So I have gotten a little behind because I was disappointed with being switched from the older kids (still am). I'm going to keep these ones shorter so that I can write more about games that were played.
The third training I showed up and got my name tag that now said I was part of the "gold rabbits". This is my new 2nd graders. I ended up sitting and talking to a girl I recognized from high school -even though I never talked to her at kp- and a girl I met at CPR training, I have to admit all of the counselors I have meet are pretty awesome. We all sat for 2 hours listening to a lecture about "boys" and how they need different reactions. This was interesting, except that I have an all girl group at camp, so it doesn't apply to me now and I'm still to young to care that it may relate to me later on.
Then it was lunch time, which was good as always. After that we split into our divisions. I am now a Freshman and learned that a girl I meet at first aid is in the division. We got a tour of the camp, which is much bigger than I expected, such a gorgeous camp! Of course during this I had to go move my car for someone... such a pain.
After the tour they did a role call, and I got the awkward "new counselor" even though I was just new to the group. Then I met the group leader and made a group sign. I don't remember doing anything after this, maybe we sang camp songs? I don't know, but I think the day just ended and the school days started!
*Also I am no longer a "group leader" which works for me because now I'm officially a counselor and can just play with the campers without worrying about allergies and such.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Never get comfortable
I guess that I haven't dealt with enough change this year, because I just got changed from working with the green eagles (5th, 6th, 7th grade girls) to working with 2nd grade girls. WONDERFUL. Well here we go again, awkwardness for the millionth time, times a million now. I guess this is my wake up call (again) that even when things finally seem stable and good, well things aren't.
8am training tomorrow! woo. I'm exhausted already and it's supposed to be hot out, ugh... wait I'm supposed to pretend so "yay".
8am training tomorrow! woo. I'm exhausted already and it's supposed to be hot out, ugh... wait I'm supposed to pretend so "yay".
Monday, June 4, 2012
tRaining 2 & CPR
So I am going to do a double post this time.
Training: So this was a Saturday all day training, 10am to 4:30. Sadly it was raining so it was inside all day, but it was still enjoyable!
I got there parked and went in and started talking to a girl that went to my high school. I didn't actually know who she was but she looked familiar so I asked and she was like yeah I went to KP, but she was a year older than me so that's why I didn't actually know her! Then there is also another girl that went to KP I talked to at the end of the day, she was 2 years older, but was in my accounting class when I was a sophomore and she was a senior. I remember her name only because she was one of the teacher's favorites (and I think she was friends with one of my friends).
I also talked to some of the other eagle counselors and they were so nice! We even got to go to one of the cabins and meet some of the others in our age division. Everyone seemed so cool! I can't wait to spend the summer meeting/working/ hanging out with everyone.
Then we went over some hypothetical situations, where they went over how the rules would dictate our general response. The first one my group got was something about getting overwhelmed and locking a troublemaker camper in a garage/shed. My thought was 'whoever came up with this is pretty creative', but then every other question we used this crazy reaction to joke about the other situations. The director pointed out if we ever get overwhelmed to just ask a camper his/her age, then it'll hit you that they are young and don't really know better! Ok enough with boring rule info.
Lunch time.. I did not really want pizza again and I was lucky since this time they had sandwiches! There were so many sandwiches (they ended up having leftovers for CPR). I sat with my co-counselor and a girl I met from first aid and two guys. I think my co- asked about our ages... I just remember she said her age, I said mine and the other girl said hers. We didn't even get to the guys. They just stopped and asked me "are you really 19?" and "you're only 19??". I didn't know what to say, I just was like "yes I'm really 19". Luckily one of the guys ended up saying "I'm only 19 too, but I turn 20 in a month" while the other said 20. I was like great now I'm the baby at the table! I could not believe how young I felt, but then again I've talked to a few people who have said they are in grad school so I should have figured out then that I was young, this was just a bam that I was young.
After the determination that I was young, we had to watch and list to a segment about bullying. It was really interesting. It was a good video and it's good to know it's a very inclusive camp. We are to never do the pick a captain and they chose the "best" to leave someone out (the example was Freaks and Geeks, I really want to watch this show). Instead we should match campers up by shirt color, height, anything random, which is a cool method to having everyone work with each other.
SONGS was next up for the day. It was still raining so I think this was the time we were supposed to go on a tour, but things change. I liked learning some of the songs, some were just a little well weird. I was thinking though, having the older kids, yes we will sing but most likely the more put together songs that have a few verses.
Then came a presentation on child sex abuse. Some of these stats were crazy. I remember it saying 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are abused and that it can be adult/minor, or forced minor/minor. This was insane to me, I really hope that the stats change. This was such a shocking thing. The directors were telling us about the whole screening process that all of us had to go through, now I understand why the interviews were an hour long (we talked about this during lunch!). I was glad I got hired at a camp with such high standards, hopefully if more places were like this then stats would change!
Talent! Next up we went to the preforming area and got to find a group and get an idea for the counselor talent show! I already pretty much knew I was working with my co- in whatever we did so then I talked to the other eagle counselors and we decided we wanted to change the lyrics/dance to a song. We talked to our division leader and she thought of adding in Justin Bieber! So we came up with an idea and we're all like ready to embarrass ourselves! All we have to do now is change the lyrics to the One Direction song and bam!
After this we went back and played a game with our group, which only made me think that our group is going to be even more awesome. We're all so down to earth, but ready to make fools of ourselves for the campers enjoyment that it'll be awesome!
The next day was CPR: I am now CPR certified! (And AED? I don't know but we used a practice machine.) Nothing happened [besides learning CPR] except that the dog was around, so cute!
Really after this jam packed weekend of camp stuff, I'm excited! Sunday is the next [ALL DAY] training so I will probably post on Monday! Maybe one day this week while I get to relax I'll think of something to expand on! Peace for now!
Training: So this was a Saturday all day training, 10am to 4:30. Sadly it was raining so it was inside all day, but it was still enjoyable!
I got there parked and went in and started talking to a girl that went to my high school. I didn't actually know who she was but she looked familiar so I asked and she was like yeah I went to KP, but she was a year older than me so that's why I didn't actually know her! Then there is also another girl that went to KP I talked to at the end of the day, she was 2 years older, but was in my accounting class when I was a sophomore and she was a senior. I remember her name only because she was one of the teacher's favorites (and I think she was friends with one of my friends).
I also talked to some of the other eagle counselors and they were so nice! We even got to go to one of the cabins and meet some of the others in our age division. Everyone seemed so cool! I can't wait to spend the summer meeting/working/ hanging out with everyone.
Then we went over some hypothetical situations, where they went over how the rules would dictate our general response. The first one my group got was something about getting overwhelmed and locking a troublemaker camper in a garage/shed. My thought was 'whoever came up with this is pretty creative', but then every other question we used this crazy reaction to joke about the other situations. The director pointed out if we ever get overwhelmed to just ask a camper his/her age, then it'll hit you that they are young and don't really know better! Ok enough with boring rule info.
Lunch time.. I did not really want pizza again and I was lucky since this time they had sandwiches! There were so many sandwiches (they ended up having leftovers for CPR). I sat with my co-counselor and a girl I met from first aid and two guys. I think my co- asked about our ages... I just remember she said her age, I said mine and the other girl said hers. We didn't even get to the guys. They just stopped and asked me "are you really 19?" and "you're only 19??". I didn't know what to say, I just was like "yes I'm really 19". Luckily one of the guys ended up saying "I'm only 19 too, but I turn 20 in a month" while the other said 20. I was like great now I'm the baby at the table! I could not believe how young I felt, but then again I've talked to a few people who have said they are in grad school so I should have figured out then that I was young, this was just a bam that I was young.
After the determination that I was young, we had to watch and list to a segment about bullying. It was really interesting. It was a good video and it's good to know it's a very inclusive camp. We are to never do the pick a captain and they chose the "best" to leave someone out (the example was Freaks and Geeks, I really want to watch this show). Instead we should match campers up by shirt color, height, anything random, which is a cool method to having everyone work with each other.
SONGS was next up for the day. It was still raining so I think this was the time we were supposed to go on a tour, but things change. I liked learning some of the songs, some were just a little well weird. I was thinking though, having the older kids, yes we will sing but most likely the more put together songs that have a few verses.
Then came a presentation on child sex abuse. Some of these stats were crazy. I remember it saying 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are abused and that it can be adult/minor, or forced minor/minor. This was insane to me, I really hope that the stats change. This was such a shocking thing. The directors were telling us about the whole screening process that all of us had to go through, now I understand why the interviews were an hour long (we talked about this during lunch!). I was glad I got hired at a camp with such high standards, hopefully if more places were like this then stats would change!
Talent! Next up we went to the preforming area and got to find a group and get an idea for the counselor talent show! I already pretty much knew I was working with my co- in whatever we did so then I talked to the other eagle counselors and we decided we wanted to change the lyrics/dance to a song. We talked to our division leader and she thought of adding in Justin Bieber! So we came up with an idea and we're all like ready to embarrass ourselves! All we have to do now is change the lyrics to the One Direction song and bam!
After this we went back and played a game with our group, which only made me think that our group is going to be even more awesome. We're all so down to earth, but ready to make fools of ourselves for the campers enjoyment that it'll be awesome!
The next day was CPR: I am now CPR certified! (And AED? I don't know but we used a practice machine.) Nothing happened [besides learning CPR] except that the dog was around, so cute!
Really after this jam packed weekend of camp stuff, I'm excited! Sunday is the next [ALL DAY] training so I will probably post on Monday! Maybe one day this week while I get to relax I'll think of something to expand on! Peace for now!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
First Aid Training
I just went through the First Aid training!
This was the first time that I went to one of these classes and I'm proud I made it through! I'm not really a fan of blood, teeth, fish, or snakes. Besides not looking during the whole snake bite thing, I learned ALOT. I'm really glad that I went to it instead of randomly going to one on my own since the instructor was awesome and related everything back to what we could deal with at camp! It actually reminded me that while camp is fun, there are also a lot of campers and they will get hurt and that I need to just be ready and level headed no matter what. Well after everything I've been through I think that's easy enough!
I still remember reading somewhere a few years ago, "summer camp is for the counselors". I have always wondered how true that is, because I loved everyday at camp when I was a camper. But so far having dinner at work twice is pretty nice! Pizza & salad, I do not mind at all!
After dinner we finished learning the stuff and went home, it was not that interesting, but tomorrow should be more fun stuff! Tomorrow's training is from 10am-4:30, lets see how I do with a full day of work! I haven't worked ALL day since I watched my little cousins last summer, I bet I will crash once I get home tomorrow!
This was the first time that I went to one of these classes and I'm proud I made it through! I'm not really a fan of blood, teeth, fish, or snakes. Besides not looking during the whole snake bite thing, I learned ALOT. I'm really glad that I went to it instead of randomly going to one on my own since the instructor was awesome and related everything back to what we could deal with at camp! It actually reminded me that while camp is fun, there are also a lot of campers and they will get hurt and that I need to just be ready and level headed no matter what. Well after everything I've been through I think that's easy enough!
I still remember reading somewhere a few years ago, "summer camp is for the counselors". I have always wondered how true that is, because I loved everyday at camp when I was a camper. But so far having dinner at work twice is pretty nice! Pizza & salad, I do not mind at all!
After dinner we finished learning the stuff and went home, it was not that interesting, but tomorrow should be more fun stuff! Tomorrow's training is from 10am-4:30, lets see how I do with a full day of work! I haven't worked ALL day since I watched my little cousins last summer, I bet I will crash once I get home tomorrow!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Ice Breakers
Here are the ice breakers from the first training!
Icebreaker 1: Evolution
--Starting as an egg, play one round of rocks,
paper, scissors. Winner turns into a chicken, loser stays an egg. Then as win
as a chicken you evolve to a monkey. After you're a monkey you can win to
become a human then eventually a superhero! Once you're at superhero you
win!(: To make it tough if you lose any round you go back to your
previous stage (human->monkey->chicken->egg). It is possible to go
from human to egg, trust me I did!
Icebreaker 2: Rocks, Paper, Scissors Tournament
(they said cheerleader but this is how I learned it at Freshman Orientation!)
--Pair up and play rocks, paper, scissors (one
round, best two out of three, depending on how long you want this game to go
on). If you win go find another winner, if you lose you must start cheering
loudly for the person who beat you! Then as people lose the crowd behind people
becomes bigger, eventually it comes down to 1 game where all the others are
cheering for the person who took them out or someone they were cheering for out!
Icebreaker 3: Tanks & Drivers
--using pool noodles, one person is in-front
blindfolded holding a pool noodle (or soft toy). The other person stands behind
with their hands on the front persons, and they are the steerer (that may not
be a word). The person behind has to direct the other person and tell them to
throw/go right or left and stuff. Keep score even though it's just fun to watch
blindfolded people throw things at each other!
Then all the staff raced to the fence! (This is a method to get the campers into a line quickly, I was amused!) Well next up: First Aid Training!
Icebreaker 4: Things in common
--for this everyone gets into a big circle. Then someone is in the middle and says "I am a counselor". All of the counselors leave their spot and run to a new spot in the circle (that is not right next to them). Whoever is last says something they like such as "I am wearing shorts" "I like sports" etc.
EDIT: I remembered the name of Icebreaker/game 3! Also I added the 4th game we played!
Icebreaker 4: Things in common
--for this everyone gets into a big circle. Then someone is in the middle and says "I am a counselor". All of the counselors leave their spot and run to a new spot in the circle (that is not right next to them). Whoever is last says something they like such as "I am wearing shorts" "I like sports" etc.
EDIT: I remembered the name of Icebreaker/game 3! Also I added the 4th game we played!
Training #1
Today was my first night of training for my new job as a Summer Camp Counselor! (May 31, 2012)
I think it went pretty well. I got there early and got a pretty good parking spot! Then I signed in and was standing around when the guy who hired me said "Hi, Amanda", I can admit I was stunned by this. Most people don't remember who I am, I'm the invisible older child. (It's only my brother and I, so I take on the older & middle child role.) It was a good thing I had a name tag on though, but for one of the head people to say Hi to new staff is already impressive and gives that comfortable, friendly environment feel. Hopefully I can also make my campers feel like they already belong before anything even begins!
Everyone standing around was then told to go play catch with the other counselors. I DID. I honestly walked to the chair that matched my name tag put my stuff down and started tossing around a green and white football with 3 or 4 guys. This is the total opposite of what I would normally do. First of all, I am not sporty. I actually did really good with catch though, one of the guys said we were doing really well and I commented "well I'll be the first to drop it" and two seconds later we had our first drop. Besides the whole showing that I was not the typical girly-girl that hates [playing] sports (which if you will figure out: I am), I walked up and talked with guys. That's not me, I usually hang back and just talk to which ever girl seems to be also be alone, it's easier because both girls don't want to look awkward alone so they either have a conversation or will just hang near each other so they aren't 'alone'.
After a while of playing catch another girl comes over to the Green Eagles chair. I started talking to her [instead of playing catch] since she is my co-counselor. We did the usual exchange: does your name tag also say Green Eagles?, are you new to camp?, and do you go to college?, except we ended there. Little did we know we both go to Emmanuel College! I think both of us went into a little bit of shock! The fact that we both go to the same small school and don't know each other then meet at a camp, I was surprised. I knew people from this area went to EC, but I didn't know many that did. We kept talking (and I was officially done with catch!) then came the "ice breakers"!
I'll post the ice breakers later!
After, everyone was told to run to the fence. Then we held hands and made a really big circle. This was an example of how to get the kids to line up when they really don't want too! (I thought the "run there" was clever.) Then we went inside and had dinner, pizza & salad & cookies/cupcakes! I was happy, I was craving pizza for the past few days!
Then we listened to a lectures/presentation. The head lady at the camp started talking about an article, I googled summer camp counselor blog and found the link. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/the-camp-counselor-vs-the-intern/
I actually had my listening ears on during this because a good handful of my friends already have internships! (One is going to Wyoming, so impressive!) The whole "make a documentary" got me thinking, maybe I should document my ups and downs at camp somewhere? Well here's a good place to do it, I'm invisible so what's the harm. I already know I'm not sharing any personal details about any campers and such. It's more of a place for me to reflect and I think my story to when I got the job is pretty interesting so maybe everything will lead to a surprising summer (in a good way)!
The presentation was pretty interesting because the guy was saying how real life skills (communication, creativity, teamwork, etc) were not focused on during school but camp is the place to build these things. On one of his list it showed how art/humanities, history, political studies were not as desirable skills to big businesses. Well the only one that was over 60% was MATH. I was very glad to here that. Also he kept saying "STEM is only so important" well it is important since he said it so often. I kept thinking maybe I have right career path! I told you I'd spill later.. I'm a math education major. Crazy double major, barely able to graduate in 4 years, 14 math, 10 education, and 9 core reqs where I only have 32 classes I should take, luckily I can squeak in 5 classes and am going to have the summer course done so I can graduate. I am hoping that I can even tack on a minor in information technology. I only have to take 4 or 5 more courses? I might be better off taking a psych minor where I only have to take 3 more courses. Too bad I couldn't get an organizational leadership minor, that would be too cool. And there is the rambling.
My laptop is at 2%. NIGHT (:
I think it went pretty well. I got there early and got a pretty good parking spot! Then I signed in and was standing around when the guy who hired me said "Hi, Amanda", I can admit I was stunned by this. Most people don't remember who I am, I'm the invisible older child. (It's only my brother and I, so I take on the older & middle child role.) It was a good thing I had a name tag on though, but for one of the head people to say Hi to new staff is already impressive and gives that comfortable, friendly environment feel. Hopefully I can also make my campers feel like they already belong before anything even begins!
Everyone standing around was then told to go play catch with the other counselors. I DID. I honestly walked to the chair that matched my name tag put my stuff down and started tossing around a green and white football with 3 or 4 guys. This is the total opposite of what I would normally do. First of all, I am not sporty. I actually did really good with catch though, one of the guys said we were doing really well and I commented "well I'll be the first to drop it" and two seconds later we had our first drop. Besides the whole showing that I was not the typical girly-girl that hates [playing] sports (which if you will figure out: I am), I walked up and talked with guys. That's not me, I usually hang back and just talk to which ever girl seems to be also be alone, it's easier because both girls don't want to look awkward alone so they either have a conversation or will just hang near each other so they aren't 'alone'.
After a while of playing catch another girl comes over to the Green Eagles chair. I started talking to her [instead of playing catch] since she is my co-counselor. We did the usual exchange: does your name tag also say Green Eagles?, are you new to camp?, and do you go to college?, except we ended there. Little did we know we both go to Emmanuel College! I think both of us went into a little bit of shock! The fact that we both go to the same small school and don't know each other then meet at a camp, I was surprised. I knew people from this area went to EC, but I didn't know many that did. We kept talking (and I was officially done with catch!) then came the "ice breakers"!
I'll post the ice breakers later!
After, everyone was told to run to the fence. Then we held hands and made a really big circle. This was an example of how to get the kids to line up when they really don't want too! (I thought the "run there" was clever.) Then we went inside and had dinner, pizza & salad & cookies/cupcakes! I was happy, I was craving pizza for the past few days!
Then we listened to a lectures/presentation. The head lady at the camp started talking about an article, I googled summer camp counselor blog and found the link. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/the-camp-counselor-vs-the-intern/
I actually had my listening ears on during this because a good handful of my friends already have internships! (One is going to Wyoming, so impressive!) The whole "make a documentary" got me thinking, maybe I should document my ups and downs at camp somewhere? Well here's a good place to do it, I'm invisible so what's the harm. I already know I'm not sharing any personal details about any campers and such. It's more of a place for me to reflect and I think my story to when I got the job is pretty interesting so maybe everything will lead to a surprising summer (in a good way)!
The presentation was pretty interesting because the guy was saying how real life skills (communication, creativity, teamwork, etc) were not focused on during school but camp is the place to build these things. On one of his list it showed how art/humanities, history, political studies were not as desirable skills to big businesses. Well the only one that was over 60% was MATH. I was very glad to here that. Also he kept saying "STEM is only so important" well it is important since he said it so often. I kept thinking maybe I have right career path! I told you I'd spill later.. I'm a math education major. Crazy double major, barely able to graduate in 4 years, 14 math, 10 education, and 9 core reqs where I only have 32 classes I should take, luckily I can squeak in 5 classes and am going to have the summer course done so I can graduate. I am hoping that I can even tack on a minor in information technology. I only have to take 4 or 5 more courses? I might be better off taking a psych minor where I only have to take 3 more courses. Too bad I couldn't get an organizational leadership minor, that would be too cool. And there is the rambling.
My laptop is at 2%. NIGHT (:
Intro
Hi!
So as the title says, I'm a first time summer camp counselor! I explain where I get the idea for the blog in the first night of training post! (I did this a little backwards!) I am a "rising" college sophomore. I am studying Math and Education, to hopefully end up teaching in Middle School (but it's part of the secondary education degree). I started rambling about the craziness of my double major and how I would love to have 3 different minors! I also tutored grade 6 students in math over the year, yeah I strongly believe in giving kids a good background and they'll be successful!
Besides always wanting to be a counselor, it's the perfect way to continue working with kids! The only thing is, I have not been to summer camp since I was in grade 6. Even then I only went to the small town camp and then a school camp, where it was scheduled activities. They were totally opposites, but I enjoyed them both. Now I'm lucky enough to be working at a camp that incorporates the town camp idea of lots of fun outside, while also having different electives for the campers!
I can't wait for camp! More later!
So as the title says, I'm a first time summer camp counselor! I explain where I get the idea for the blog in the first night of training post! (I did this a little backwards!) I am a "rising" college sophomore. I am studying Math and Education, to hopefully end up teaching in Middle School (but it's part of the secondary education degree). I started rambling about the craziness of my double major and how I would love to have 3 different minors! I also tutored grade 6 students in math over the year, yeah I strongly believe in giving kids a good background and they'll be successful!
Besides always wanting to be a counselor, it's the perfect way to continue working with kids! The only thing is, I have not been to summer camp since I was in grade 6. Even then I only went to the small town camp and then a school camp, where it was scheduled activities. They were totally opposites, but I enjoyed them both. Now I'm lucky enough to be working at a camp that incorporates the town camp idea of lots of fun outside, while also having different electives for the campers!
I can't wait for camp! More later!
**Oh and technically I'm a "Group Leader" but I am going to
say I'm a counselor because I really always wanted to be a counselor! (Also, I
have the duties of a counselor and more responsibility so I think of my job as
being an 'advanced counselor'! By modus ponens, or some other discrete rule
that I never really learned, I can drop the advanced part. Therefore, I am a
counselor. --I'll probably explain this later, hopefully.)
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