Established in 2013 as a partnership with the diocesan Prison Ministry as a week-long summer camp for children of incarcerated parents, Drumming Camp has become the hallmark outreach ministry of the parish. We still offer the week of camp where children ages 6-13 learn African drumming and dance from Yah'Ya Kamate, a professional drummer and teacher, along with enjoying arts and crafts, outdoor fun, and delicious snacks and meals. Our campers are no longer only children with an incarcerated parent, but children whose lives have been impacted by incarceration, whether of a parent, sibling, or other significant person.
The Drumming Camp has become an essential part of the life of the parish. In addition to the original summer program, we enjoy our relationship with these children and their families throughout the year, year after year. Young adults who were campers return to help with the summer camp. When we were planning our Celebration of New Ministry in April 2019, when we installed our new Rector and committed to living our faith joyfully together, it seemed inconceivable that we would celebrate without these children. They and their wonderful drumming teacher, Yah’Ya Kamate, were a significant part of our celebration. We assist families with back packs and school supplies, as well as with food and gifts at the winter holidays.
Drumming Camp is funded primarily through a grant from the St. Stephen's of Kansas Charitable Trust, with additional funding from parishioners and others in the community. (That can be done via the "Give" tab on the main menu and by scrolling to "Special Gifts: Drumming Camp" in the upper right of the screen.)
Drumming Camp is staffed by a combination of a few paid staff (Yah' Ya, the young adult counselors, our van drivers) and a whole lot of dedicated volunteers. We'd love to have you join the volunteer staff. We start our work in the early summer, so keep your eye on the newsletter.