final summer. This is Magda’s first visit to the United States and her first summer at Culver. Fortunately her Christel House “cousins” are helping her to adjust to being away from home for the first time.

Getting all six kids checked in to camp was quite a process as each of the students went from station to station, getting pictures taken for their ids, setting up meal accounts, getting fitted for uniforms, picking up supplies, signing up for classes and for Jesus, getting a haircut. Although Jesus was dreading the time in the barber chair, Zakeer found the situation to be quite amusing, mainly because his hair already met military standards. Evidently, our returning students left their mark over the past two years, as they were all greeted enthusiastically with open arms by former counselors, officers and classmates. They seemed right at home and wasted no time getting moved in to their dorms. After dinner, we headed home, leaving our Christel House kids behind, ready to begin their summer on Lake Maxinkuckee at Culver Academy.

Labels: Christel House, Culver, India, leadership, Mexico, South Africa, summer, summer camp