Valley Stream bible camp uses animals to teach diversity

Attendees, mouths agape, line up to hold two snakes for a photo shoot

Courtesy Bethlehem Assembly of God

A staff member speaks to campers

Courtesy Bethlehem Assembly of God

Campers look up during a lesson

Courtesy Bethlehem Assembly of God

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Strange animals were the theme at Bethlehem Assembly of God’s Vacation Bible School held from Aug. 4 to 8, illustrating lessons of tolerance for the 285 children that attended.

“We are all different,” said children’s director Julia Milazzo. “We all look, sound, and act differently. We are unique, and the awesome part about being different is that God loves us no matter what,” she said.

Each day at the camp focused on a different animal, according to Milazzo, who organized the school, now in its 20th year. The animals and their unique traits were paralleled with children’s everyday experiences. Kids were able to see the animals up close, with a live animal show on the second day complete with spiders, snakes and bearded dragons. At the end of the week, those with pets were given the opportunity to bring them in and share them with their campmates.

“Our program is focused on teaching children about Christ while they have a good time,” Milazzo said. Each day began with a large group, learning songs, dances, bible verses and the day’s themes. Smaller sessions followed, including an imagination station and a mini-theater that featured kids in videos explaining what made them different.

Creative arts including dance and visual arts filled the afternoons. At the end of the week, students showed off their creativity for parents as part of the closing sessions. Students finished each day in a large group where they reviewed the lessons of the day and finished with a song.

Milazzo was positive about this year’s program and said others involved felt the same. “It seems like parents and staff believe this was one of the best ones we’ve had to date,” Milazzo said. She credited her staff with making the week a smooth production.

“I have a great team who was able to adjust to anything and they supported me throughout the week. I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “By the end of the week I was satisfied to know that our job was done. Despite some things going differently than planned, our goal was to teach children about the love of Christ, and at the end of the day, whether everything was perfect or not, we met our goal.”

Milazzo said the program is already being planned for next summer but details are still being finalized. This was the school’s 20th year.