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Previous Events
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Teacher Workday ~ No School ~ FIELD TRIP!
Windy Hill Orchard, York, SC. (10-20-08) What a beautiful fall day – a perfect day for a field trip to an apple orchard. After breakfast, we headed northeast to Windy Hill. “Johnny Appleseed” greeted us and led our walk through the maze of apple trees. While sitting on bales of hay, “Johnny Appleseed” presented his fun program about the nutritious importance of apples and apple juice.
 Then, guess what?! Yep – a hayride! The tractor started up, we all loaded the trailer of hay, and we got a hayride around the farm. There were the pigs, the chickens, and the goats – that was fun! After the hayride, we went to the hay stall to stuff our life-size scarecrow. First, there were the legs, then the body, and can’t forget the arms. And, of course, THE HEAD!
After all the exciting activities, we ate our picnic lunch at the outdoor pavilion and browsed the gift shop where we bought some delicious apple cider. Our souvenirs for the trip were apple-shaped drink cups that were filled with ice-cold apple cider. Time to head home – it was a wonderful time “back on the farm.”
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2008 Camp CaroJay
This Camp CaroJay will be long remembered! It was the year of several “firsts” including the fact that this year was the first in four years that the boys outnumbered the girls and will certainly be remembered as the “Year of the Pokemon” (you just had to be there).
The days were very active with songs, sports, crafts, field trips, and delicious meals prepared by Ms. Jewel – an all-time favorite was the homemade Chicken Pot Pie. The year was especially exciting as it was the first year for our new All S tars Leadership Development Program. This program is designed as a tool for Jr. Counselor’s in training.
 Loved the swimming!
Loved the playground!
Loved the crafts!
Loved the field trips!
Because it was such a great summer camp, the Ceremonial Tribal Council was very rewarding! Campers were presented  awards for their participation and achievements. As the summer came to a close and the new school year began, campers were already looking forward to next year!
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“Hot” – FUN – Yummy – Bubbly time!
2008 Camp Kick-off Cookout was a blast!
It’s a “meet and greet” time for Parents, Kids, and Board Members. It’s also our Academic Achievement Award Presentation – 2008 winners are pictured at the right with the Director.
Slideshow: CaroJays.
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2007 Camp Field Trips
World of Energy, Seneca, SC. (07-31-07) This was a cool place to be on a hot summer day! Our trip was scheduled so that we could have a picnic lunch at the Park on Lake Keowee adjacent to the World of Energy – a public learning facility at Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station.
After our picnic lunch and walk down to the Lake, we ventured over to the World of Energy. This was an  exciting place to visit, to learn, and to understand the luxury of “electricity.” The World of Energy provides an  excellent opportunity to learn how electricity is generated and its history using water, coal, and uranium. Our tour was self-paced with interactive and hands-on exhibits – that means FUN while learning! We also learned how Lake Keowee interacts with other lakes to generate electricity in our area and how a nuclear station works.
 A special addition to our field trip was the Butterfly Garden – the walkway through beautiful flowers and bushes that specifically attract butterflies. This was a pleasant surprise – a compliment to our Monarch Butterfly Migration Field Trip in September. Yes, it was a hot summer day, but we could not have asked for a better field trip with our experiences on this day.
Paris Mountain Ranger Hike, Greenville, SC. (08-03-07) We made very special friends today – of the critter kind, that is.
But, yes, we did make friends on this group hike at Paris Mountain State Park. We were guided on our hike  by a Park Ranger who was wonderful in teaching us and answering all of our questions. She told us about different plants—friendly and unfriendly—and things of nature such as the beavers’ habitat and a bat house.
THEN, she put us in the creek! She told us about the critters of the creek and how to catch them. With our water shoes or boots on and nets in hand, we went to work. Before long, several different aquatic critters were caught – some of them  were water bugs, crawfish,  and a baby salamander!
After several were collected, we took them back to the lab to learn more about them. We got to see the critters up close using a microscope projector. They were not harmed in any way and were later returned to their home.
WOW – this was an exciting trip. Thank you, Ranger, for our lessons learned by exploring the outdoors around us.
Check out more pictures in our Scrapbook!
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 In Search of the Monarchs
Cherokee & The Blue Ridge Parkway Field Trip
(10-23-06) WOW — we made memories every mile of the way! Our sunny day began with breakfast in Greer, and we got on the road north about 8:15am. The trees were just beautiful! Our excitement grew as we started up the mountain towards Asheville, North  Carolina. The wind had picked up speed and the temperatures were dropping. In Asheville, we followed I-40 West and exited towards Maggie Valley. Lake Junaluska was our first stop – we drove around the lake getting some pictures. Oooooh, the wind; the cold temperatures!
Back in the warmth of the car, we enjoyed the drive through Maggie Valley and soon started up Soco Mountain. About half-way up the  mountain was a 4-story lookout tower and gift shop – to cold and windy to attempt the tower, but we got pictures of the beautiful views anyway. We crossed over the mountain and made it to Cherokee. While at Cherokee, we visited some shops and ate lunch at the Hungry Bear (that was exciting too because a student lost a tooth and then received a big treat – a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry). As we started our way towards the Blue Ridge Parkway, we stopped quickly at the Santa's Land zoo. WOW – the wind; the dropping temperatures! Okay, on towards the Parkway.
This was quite the experience on this perfect day – the views, the trees, and even the ice on the mountain tops  (in October) when we were 6,000+ feet above sea level (the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway is 6053). We stopped at every overlook in search of the Monarch butterfly migration. It got so cold that to get out of the car at the overlooks, it was only for a few minutes. After stopping at the overlooks and finding that "it" was not the one, it eventually seemed that we would not find "the right one". As it turns out, though, it is closer to the Asheville side of the Parkway rather than on Cherokee's side.
YES! We finally found the overlook of the mountain pass where the Monarch butterflies migrate. BUT, to our disappointment, the migration is in September – not October as our information had lead us to believe. It is hopeful that this will become an annual Field Trip – but in September instead of October. However, there are no regrets because of our memories made on this day!
"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly.
"One must have sunshine, freedom,
and a little flower."
Hans Christian Anderson
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Previous Board Meetings
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2009 Annual Board Meeting
The Annual Board Meeting of CaroJays Youth Programs, Inc. was held on April 18th at the new location of 153-A Landmark Drive in Taylors, South Carolina. At 5:00pm, Jewel Easler welcomed everyone followed with an invocation by Susan Smith. Dinner was provided.
Bill Smith read a poem: A Prayer for the Children. An Installation Ceremony was held for the board officers. Bill Smith, as presiding officer, read the duties of each board position along with the name of the members. As each member was announced, they stood and lit a candle from a center candle. They were asked if they accepted the duties of their position. All members accepted. The program’s Mission Statement was read and Galatians 6: v9-10 was read from the Bible – adopted as the official program verse in 2008.
Benita Cassell, Secretary, read the minutes from the previous board meeting. A motion to accept was requested by Jewel Easler; Kimberly Jones made the motion to accept the corrected minutes. Jacque Harvey seconded, and the minutes were passed.
Kimberly Jones, Treasurer, distributed a Profit and Loss statement prepared by Jewel Easler. The statement was reviewed and all questions were discussed. The 2008 Financial Report was accepted and will be placed on file.
Amanda Flesher, VP of Scholarships, reported that as of December 31, 2008, the Scholarship Fund balance was $2,665.51 after issuing $1,244.15 in scholarships for the year 2008.
Jacque Harvey, VP of Special Events, reported that the 2009 Camp Kick-Off Cook-Out will be held June 5th, 2009 at 6:00pm at Riverside Park, Greer, SC. The 2009 Summer Ceremonial Tribal Council will be held at Paris Mtn. Sulphur Springs Shelter, Greenville, SC on August 14th, 2009 at 6:00pm.
Elena Brown, VP of Community Relations, reported that the MS Walk for 2009 will be at the ICAR campus on May 3rd at 1:00pm. The Walk for 2008 raised $446.48. The goal for 2009 is $700. In conjunction with the Walk, CaroJays will also be seeking donations of new socks to be donated to Shepherd’s Gate Women and Children's Shelter.
Renatta Davis, Advisory Council Chairperson, reported that the council last met on October 4th, 2008 at the Greer (SC) library. In attendance were Jewel Easler – Board President, Cheryl Macon-Foster – Chair, and Alex Harvey – Teen Advisor. The council discussed pros and cons of the program and suggestions were made for improvements and changes. The next meeting will be July 15th, 2009 at 12:30pm, location to be announced. Detailed minutes of the meeting are available.
Matthew Flesher, Fundraising Council Chairperson, reported that fundraisers for the Scholarship Fund are held periodically, and CaroJays participates in the BI-LO BoostersPlus program.
Old Business: CaroJays Youth Programs, Inc. is now a member of the Greer Chamber of Commerce and that Elena Brown, VP of Community Relations, and Benita Cassell, Board Secretary, will begin receiving e-mails about events related to the community from the Chamber.
New Business: CaroJays has letterhead stationary with board members’ names listed. Jewel Easler reported that the program received “Gifts in Kind”. In the interest of community outreach, Jacque Harvey added that the children from CaroJays, under the activity name of “Helping Hearts” have done such projects as raking leaves and branches from the yards of senior citizens; picking up pecans and apples from their yards to be their reward for work done. The apples and pecans were later used for projects at CaroJays: applesauce and sugared pecans. The fundraisers and community service activities, such as the MS Walk and Kids Planet Trash Pick-up, help with community awareness.
Board Meeting Evaluation sheets were distributed. Jacque Harvey made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Benita Cassell seconded. The meeting adjourned at 8:10pm.
2008 Annual Board Meeting
CaroJays Youth Programs, Inc. held its 2008 Annual Board Meeting on May 3rd at 5:00 pm. The President, Jewel Easler, brought the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. The “Lord’s Prayer” followed and the dinner was enjoyed by all attending.
Our guest speaker was Buddy Waters of Cunningham-Waters Construction in Greer. His topic was “Kids Planet” – a wonderful park and playground local to Greer. He explained its development from beginning to end and that the park is ten years in use this year. He talked about what an undertaking this park was and how the community (residents and businesses) came together to make it happen. There were thousands of volunteers and thousands of supplies and tools donated for the creation of this $2 million park. Kids Planet is visited by thousands each month who enjoy the picnic areas, walkways, and playgrounds including those who are handicapped.
The President shared with the group and Mr. Waters that CaroJays has three “Trash Pick-up Days” at Kids Planet during the summer months as a “give back” because we so enjoy our visits to the park.
The 2007 Meeting Minutes were read aloud. Without any revisions, they were accepted and will be filed with the permanent records.
The Board Treasurer, Kimberly Jones, presented the Financial Report. The 2007 Financial Statement was distributed for discussion and then accepted as permanent record of CaroJays.
The VP of Scholarships, Matt Flesher, gave the annual report of our Scholarship Fund and activities:
1. Awards based on prior year’s income
2. Students attend all 5 days of the week
3. As of December 31, 2007, the Scholarship fund was $3,613 – up $372 from 2006
4. Scholarship Awards for 2007 were $34
The VP of Special Events, Amanda Flesher, reported on 2007 events and what to look forward to in 2008 in regards to the following:
1. Camp Kick-off Cookout – June 6th
2. Ceremonial Tribal Council – August 15th
3. Next Annual Board Meeting – April 25, 2009
The VP of Community Relations is “OPEN” at this time. The President explained the valuable connection in the community of the following:
1. Fundraisers
2. Community Service Projects
The Advisory Council Chairperson, Cheryl Macon-Foster, presented the report on the following:
1. Camp CaroJay events and schedules
¨ 2007 events are on the website (Archives)
¨ 2008 schedules were distributed and reviewed
2. Advisory Council Meeting – July 16, 2008 at 12:30 pm
The President offered the Fundraising Council report concerning the following:
1. 2007 Fundraisers
2. Fundraisers expected for 2008
3. Fundraising Council Meeting – September 20th at 9:00am
The President reported on Old Business and then New Business establishing priority of goals to be accomplished including membership with Greer Chamber of Commerce. The President continued with a discussion of an official CaroJays Program Scripture – Galatians 6:9-10. A motion was made, seconded, and voted to accept this scripture verse.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, then seconded, and was so done at 7:14pm.
2007 Annual Board Meeting
CaroJays Youth Programs, Inc. held its Annual Board Meeting on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 5:00 pm. The Director brought the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. The Invocation was given by the representative of Miracle Hill Ministries, and the buffet dinner followed.
CaroJays became incorporated non-profit in November, 2006; therefore, the first order of business was to read and sign the Bylaws by its Board of Directors. This was a special reading because it is stated in the Bylaws that Miracle Hill Ministries (specifically Shepherd's Gate Women's Shelter) be the non-profit recipient of CaroJays' assets in the event of dissolution. The meeting continued as the Treasurer reported that the 2007 – 1st Quarter Financial Reports had been reviewed and will be filed as permanent records.
The Coordinator Reports were then given:
Ø Scholarships
· CaroJays was accepted by BI-LO BoostersPlus in which BI-LO will donate 1% of the total purchases of those customers whose Bonus Cards are “linked" to CaroJays to increase our Scholarship Fund for Summer Camp.
· Submitted a Caritas Grant (Sisters of Charity, Columbia, SC) for Summer Scholarships. No response as of yet.
· Grant Prospect for GE (General Electric) Healthcare for non-profits who promote and educate youth in the area of good health (Good Grooming Days at Camp CaroJay).
Ø Special Events
· Camp Kick-off Cookout for enrolled students, Parents, Board Members, and Councils to be Friday, June 1, 2007 with details to follow.
· Ceremonial Tribal Council Cookout and Awards at Paris Mountain State Park on Friday, August 17, 2007 with details to follow. Parents, Board Members, and Councils are invited.
The Council Reports were then given:
Ø Advisory (given by the Director – position open at this time)
· Camp CaroJay 2007 schedules and activities were reviewed.
· Advisory Council Meeting will be with Camp CaroJay on July 18, 2007 at 12:30 pm.
Ø Fundraising
· Current fundraising activities were presented:
1. Summer – Scratch cards
2. Fall – Candles
3. Winter – Hot Cocoa Mix
4. On-line Scholarship Store
· Fundraising Council Meeting will be Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 9:00 am.
The Director concluded the meeting with progress of various current activities in regards to public awareness, training, networking, and local memberships. The announcement of the next Annual Meeting was made and Board Members completed an Evaluation Sheet. The meeting was adjourned.
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Summer Day Camp