What a blast we had yesterday at the Richmond Flying Squirrels game!!! It was a sold-out game and we had great seats, great weather, and so much fun!! We met Nutsy (see below), ate lots of junk food, and finished up with a run around the bases by those brave enough to weather the cold until the end! For those who weren't there - we missed you and hope we can go back soon!!!

Club Last Night ...

So if you missed it, here are a few highlights of the fabulous fun from last night's club:

- Pizza Party (of course)

- Dance Party (also of course ;-)

- Played a rousing game of musical food during which Laura Dolt scarfed down some broccoli, Brandon German chomped down an Oreo, and fearless leader Read Jacob ate DOG BISCUITS!!!!!

- Sang lots of crazy songs, like one about CRAWDADS of all things!

- Raced on skateboards using TOILET PLUNGERS as oars

- And of course, open mic!!!!

- We had tons of fun and missed all of you who weren't able to be there. Can't WAIT for our next Capernaum and for our outing to see the Flying Squirrels on April 18th!!!

a few more pics from last night :-)

More Pictures...

Capernaum 03.25.10

Pictures from Capernaum on March 25, 2010...

Award Nomination: A Parent Perspective #4

From: Debra
Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Subject: capernaum award/ letter
To: tomsibiga@gmail.com     

As a parent of a son with special needs, I can't think of a group more deserving of recognition than the Capernaum volunteers.  They are a wonderful example of God's love in action!    
These volunteers take a caring interest in each one who walks through the door, giving him a safe and joyful place to make friends and strengthen his faith.  And the "typical" teenagers who volunteer benefit too, by discovering common interests with our kids and learning that they are also pretty amazing people once you get to know them.     


For all this to happen, it takes a lot of organization, dedication, and hard work behind the scenes.  We know these volunteers aren't doing it for the recognition, but it would be so great if they could know how much their efforts mean to their community.      


     
Debra

Award Nomination: A Parent Perspective #3

From: Louis
Date: Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 9:42 PM
Subject: Capernaum AWARD Note
To: tomsibiga@gmail.com

To whom it may concern,

A week ago, my 12 year old daughter and I went to our first Capernaum outing located at the Burkwood Swim club in Hanover County. My daughter, who has special needs, and very few friends was reluctant to go inside beyond the entrance door. After about 5 minutes, I could see her start to light up as she looked around and saw all the volunteers and the fun, comfort and safety that was present in the room. With much warmth in my heart, I watched as she made her way around the room recognizing a couple of kids and parents from school and a team leader from Special Olympics. She started to have fun, and we were introduced to Clint and several of his volunteers. I also witnessed for the first time in a new setting her rasing her hand to volunteer. Something that I have never seen before! The activities were fun and safe. The message was outstanding and we will be back! I wish I had known about this program a while ago. The program, and volunteers deserve an award, and the recognition might help get the word out about an incredible program for a truly needed group! I hope you will give what I have shared with you serious consideration. This is an outstanding program!

Louis 

Award Nomination: A Parent Perspective #2

From: Carrie DeLille
Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Subject: Capernaum
To: Tommy Sibiga <tomsibiga@gmail.com>

To Whom It May Concern: 

Capernaum is the highlight of our daughter, Rachel's, life!!  She loves it so much.  The fellowshiping and hearing God's word is her favorite, plus bragging about going up to the microphone to talk, which in any other environment, she would not dream of!!  You cannot be wrong at capernaum or be made fun of....it is all about fun and the volunteers there are absolutely incredible, giving people.  This IS her social life.


Carrie <><

Award Nomination: Hanover Parent Resource Perspective #1

From: "hanover parent resource center"
Date: February 9, 2010 4:00:33 PM EST
To: "Clint Dowda" <clint@gcpres.org>
Subject: RE: Hanover Spirit of Volunteerism reference


Hi Clint,
I'd be more than happy to support that nomination :) 
As the Parent Resource Center Coordinator for Hanover County Schools, I work with parents of students with special needs. Many times, there are opportunities for our younger students to get involved in their community. However, once they reach adolescents, those opportunities seem to go away. Parents are sometimes desperate to find a place that their son or daughter can go and just hang-out with peers (just like typically developing teenagers). Capernaum offers not only fellowship and spiritual guidance to these youths but also an opportunity to learn how to better navigate the social world. Many of these kids have difficulty with the social rules that many of us just seem to take for granted. Capernaum offers them a safe place to figure out how to interact with same age peers successfully...and they have fun doing it. What a blessing for the kids and the parents. 


Hope this is OK, 


Kelly 
Kelly Jones, M.Ed
Coordinator, Hanover County Schools
Parent Resource Center

Award Nomination: A Parent Perspective #1

From: Sandy Price
Date: Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Subject: Re: Capernaum AWARD???
To: Tommy Sibiga

Capernaum has meant so much to my family.  We were thrilled when we first learned that Hanover was starting a new club called Capernaum that would provide a fun, loving, safe, and spiritual environment for our special needs daughter.  She is developmentally disabled and doesn't have the same opportunities that non-disabled kids have for sports, clubs, or church youth group activities. She has been going to Capernaum since it first began in this county. The volunteer leaders have worked hard to make Capernaum a wonderful place for special kids to learn about God's love and have tons of fun with friends.  So much love and acceptance is shown to all the kids, and they absolutely love being there.  Everyone is totally accepted for the unique person they are.  The leaders have also reached out to the parents by offering support group meetings, prayer, and fellowship. Our daughter was able to go to camp last summer for 5 days.  It was such a wonderful experience for her, and a much needed break for us.  Capernaum is a blessing for our entire family.  The volunteer leaders truly deserve an award!

 

Thank you,

 

Sandy Price

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Send your stories and photos to: tomsibiga@gmail.com

Welcome to the Capernaum Blog

To get the ball rolling, I thought I'd post some pictures from the very first Capernaum in Hanover County.  It's hard to believe that it was just a few years ago that we first started meeting together.

Take a look at the pictures and once a week, I will post a new topic to discuss.  This first week's question is;

What is the first thing you remember about the first time that you came to Capernaum?

What is the first thing you remember about the first time that you came to Capernaum?