De Colores Summer Program Introduces Children to Spanish, Humanitarian Principles

After a successful pilot program earned positive reviews from parents, the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elmhurst is hosting a summer camp to teach Spanish and basic Christian principles to children in kindergarten through fifth grades.

Registration is still open for De Colores, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10-14 at the church at 235 South Kenilworth Ave.

The program’s global outreach components show children how to be better stewards of Earth, according to Martha Mendoza, director of Christian education.

“No matter what your faith base is, you can practice what your children learn without feeling like your faith has been tampered with,” she said.

Mendoza said the Spanish-language learning is conversational, not mechanical. Children will be divided into age appropriate groups, where they will learn songs, greetings and simple prayers in Spanish through set scenarios.

The church and the 14 people involved in organizing De Colores are hoping this method will excite children and help them see Spanish is fun to practice with friends and parents.

The summer program is also meant to reinforce the introduction to Spanish that children in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 and others receive, so when school kicks off they can get excited to learn more.

One component of the program that isn’t all about language learning is the global outreach lessons, which integrate the church’s commitment to enriching life through global aspects of community.

Mendoza said Elmhurst, which is not necessarily the most diverse city, has a desperate need to expose its youth to other cultures, people and languages.

She said the humanitarian principles and Christian pillars covered in De Colores are linked to a learning experience, such as talking about the Galapagos Islands and animals that live there, which influences the day’s arts and crafts component.

“We know as a church, we also want to promote the importance of Christians being global and not being fixated on the ’me’ and the ’immediate around me,’” Mendoza said. “We think learning the language, accompanied by some basic Christian principles, which are really humanitarian principles, is great way to respond to our world right now as we know it.”

Mendoza said registration, which is $75 per child, will likely be open to the first day of camp. For more information about De Colores, call the church at 630-832-2580 or visit the church website.