When introducing the Holocaust, I used the story of the children of Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp just northwest of Prague, and one of its most notable survivors, Michael Flack. I think my students were most shocked by the number of children taken to Terezin (15,000) and the very few (100) survivors.

As a group, we discussed basic human rights, and I asked students to identify what these are. They gave examples like food, water, shelter, and an existence free of physical abuse. I then asked these young writers to reflect on how it would feel to be taken from your home, separated from family members, and forced to wear the Star of David on your clothes to identify you as Jewish. One student raised his hand and exclaimed, “I would not do it.” This led to a discussion about our basic human rights and freedom of religion, so I asked students to imagine how they would feel sleeping on a concrete floor, having little food and water, and being asked to perform 80-100 hours of hard labor a week. Jose A. at Pickle Elementary wrote, “I am sitting here in this ugly place. My tears are rolling down my red, puffed cheeks.” Carla E. offered these words: “I want to survive, but I don’t know how. Must I die to see my parents? Then I see a big flower. I want to smell it, but it’s on the other side.”

The introduction of poet Michael Flack turned the conversation to hope and light in the midst of great despair. His poem, “On A Sunny Evening,” was found in the cracks of the walls of the concentration camp. I asked student to identify lines in the poem that focused on hope through nature. Their responses were filled with optimism. Anessa B. at Brown Elementary wrote, “I found hope. I see flowers and trees. I won’t die. I won’t die. I will survive.”

As class concluded for the day, we discussed how people, when standing together, have strength in numbers. We decide to act when one voice cries out in the name of injustice. In a poem she titled “A Day of Hope,” Destiny, a student at Pickle Elementary, provided an eloquent summary of our lesson for the day: “There’s one person every day who believes there’s going to be hope.”

Jena Kirkpatrick
Badgerdog Instructor

For eight years now, Badgerdog has offered young writers the opportunity to explore their imaginations, work with professional authors, and form a community of writers at our annual Creative Writing Summer Camp.

“A big plus for reluctant writers.” — Middle-school parent

During each three-week session, writers in grades three through twelve explore different genres and learn to revise and edit their work for publication and performance in fun, interactive workshops.

“It’s so much more hands-on than school. I got more one-on-one help.”— Middle-school writer

Each session involves . . .

A field trip:

Publication of our writers’ work in a beautiful anthology:

Two readings! Including a community-wide reading where young writers perform their work for an audience of more than 150 people (and sign autographs afterward!):

Badgerdog offers its Creative Writing Camp at five different locations:

View Summer Camp Locations in a larger map

For more information, check out our website or contact our Education Programs Manager, Cecily Sailer, at cecily.sailer (at) badgerdog.org or (512) 538-1305 x102.

Sign up before March 15 using the coupon code summer12EB and receive a $25 discount for each registration.