Howdy Circle F Family,
Today was check-in day for 3rd session. It was so great to finally meet the new camper families who we have been talking to all year. And, of course, we love to see all of our old friends. We have 159 campers for third session. This is a multi-cultural camp session. We have campers from Spain, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Columbia, Jordan, Poland, Guadalupe, Brazil, France, Chicago, Maryland, and the strangest place Las Vegas. It is such a great opportunity for our campers to form real relationships that cross boarders and cultures.
After check-in we had our swim test and then an all camp swim in our beautiful Sunset Lake. It looked like it was going to storm this afternoon, but we just had a few light rain drops that really cooled down the weather.
Meal times at Circle F are a blast. We start each meal with a song. At Circle F we eat family style, which means that all of the food is on the table. Different from buffet style, family style promotes talking, community and greater understanding. For dinner we had Fried Chicken, Broccoli, Salad, Rolls, Mashed Potatoes, and Pudding for dessert. We always have peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches and a fruit bowl at each meal for campers who prefer not to eat the main dishes. At the end of each meal we sing camp songs.
Some of the camp song names are: Tarzan, Ricky-Bam-Boo, Canoe Song, OM-OT, Bananas, Hole in the bucket, Old Austrian, Old Lady Leary, Little Red Wagon, Beaver Song, Skunk Song and a whole lot more. Songs are a big part of summer camp. It is very rare nowadays that people sing together. Camp is one of the few places where you can let loose and sing in a group without having to worry about whether people will laugh at you or think that you are not a good singer. Singing builds confidence and builds community.
This evening we have two evening programs. The first is our Photo Scavenger Hunt. This is a great activity because the cabins get to work together as a group (which builds unity) and at the same time they get a fun orientation to camp as they run to all of the different areas of camp. We will have some of the pictures from the event up on under photos this evening.
The second part of the evening program is the Counselor Skits. All of the counselors have prepared skits that introduce themselves and their activity areas. The skits are often hilarious and really help set the tone for camp.
The campers are now going to bed. The first night can be tough for some campers. Home sickness is often the name of separation anxiety. It is a natural feeling for campers to be sad when separated from their home life. At Circle F we do everything possible to help campers make an easy transition to camp life. As you can see, we have a lot of activities on our opening day. When campers are having fun and making friends, they do not have time to feel upset. The counselors use games and other fun ways to make sure that everyone in the cabin knows each others names on the first day. The counselors also look for campers who seem to be having a tougher time adjusting, and they will spend some extra time and attention to make sure that the camper is involved in the activities and friend making. In the end, the counselor is there to help the camper make the transition from home life to camp life. The camper will come out of "home sickness" a stronger, more independent person.
When I moved from being a counselor to administration, I thought that I would be dealing with a lot of home sick campers. The reality is that I work a lot more with home sick parents. For many of the parents who are reading this blog, this may be the first time that you have been separated from your camper for a significant amount of time. I have found that many parents prepare their campers for summer camp, but they spend very little time preparing themselves for summer camp. It is natural to feel anxious, empty or even scared when dropping your children off at summer camp. You want the best for your child and when your child is at camp you give up all control of your campers. You cannot protect them from bad decisions, or bad behavior. This is scary, but, it is a part of growing up as a parent. Allowing your children the space to be independent and to make their own decisions is probably one of the most humbling and frightening events you will go through. Have faith that your children are in an emotionally and physically safe place where we have counselors who will guide them and help them learn to make wise decisions. Camp is fun, but it is also one of the best ways for children (and parents) to learn independence.
I want to welcome all of the new readers to the blog. My name is Roger and I am the Assistant Director. I will try to blog everyday so that you have an idea about what is happening at camp. I will also try to get some campers and guest bloggers. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us and I will post the answers her.
Fantastic Wishes,
Roger and the gang
P.S. Thank you for sharing your children with us.
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