Sprout Campers Make A Difference

posted by on Nov 6, 2018

We are so proud to highlight some of the extraordinary actions that our campers are taking to foster change in this world.  At Camp Sprout Lake, our MADIMOW programs inspire our campers to go out and make a difference in their own way. We focus on helping kids understand how important their voices and actions can be. Every Tuesday, we will highlight some of the amazing work that our campers are doing and how they are making a difference.

In the wake of tragedy in Pittsburgh, one of our campers took immediate action, which led to a huge change in her community. Her father sent us this story, which we are thrilled to share to the Sprout Lake community.

Meet Michelle Winderman:

“After Saturday’s tragedy in Pittsburgh, my daughter Michelle expected to have a moment of silence or some kind of recognition at her school Monday morning. She came home Monday night distraught that there was no mention of it at all. Upset, she sat down and wrote a letter to her principal expressing her thoughts on the lack of acknowledgment. She went in the next morning to hand deliver it and was only allowed to leave it with his secretary. She figured that would be the end of it.

On Wednesday, my wife finds out from a friend who teaches at the school that the District Superintendent sent a letter to all staff in grades 3-8 mentioning my daughter’s letter and saying that she made them realize that they missed an opportunity for a teachable moment. She included a copy of Michelle’s letter (minus her name) and instructed every teacher to work age-appropriate discussion about intolerance and combating hate into their curriculum. What merely started out as asking for a moment, may lead to a curriculum change.

The reason for this long story is that standing up for what you believe in and being a force for change in your community is something she learned through MADIMOW at Camp Sprout Lake. The lessons these young people learn here and in Young Judaea give me hope in a deeply troubled world.”

-Jonathan Winderman

We are so proud of Michelle and what she has accomplished in her community, and we can’t wait to see what she will do next!