#adayinthelifeofdaycamp

The summer has started and today we had 18 campers! A few schools are still going so we will see numbers increase asthe  week goes on. 

As campers arrive between 8 and 9 we sign in, sign up for activities and play games on the field. After 9 we get into our counsellor groups and then move to our period one activities around 9:20. 

We have our first period from 9:30-10:30 then meet to swap groups before heading to period two from 10:45-11:45. 

Today, period one saw us at gaga, archery and arts and crafts and period two saw us at tennis, the farm, music and secret option, which today was dodgeball. We have specialists at the majority of the activities which help us to work with the children as they share their expertise. 

Lunch, at midday, was a camp favorite - Dino nuggets and fries! After we learnt a few lunch rules we set off to the salad bar and our lunch tables. The after lunch ritual soon came into play with returning campers teaching the group their favorite songs which included the beaver song, yogi bear and the washer woman. 

At 1pm we moved to get changed for warerfront activities, before going to the basketball courts to learn some waterfront rules for the summer. Before moving to the waterfront for our weekly swim tests, swimming lessons and boating. 

The weather turned it on for us today and it was hot! The first jump into the lake with the kids was well and truly worth the wait! We had our swim tests before doing free swim and then water adventure on the water mat and water trampoline. 

4pm saw us move back to the pavilion to change into dry clothes and have our afternoon snack, while we wait for 5pm pick up! 

It's been a great first day - I can't wait for the rest of the summer!! 

#Orientationdrawstoaclose

Orientation week saw us listening to talks from various people - camp directors, insurance brokers, ex staff, board members, campers and more. We also engage in staff activities such as an amazing race, staff quiz nights, staff dance offs, gaslight theater shows and  overnight activities. My favourite part is the amazing race where each team can choose between 'hero' challenges - such as one person eating 6 saltine crackers in a minute, or whole team challenges such as the entire team going off the rope swing and then getting covered in flour. This shows great initiative and team work between the new and returning counsellors. 

As we approached the end of orientation, all staff were taken on a day off which saw us go to the beach, the mall and then a baseball game! It's a great snippet of American sporting culture and there's something for everyone across the day. After our day off Friday, we got to sleep in and have a brunch Saturday, followed by last minute activities to prepare the property for the arrival of overnight campers this afternoon! I can't believe how quickly these two weeks have gone, and also the close friendships that are already forming. Campers arrive today for overnight camp and then our campers arrive tomorrow morning! It's a mixture of excitement and a little bit of heathy nervousness, however I can't wait to see my returning campers and introduce the new ones to this amazing experience..!

Some of the day camp staff 

Lifeguarding week 

#andsoitallbegins...

I've been at camp a bit now, we've been setting up the waterfront, putting up tents and getting the property ready for the summer. It already feels like I never left! People have been arriving over the past couple of weeks and we had alumni weekend, from the 6th-9th, where staff, campers and families from the past years of camp come back for a reunion. It was good to see everyone and to get a chance to catch up on months passed. Over the weekend, we spent time preparing and serving food for the alumni, then joined in the festivities. It was an amazing, yet tiring weekend. It was great to see the lifelong friendships that we are always told about, right before our eyes. 

Even though I've been back for a couple of weeks now, I still remember last year like it was yesterday. Meeting people at the hostel in New York, waiting nervously for the bus to pick us up and gazing out the windows to catch a glimpse of the amazing property which was soon to change me. As we pulled up there were returning staff waiting for us, helping unload the bus and get us settled in our rooms. Fast forward 12 months and it was me unloading those bags and bringing new counsellors into the camp family.

Sunday  marked the day of new staff arrivals!! On Sunday, we spent the day finishing off alumni weekend with a brunch, then organising and preparing for the new counsellors to arrive. Last year we all moved in to a big building with all overnight, pioneer village and day camp staff together. This year we, as day camp, moved straight into our accommodation for the summer, which is called Lakeside. There are two of us in each room and I have a new counsellor called Charlotte as my room mate, who I'm excited to get to know. We gave everyone a tour of camp then had dinner together. It's different to see so many new faces around, and to adjust to being the one showing people around and telling them about camp, rather than a new, timid, staff member as I was last year. After dinner, we got to know a little bit about each other then had an early night to prepare for 'Aquatics week' which starts tomorrow. This is where all the new staff train to be lifeguards! 

Aquatics week consisted of American Red Cross lifeguarding school which took everyone through rescues, rules, regulations, CPR and other general waterfront training. After a week that has been hot and sunny 10% of the time, and wet and freezing 90% of the time, we now have about 50 new lifeguards! Now that everybody is lifeguard trained, we commence orientation week!

Stay tuned.... 

Jess

:)