2017 CIIP Program Book 2017 CIIP Program Book | Page 12

Community Partner: By Peaceful Means
Intern: Lucas Duffy
Site Supervisor: Nawal Rajeh
What is By Peaceful Means?
By Peaceful Means’ mission is to interrupt physical and structural violence by empowering
youth through peace education, advocacy, and employment.
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Held a two hour instruction period with 25 7-10 year old campers
Led an “Engineering Studio” where campers were instructed in basic
principles of design through tangible projects such as an egg-drop challenge
Designed t-shirts that were distributed to campers and counselors
Interacted with parents to help coordinate a free grocery bag pickup from
Gather Baltimore
"Day one. I was not prepared. Then again, there was not much I could have done to prepare for the tornado that is Peace Camp gym time.
The gym at the 29th Street Community Center is pretty small, but it feels a whole lot smaller with 50 rambunctious children o f various
shapes and sizes running around kicking, throwing, smacking or otherwise displacing their basketballs. What appeared to be a humble
court for shooting some casual hoops became an absolute maelstrom. Swarms of hostile projectiles whizzed through the air, each
threatening to clunk an unsuspecting child (or counselor) right in the dome. I remember watching in horror as an older camper launched a
high-arcing half court shot that narrowly missed a small herd of toddlers. They just continued giggling and stomping around as i f nothing
had happened. As camp went on, it became easier to contain the chaos and miraculously no one was ever hurt during gym, but lessons
from that first day really stuck. A day at camp is full of tasks, whether scheduled, like preparing lunch or randomly appeari ng, like sorting
out a squabble between the pint-sized campers. I found myself moving from task to task, and gradually it became second-nature to
prioritize different issues, solve problems as I saw them, and strategically coordinate with other counselors, all in an effo rt to construct a
positive environment that instills peaceful practices in each of our campers. Each staff member at Peace Camp is exceptional at what they
do, and I am extremely grateful to have been so warmly welcomed by each of them (thank you!!!!). We make a great, fluid team,
organically following the counselors’ mantra coined by camp founder Ralph Moore: “Be rigid in planning, and flexible in execu tion.” Even
with such a great team, a day at Peace Camp often feels like a gym full of flying basketballs… Running this camp is physicall y and mentally
exhausting in a way I have never experienced before, but that makes it all the more fulfilling. I have made so many wonderful memories at
Peace Camp, and it feels great knowing that our campers have too." -Lucas
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