Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 March 2000 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, MARCH 31,2000

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

Children enjoy outdoors at Jacer Inn camp

By FREDERICK L. MERKERSON III Staff Writer

Youngsters won’t be able to watch TV. listen to the radio or play video games when they attend Juccr Inn’s camp next week, but (hey don’t seem to care'. You don’t even think about TV out there," explained 10-year-old Mercedez McDowell, thinking of the peace and quiet and the chance to go on nature hi kes, plant gardens and go swimming in a lake. McDowell, hertwo siblings and an estimated 25 other children are expected to attend the camp at Jacer Inn, a nonprofit educational family

retreat.

The five-day camp will be held on 71 acres of beautiful, rolling land in rural Putnam County. The camp is for Indianapolis* lowincome, inner-city children between the ages of 6 and 12. “Kids can get so caught up in today’s technology that they don't depend on their own creativity for fun,” said Mercedez’s mother KamonaColeman-McDowell, 33. She is the president of Jacer Inn’s board and educational administrator of IHG youth and family mentoring services. As a 9-year-old child, ColemanMcDowell attended the samecamp. “As a child I learned a lot of life skills and how to adapt to and respect nature at Jacer’s Inn. “Not that I didn’t learn those skills at home, but they were enforced in a different setting,” she

added.

According to Bonita Gupton, the camp’s director of community programs, there is no comparison between the often hectic city life and Jacer Inn’s serene and relaxing environment. “Kids can take time to enjoy God’s work and creativity. You can’t really do that in the city,” Gupton said. Gupton believes Jacer Inn, which is also the home of the Rev. Anna Coleman and her husband Albert, is a direct result of the Coleman’s tireless efforts to reach out to the children of Indianapolis. “When you meet them, you’ll feel like you’ve known them all of your

“We didn’t just want to trouble home and three family sized tents the waters, we wanted to walk on and just began to reach out to chi I-

it,” said Rev. Coleman referring to dren.

their 22-year-long effort to keep The desire to reach out to young children on the right track and away people stems from the couple's visit

from drugs and alcohol. Those ef-’ to Haiti in 1975.

forts go back to their residency on In that country, the couple saw the Southside of Indianapolis more devastating poverty among chilthan 25 years ago. “We’ve always dren that was symbolized by ex-

wanted to instill a sense of se value and self-esteem in kids who may face problems with their par-

ents or friends.”

Rev. Coleman, who used to get neighborhood children involved in activities, and her 11-member board of directors now work diligently to facilitate rap sessions, select guest speakers, and conduct role-playing exercises focusing on positive attitudes, the development of self-control and respect, and becoming responsible citizens. “The values kids leam between the ages of 5 and 6 can last a lifetime, which is why it’s important that we reach them early,” said camp director Steven Harris, who li ved next door to the Coleman ’ s as a child. “The Colemans have always offered reinforcement on lessons kids already learned from parents, community leaders and teachers and continue to do so through

the camp.”

tended bellies and poor livihg conditions. They returned to Indianapolis, realizing inner-city children here were also undernour-

ished.

The Colemans found support from others outside their immediate family, which includes a son, seven grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren. “You hear so many complaints, but nooneeverdoes anything about it,” said Albert Coleman. “I was sick and tired of it, which is why we’re giving back to a community that gave to us.” The couple and their staff are running the inn on donations, a grant from the Indiana Black Trooper Association, and the efforts of volunteers. Along with summer camps, the inn offers family enrichment retreats, adult workshops and other programs that allow inner-city families achance to getaway from

The Colemans, who are in their daily frustrations. 70s, try to practice what they preach “The camp shows our youth that about the teachings of God. The they have a world of opportunicamp is Christian based. Jacer Inn ties,” Rev. Coleman said. “They started on faith when the couple just have to strive to reach them.”

purchased a doublewide mobile

life,” she said.

V.

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