I was introduced to the Scenic Trails RV Park after meeting with Mississippi’s Hancock County School District officials. The Assistant Superintendent and Director of Special Education expressed concerns over displaced residents who had lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina. Scenic Trails is located in rural Perkiston, Mississippi (approximately 20 miles northwest of Gulfport, MS). Residents, in trying to convey just how isolated Scenic Trails is, will say it’s “twenty-seven miles from the nearest Wal-Mart.”
My relationship with Scenic Trails began on October 18th, just a little over a month ago. I find this incredulous – it seems as if months must have passed to experience all that I have. I ponder what has happened – from the first time we drove into the park where splintered pine trees wearily rested their broken boughs on the ground; where children were playing in a sandy field interspersed with drainage canals; where boys played football on a ‘field’ of dust and debris in between RV’s, and bordered by heaps and heaps of dead pine trees…
On October 29th, International Medical Corps held a “Community Fun Day” to engage the kids in games and to hear from them and their parents about the kinds of activities they’d like to organize for the park. International Medical Corps volunteers eagerly assisted enthusiastic children with breaking piñatas, face painting and arts and crafts. Other volunteers organized a water balloon toss and a football game in the ‘field.’
“What are you doing now for fun?” we asked. “Nothing” was the response from children and parents alike. Children and young adults filled out questionnaires. We learned that they were interested in organizing football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball teams (one young girl wanted to open up a 24-hour ice-cream shop). Along with eager voices asking, “When can we do this again?” children and young adults expressed their desire to organize activities for themselves. We agreed that we would return the following Saturday at 10 am to set up a sign-up sheet for park activities. That Saturday stands out as a shining moment for me.
When I returned with my fellow International Medical Corps volunteers, the pavilion area where we agreed to meet was deserted. Our surroundings seemed colorless, noiseless and stark. But soon, Adam (the baseball all-star who has his uniform in a box underneath his bed) arrived barefoot on his bicycle. He was sleepy-eyed but smiling. “Hey, you guys are back,” he exclaimed. “Where are your friends?” I asked. “I’ll go get them!” was his reply.
Adam came back with friends. And before I knew it, girls and boys were signing up for basketball, football, baseball, kickball, and volleyball. Nikki, a shy twelve-year-old, wanted to sign up for football. Adam asked if we could form a baseball league and compete between different RV parks. Wendy, another teenager, took a clipboard and said she would circulate it so her friends could sign up. Kids came from all directions. “Hey! Where can I sign up?” echoed in between the pines. Before I knew it, I was playing catch with a group of boys. “Hey, throw it to Chris. She can catch!” shouted one of the boys. Off to the side, the St. Charles Community Health Center mobile clinic, staffed with International Medical Corps volunteers, was providing much-needed medical care to park residents.
Over 25 kids signed up for games that Saturday. Football and basketball attracted the most interest. When asked if they wanted to have a basketball or football game the following week, the kids’ response was an enthusiastic “Both!” How could we say no to eager eyes and bright smiles?
We couldn’t! The next Saturday, International Medical Corps and Scenic Trails held our first football match followed by a basketball game. International Medical Corps provided basketballs, basketball goals, footballs, flags, water and fruit. Twelve-year-old Aubrey organized a group to clean the debris from the basketball court. Adam and his friend, Grant, called on others to help clear sticks and rocks from the football field, fill the potholes with sand and spray the field down with water to reduce the dust. “Should we do it today?” they asked. I smiled at their eagerness. Scenic Trails had been transformed into a place of color and laughter.