Ripon College Days

Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: Arts and Culture

Media Credit: Photo submitted Good Hearted. Executive Director of the Blue Mountain Project, Cathy Skoula (left) spoke in front of the college yesterday afternoon, sharing background about herself and her hopes for the project.

As students head into the second week of classes for the spring semester, members of Ripon's Blue Mountain Project are putting on a series of activities for the week of Jan. 23-30.

The week is known as Jamaica Week and assists in educating students on what the Blue Mountain Project (BMP) does, provides entertainment, and raises money for the group's involvement with helping students in Jamaica. This year's Jamaica Week will raise money and raise awareness about Blue Mountain Project for the group's trip in August.

"For the August trip, we got a one-fund," says senior Jake Jochem. "It's for a camp called Fun Camp. It's a two week camp. We spend one week in Penlyne Castle, which is a community in St. Thomas, Jamaica. Then we move from Penlyne to Hagley Gap and work with the students and use the same curriculum."

The group cooperates with the Blue Mountain Project to set up a curriculum as well as assists with a women's group, which acts as a SIFE project. This project was last year when the group was selling quality bags made from recycled plastic bags.

The group attending and volunteering for this year's camp has many events planned for the duration of the week. Monday was a letter writing campaign.

"[The campaign] was brought up when I went on the trip in August," says Jochem. "The fifth grade teacher there wanted to choose something with letters, because there are not many opportunities for students to actually work on their writing skills and this is a great opportunity for college students to write a letter to a student and they write back. This provides an experience and a partnership."

Last night, Blue Mountain Project Executive Director Cathy Skoula spoke in Great Hall, sharing details about the project and its objective.

Other events for the week include: a Culver's food night, tonight from 5-8 p.m., a Jamaican Food Night on Thursday, Jan. 28 in Pickard Commons from 5-7 p.m., the movie Cool Runnings being shown in Bear Auditorium Friday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m., a Jamaican Union Party hosted by Theta Chi on Friday in the Pub at 10 p.m. and two Reggae bands on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. in Great Hall.

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