Dear friends,

I hope this letter finds you and your family safe and well. Little has been as we expected in 2020 and yet, I am proud of the ways our community has come together to connect and celebrate our shared culture. Donations of time and money from community members this year have enabled us to offer virtual summer camps and continue making improvements to the center. As always, there is plenty left to do, and plans are underway for 2021 in the hopes that we’ll be together again. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Although we weren’t able to hold our annual Talka work weekend in May, volunteers came out in January and June to make improvements to the basketball court space where we hold campfires and programs during Jāņi, Kursa, and Mežotne. The hill was terraced to create more comfortable and level seating areas and the firepit was upgraded to allow for smaller campfires, as well as large Jāņi-style bonfires. Additionally, thanks to the many who donated in May, we were able to purchase a new lawnmower to keep our field and surrounding areas clear. Jānis Riekstiņš is clearly finding ways to keep busy out at camp! Our sincere thanks for your support.

From July 6-18th, Kursa held a two-week virtual program covering topics including, Latvian language, literature, theater, folklore, and art. Twenty-five students from across the United States, Canada, and Latvia participated in the programming designed and taught by 9 teachers. For the final program, broadcast over Zoom, students wrote and presented their imaginative fairy tales. When asked whether they were satisfied with the summer’s program, one student wrote, “Thank you for a great experience, can’t wait to do it next year again.”

Mežotne kicked off August with activities from the 2nd – 7th. Even before camp started, all campers received a care package in the mail that included postcards they could send to their group and friends. In total, 71 campers and staff participated. Activities included daily exercise, trivia night, and a deejayed dance party and scavenger hunt. In addition to dressing up in fun costumes for lunch and running around their houses for morning exercises, the kids and parents created fun skits that can still be viewed on the Mežotne Facebook page (facebook.com/mezotne).

Although we have not been able to gather in-person like we normally do, so many of you have stepped up to create opportunities for learning and fun this year. During this challenging time, we’re especially grateful for your efforts and your support.

It is our hope that next year will find us able to gather, dance, and sing together at our favorite spot in the woods. In the meantime, we hope you’ll consider making a donation to the West Coast Latvian Education Center to ensure we’re able to maintain the camp and do the necessary planning for 2021. You can donate through our website (https://www.rklic.org/en/support-our-work/) or through our fundraiser on Facebook (https://bit.ly/2HcmMEc). Make one tax-deductible gift and support all three organizations: WCLEC, Kursa, & Mežotne.

 

Many thanks,

Kārlis Grendze

WCLEC Board President