So once again, it's my day off and I'm chilling at the 7th Street Coffee shop in Milford Pennsylvania with a bunch of friends, catching up on the world.
Since I last posted, a lot has happened. Firstly, we had visiting day, 3 weeks into camp. This is supposedly a nightmare day for division heads because every small issue surfaces and anything that parents are unhappy with is addressed to the DH. However, the day was actually pretty painless and was a good opportunity for me and my staff to chill and meet all the campers' families. I also set up a raffle for kids to be Division Head, Senior Counsellor or General Counsellor for the day. We managed to raise almost 150$ for a Malaria charity (I figured with all the mossies at camp, this would be an appropriate cause).
In the week following visiting day, we organised for all staff in Asher division to be off on a particular night so that we could all go out for dinner as a staff team. We booked a table at the local Chinese place and ended up being the only customers that night, which worked out well since we were rather loud and rowdy!
The next night was the 1st session banquet (a party for the campers on the last night of the session). While the campers all make an effort to dress up smart for the banquet, it's become a tradition in recent years for each division of staff to come in fancy dress. This year, Asher division dressed up as retro 1970's basketball players. Each division was also asked to prepare a short performance of some sort and without any bias, I can say that Asher dominated this. We put on 'Bust A Move' by Young MC and freestyled a medley of dancemoves as taught by our campers over the course of the session. This was then followed by some 'freestyled' basketball skills (I use the term 'skill' lightly) in the form of a Flash Mob. I've got a video, which I hope to upload soon. It's worth watching!
The next morning was an early wake up. 1st session campers were leaving, 2nd session campers were arriving and full session campers went to a rollercoaster park. A few counsellors left after first session as well, so it was a shame to see them go but it's now a new session, with new campers... and so the cycle continues.
In other news, I've started sorting out my after-camp plans. I'm going to stay for 10 days of post-camp, where I'll be the division head for the First Step group (a small group of campers who come for a 5-day camp experience in the hope of returning next summer for a full session). I've then got a flight booked from New York to Las Vegas where I'll meet my friend Andy, who I lived with at uni and we've got a couple nights booked at the Sahara Hotel. We're then flying out from LA to arrive in Auckland, NZ.
Not a huge amount else to tell. I'm missing everyone at home. Specifically my Mum's cooking, my Dad's ability to sort anything and everything out and spending time with all the little people that my brother and sister have sprouted in recent years!
Watch this space...I'll post more soon.
Much love
Sam
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Two Weeks into Camp
I'm currently sat in a coffee shop in Milford Pennsylvania on one of my days off. At camp, being able to have a minute to think and relax is like gold dust so I'm making the most of a relatively chilled day by catching up with the internet.
I can't believe the campers have already been here for 2-weeks. Time has flown but I'm having a great time. Of course, there are always issues that crop up on a daily basis (and I'm learning that as a division head, these issues come about ten times more often - but in the grand scheme of things, IT'S JUST CAMP!) Today, my plans are to eat some good food, rest, eat some more good food, and head to Apple Valley later with a bunch of people for their weekly 'wings' night.
I also found out recently, that I've gained a place to run in the London marathon next April so I'm really chuffed about that. It's one of those things that I've always wanted to be able to tick off 'My List' and hopefully, I'll get to achieve this next April. I will be running for Jewish Care, a large British charity who provide a number of services to the Jewish community, specifically for the elderly. I will be running for the Martin B Cohen Centre for Well being who provide services for mental health patients.
What else is there to tell? Well Asher division is running very smoothly. We've had a couple of new staff members join us in the last week and they're both settling in well. The kids are hillarious and I find myself laughing at the the things they say and do constantly throughout the days. The work I've been doing throughout the year was primarily aimed at 14+ year olds, so working with young kids this summer, is quite a change. However, I must say that I'm finding it completely refreshing and really enjoyable. Two nights ago, I ran an evening activity themed around superheroes in order to introduce the concept of Tikkun Olam (a Jewish value that means 'repair the world'). Each bunk had to create their own superhero and dress their counsellor up. They had to decide what their powers and weaknesses were as well as what cause they are fighting for. They were then given a Villain to combat and they had to come up with a plan to defeat them. The aim is that this will lead into other 'Tikkum Olam' programmes throughout the summer such as recycling, charity, acts of kindness etc.
Anyway, enough of the informal education talk. I've finally managed to reschedule my flights for after the new year. I'll be flying back on 16th January (start the countdown!)
Good afternoon!
Sam
I can't believe the campers have already been here for 2-weeks. Time has flown but I'm having a great time. Of course, there are always issues that crop up on a daily basis (and I'm learning that as a division head, these issues come about ten times more often - but in the grand scheme of things, IT'S JUST CAMP!) Today, my plans are to eat some good food, rest, eat some more good food, and head to Apple Valley later with a bunch of people for their weekly 'wings' night.
I also found out recently, that I've gained a place to run in the London marathon next April so I'm really chuffed about that. It's one of those things that I've always wanted to be able to tick off 'My List' and hopefully, I'll get to achieve this next April. I will be running for Jewish Care, a large British charity who provide a number of services to the Jewish community, specifically for the elderly. I will be running for the Martin B Cohen Centre for Well being who provide services for mental health patients.
What else is there to tell? Well Asher division is running very smoothly. We've had a couple of new staff members join us in the last week and they're both settling in well. The kids are hillarious and I find myself laughing at the the things they say and do constantly throughout the days. The work I've been doing throughout the year was primarily aimed at 14+ year olds, so working with young kids this summer, is quite a change. However, I must say that I'm finding it completely refreshing and really enjoyable. Two nights ago, I ran an evening activity themed around superheroes in order to introduce the concept of Tikkun Olam (a Jewish value that means 'repair the world'). Each bunk had to create their own superhero and dress their counsellor up. They had to decide what their powers and weaknesses were as well as what cause they are fighting for. They were then given a Villain to combat and they had to come up with a plan to defeat them. The aim is that this will lead into other 'Tikkum Olam' programmes throughout the summer such as recycling, charity, acts of kindness etc.
Anyway, enough of the informal education talk. I've finally managed to reschedule my flights for after the new year. I'll be flying back on 16th January (start the countdown!)
Good afternoon!
Sam
Saturday 3 July 2010
Camp and Asher Division
Hello everyone! So it's a saturday night and I'm currently on duty in the camp office, signing in counsellors as they return from their nights off in order to make it back before curfew. It's not too bad considering I only have to do this twice all summer, since I'm no longer living in a bunk with campers.
So let me update you on things. Last weekend I ran the graduation residential weekend for the national Leadership Programme that I've spent the year managing. It was a fantastic weekend and I truly believe that much of the programming for that weekend will be remembered by the participants and tutors for years to come. The graduation ceremony on sunday was a rather emotional affair, as for a handful of tutors, it was their last Leadership Weekend. At the close, I also mentioned to the participants that this would be my last weekend and that I would be moving on. So we all had a good cry and said many lovely things. It was the greatest way to end a fantastic 8 years of being involved in this programme as a participant, tutor and full time manager.
I flew out the next morning to New York, having said goodbye to all the people I'd worked with over the year. I arrived at camp and hit the ground running. I met the 25 staff members that I'll be supervising this summer and so far they're a really great bunch. They work hard, they care for the kids and we've had a lot of fun together and I'm really enjoying working with them all. It's been nice catching up with all the friends I have here and adapting to the new role I'm in this summer.
The kids arrived a few days ago. I've got 70 6-9 years olds and they're amazing!!! They need a lot more support than the older kids but they are so much fun to be with. We've got some great cheers and songs as a division and many other gimmicks and routinal things that we do on a daily basis, including the Hebrew Word of the day, Munchkin Idol and The Asher Division Bust A Move.
Well it's now past 12:15, which is curfew, so anyone who arrives to sign in now will be screwed. Oh dear!
Good night. Much love.
Word
Scoobi (yes sadly that's all I'm known as here. Apologies to those of you who aren't aware of the whole Scoobi-youthwork-alter ego.)
So let me update you on things. Last weekend I ran the graduation residential weekend for the national Leadership Programme that I've spent the year managing. It was a fantastic weekend and I truly believe that much of the programming for that weekend will be remembered by the participants and tutors for years to come. The graduation ceremony on sunday was a rather emotional affair, as for a handful of tutors, it was their last Leadership Weekend. At the close, I also mentioned to the participants that this would be my last weekend and that I would be moving on. So we all had a good cry and said many lovely things. It was the greatest way to end a fantastic 8 years of being involved in this programme as a participant, tutor and full time manager.
I flew out the next morning to New York, having said goodbye to all the people I'd worked with over the year. I arrived at camp and hit the ground running. I met the 25 staff members that I'll be supervising this summer and so far they're a really great bunch. They work hard, they care for the kids and we've had a lot of fun together and I'm really enjoying working with them all. It's been nice catching up with all the friends I have here and adapting to the new role I'm in this summer.
The kids arrived a few days ago. I've got 70 6-9 years olds and they're amazing!!! They need a lot more support than the older kids but they are so much fun to be with. We've got some great cheers and songs as a division and many other gimmicks and routinal things that we do on a daily basis, including the Hebrew Word of the day, Munchkin Idol and The Asher Division Bust A Move.
Well it's now past 12:15, which is curfew, so anyone who arrives to sign in now will be screwed. Oh dear!
Good night. Much love.
Word
Scoobi (yes sadly that's all I'm known as here. Apologies to those of you who aren't aware of the whole Scoobi-youthwork-alter ego.)
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