Training 2

I can't believe I just finished the second training for camp and that I'll be working in less than 20 days!   I am glad to be back with the sophomores, the division is huge, but I think it will be interesting to see how things play out this summer.  This training was way better than the first one, it went by so quickly.  It was the usual situation where everyone played a few games, but then we walked around the camp doing a "scavenger hunt" and got to know the specialists.  Then after that we met our division and then it got real about sexual harassment and ended with us getting our shirts.  This one was cool because we actually got to know who we would be working with and not just sitting there distracted.  I am excited to see what happens for the rest of the summer now that I saw some of the people that I will be working with for the 49 days of camp!

Summer Camp Round 3

I am glad that I am returning for a 3rd summer to work at camp.  I emailed back saying I would work there not knowing what to expect, and as always there were quite a few surprises.  One of my classes was a travel course so right before I went abroad I was asked about a leadership position for a different age group at camp then got various emails that I could not keep up with.  After a bit I ended up getting moved back to the age group I worked with last summer and the group I was excited to work with again!  I am so excited to be back at camp even knowing every year is going to be different and that it's a huge learning curve.

That first training was so awkward, I was still part of this new division and ended up showing one of the games with the two guys that I would be working closer with during the summer.  Then I showed another game and this time I wasn't paying attention and when the director said, walk I was more focused on walking and thinking of a question to ask when he said "Name a c..." I was thinking color then realize he didn't ask for color and yelled out Asia to find out he said country!  SUCH an awkward moment, but hey that's camp honestly messing up is part of the job.  I was able to meet one of the girls I was working with and she seemed really sweet, young, but she seemed excited about the job.  The other girl I met in the division was nice as well and I could see myself working with them during the summer.  Pizza and salad for the first night of training, not bad!  Then it was the usual talking about 21st century and I could not focus during this since there is a skills gap and was just getting frustrated with the US education system.  Training ended and after I talked to a director, I went downstairs to turn in a form and a second after I entered there was the camp director and she pointed out how awkward it was, I just laughed because it seemed to be my theme of the night.

Then the next day I get the call from the director saying I was with the sophomores.  This was great because that meant I will have an easier summer job than having to work with a new age group.   I was a little upset learning that I wouldn't get to work with the people I had just met, but I am open minded and whatever happens, happens.  I went to the next training and they announced the change, which at that point I was cool with it and one of the division leaders was excited to have me.  I went through the night without access to the online account, but I learned a little bit. It was just interesting to see how the rest of the summer would go being at such an odd interesting point.

School Day Camp Style Games

Luckily for me, I got to experience a little practice version of camp!  The camp was hosting a few schools at the camp, and some of the counselors were able to help out and lead the kids, and I was one of them! It's been a lot of fun so far! Monday afternoon I went to the training were were learned a bunch of games we would get to play.

Games:

Pass the face- Basically silent telephone. Start in a big circle then I would make a silly face, like stick out my tounge. The person to my left would then have to copy the face, turn into the circle, and pass it to the next person. It's is so simple, it's a great time filler when you have 2 minutes at a station left. Kids will ask can we play telephone, just say this version is more fun (and there are no inappropriate words if you kids are at that age).  Also can be pass the motion, do it fast and it's like a wave.

Spot the difference- have the kids pair up. One of the campers would need to stay really still, and the other camper would have to memorize what they look like!  The memorizer would have to keep their eyes closed, while the still person changes something about them. Then the memorizer opens their eyes to 'spot the difference'. 

Steal the Cheese- Take tenis balls, or any small objects students can grab, and put them into the center of the area that you can play.  Split the students into groups, I find 4 groups work well so you can have each in a 'corner'.  Then place a hula hoop, or bucket/box, in-front of each group to be where the team deposits the 'cheese' or tennis ball.  The team sends one person at a time to go 

Gaga- The players go into a pit and the goal is to score points by using a soft ball and having it hit the other players leg, between their knee to foot.  Part of the game is bending to protect your legs but you also have to hit the gaga ball to be able to score points on others.  This game is a lot of fun and can get competitive! 

Elves, Wizards, Giants- This is a more interactive version of rocks, paper, scissors with running.  This game starts by splitting everyone into two teams then teaching the movements, for Elves which is a crouch and hands on your head as ears, Wizard which is standing up with your hands out in front like you are doing a magical spell, and Giants where you put your hands over your head and are "big".  The giant beats elves, elves beat wizards (duck under their magic), then wizards beat giants. The team determines one move and a back up and then goes up into a line across from the other team in the line.  There are boundaries for this game and then on a count of three the two teams put up their pick and if it was giants vs wizards, the giants would run across the field and try to catch the wizards who would turn around to go back to their end zone.  Anyone who was tagged joins the giants team and then the teams pick another one to continue playing until one team has everyone on their side.

Indoor foosball- This is a neat sit-down game with large beach balls that have goals and the players pass them to each other to get goals, but you have to get them past the other team.  

We also played the games I wrote about in my ice breakers post!