William Woods hosts "Kids Hoo Care' day camp

Event to benefit university's efforts with Lakota children

William Woods University students Rayel Lytle and Vanessa Davidson and Cyndi Koonse, coordinator of multicultural affairs, visit with a woman and child at Pine Ridge Reservation last summer.
William Woods University students Rayel Lytle and Vanessa Davidson and Cyndi Koonse, coordinator of multicultural affairs, visit with a woman and child at Pine Ridge Reservation last summer.

William Woods University's Project 123 students are asking Callaway County "Kids Hoo Care" to attend a special day camp this weekend to benefit some of the poorest children in the country.

Proceeds from "Kids Hoo Care," run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, will be used to help students' efforts with the Lakota Sioux on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Cost to attend is $10 per child.

Camp activities will include beading a bracelet, watching traditional hoop dancing by a Native American dancer, a riding demonstration at the WWU stables, pony painting and story telling in a teepee. There also will be a video made by a classroom of children from Red Cloud Indian School, and campers will help pack gift bags to send to those children.

"Kids Hoo Care" organizer Ashley Bauer said the goal for the camp is "to bring as many kids from the area as possible to help us help the (reservation) children."

"I'm really excited about meeting the kiddos, and just getting the kids involved," Bauer said. "It's going to be a ton of fun - we plan on having a really good time."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.