We have spent months planning special activities for the children.  Please remember that the people leading the activities are volunteers and do not necessarily have special training.  Our goal has been to provide diverse activities that will engage children of all ages. 

 

Friday Night

 

GAFE Meet & Greet: Friday 5PM - 7PM - Renew old acquaintances and meet new people. Soft drinks and light snacks will be served.

 

BINGO  6:30 PM – 8:00 PM  Come join us for a lively game of Bingo.  Suitable for all ages and prizes for everyone.

 

Welcome the Jewish Sabbath - Friday 7PM - ? - We invite GAFE participants to join us in welcoming the Jewish Sabbath. We'll recite the Shabbat blessings in Hebrew, Spanish and English, sing some songs, and get to know each other.

 

Children’s movie  --  Join us at 8 PM in the King Charles Room to watch a child oriented movie. 

 

Swimming  --  there is always the indoor and outdoor pools

 

Saturday Activites

 

Toddler Room  -   A room set up with fun toys and activities for children to play.  Here you will also find books about Guatemala that you can read with your child. 

 

Children’s Life Books  – Children will have the ability to make their own lifebook.  Stickers, crayons, markers, pencils and scrap-booking materials will be available for them to create their own book.  If you brought photos for your child to use, this will be the time and place for using them. 

 

Mobiles  -  Using a foam base, children will be able to select a variety of items that are representative of Guatemala and create a Mobile to take home with them.  There is also a poster board presentation at the table that explains the significance of the items chosen to represent Guatemala

 

Quetzal Bird  -  Using a precut form, children will be able to put together their own Quetzal bird.  There is a poster board presentation at the table that explains the significance of the Quetzal bird. 

 

Flags  -  Come and color a Guatemalan Flag and/or a Flag of the United States.  Maybe your children will want to use this flag at the banquet. 

 

Worry Dolls  -  using craft clothespins, scraps of fabric, string and pipe cleaners, we will make worry dolls.   "WORRY DOLL LEGEND - There is a legend amongst the Highland Indian villages of Guatemala: "If you have a problem, then share it with a worry doll. Before going to bed, tell one worry to each doll, then place them beneath your pillow. Whilst you sleep, the dolls will take your worries away!"

 

Guatemalan Traje - Mayan Families has brought  traditional clothing from Guatemala for children and teens to try on and have their pictures taken. Zoe Poage will demonstrate and help you  put on Guatemalan Traje (traditional dress). So, bring your cameras so that you can take pictures. Remember, we will have frames in the Marketplace for sale, so you can easily have a perfect souvenir of GAFE 2009.  

 

 

Mayan Math, Mayan Glyphs and Warrior Shields

Working with Arlette N. Braman, Author of The Maya: Activities and Crafts from a Mysterious Land (Secrets of Ancient Cultures) we will discover the ancient Maya culture with three fun activities. Arlette Braman will work with us to learn Mayan Math, she will teach us how to create a clay Glyph with your name in Mayan that you can take home and she will teach us about the shields Mayan Warriors used and help us create our own shields to take home. Arlette Braman’s book will be available for sale at GAFE and she will be happy to autograph copies for you. Arlette will also bring with her some of the artifacts she has collected over the years for us to look at and learn from as we explore the Maya.

 

 

The Ultimate Pet Detective: This exciting show is presented by Animal Junction, Inc, "teaching zoo" that educates through entertainment. The shows teach respect and appreciation for exotic, unusual and amazing animals. Animal Junction was awarded the People's Choice Award for Best Children's Entertainment by the Philadelphia Daily News. 

 

Scavenger Hunt  -- Pick up your packet and hunt the hotel and grounds to answer this years tricky questions.  Winners will be announced at the banquet. 

 

Alfombras Workshop   – Learn about making an Alfombra.  Using a PowerPoint presentation you will view pictures and learn about Alfrombras and how to die sawdust used to make the Alfombra.  Then the participates will gather outside to make an Alfombra.    Alfombras (or carpets) are created for processions to walk upon during Semana Santa. 

 

Giant Kite Workshop – Start your morning together.  A joint workshop for parents and children. This workshop will introduce participants to the Guatemala tradition of making giant kites. Giant Kites are an element of Day of the Dead observances in two highland villages north of Antigua. We will learn about the cultural significance of this Mayan tradition and participates will join in making a large kite. Children should be 8 or older and will need to have a parent with them. We will display the Kite at the banquet.