Well after not being at camp for 16 years, I am in awe of how nice everything looks. Driving up to camp was very surreal and “incredible”. I am so happy to be back with my childhood roots. This blog will be both business and personal, since it is sometimes difficult for me to distinguish the two. In addition, I am hoping to journal daily, so enjoy you can enjoy it with me, if you so choose.
We arrived on Saturday around noon. Andre Farah was up, it was nice seeing him after 20 years. He set up the sound equipment and some of the computers - a great help. Andrea spent Saturday consumed with cleaning both our cabin and the office (nice to have an OCD wife). The office was left in a disarray after camp last summer - so it was much needed. I spent most of the afternoon at the Waterfront with about 10 staff bringing the docks over and beginning the connecting. That evening we had a nice dinner and continued working on the cabin and office. I helped Andrea with some office organizing later that night.
Sunday was our CPR and First Aid training. I was very impressed how well the staff listened and participated in the training. Jorge was fantastic and focused on the vital parts and worked the staff hard to get the fundamentals right. It is evident that the focus of my precamp efforts needed to be around the safety of all of the camp activities- not only the waterfront. That evening the kitchen prepared a fantastic dinner of Lule kebab, shish kebab and chicken kebab - look out committee - you have a tough act to follow for Friday. Sunday evening, my head staff met and planned out the pre camp week. Now with the computers printing, things were coming together.
Monday was a really productive day. The waterfront: finished their lifeguarding training (I even got certified); completed the swim docks; set up the boat beach; and we reviewed the inventory/needs. The counselors arrived and they cleaned their cabins; the male staff move all the boats to the waterfront; we moved all the benches, tables from the dining hall. The staff computer room was set up. The male staff definitely pulled their weight - and then some. Anthony is a great asset to the camp. The nurse arrived and is not fully committed to the program - I hope to have a dialogue with her tomorrow to work things out. I think once Susanna comes on Wed. we will know what to expect.
Monday night was great. At 5:30 we grouped up in the gym, sat on the floor and went around introducing each other. There were about 40 - 50 of us. We had dinner, a break, and then Jen organized an excellent “ice breaker” for us all to get to know each other better. Then the staff headed to the gym for a group volleyball game. Things quieted at about 10, and this is the first night I am forcing myself to go to bed early. All in all, I am pleased with how everything is running so far. Tomorrow we hope to work on our activity leader plans and complete the waterfront.
Tuesday began with a few more people joining me for a run to the little white church on Fall Clove Road. Breakfast was excellent (again) - the food is too good and not helping my plan to shed a few pounds this summer - but I am really not complaining. After breakfast, we had a overview of the rules, procedures and protocol. I then did a short workshop on how rules are sometimes broken, and that we wanted to try to get staff feedback on what the consequences should be for breaking rules. Being a very different and new approach, they were shy, so I left it to them to think about. We will approach again tomorrow - if not, we will decide the consequences. At 10am everyone began working on their activity plans for the summer. I went to the waterfront and ran a simulation with PCM for the staff. They did as well as can be expected for their first time - many more will follow. PCM has been very receptive to learning my approach to the waterfront and is a great leader for the staff. Lunch was nice - but lots of carbs again (Grilled Cheese and Chips). After lunch Talar and Dan worked on their plan for their cabin leader meeting. At 2pm, Jen worked on “rules” skits with the staff for the first night of camp - a different approach to teaching rules to the kids. At 4pm, Jen met with her Activity leaders to review their planning and setup. Supply lists are all in for cabins and activities - Andrea has been coordinating this with Dan, Jen, and Talar. I set up a “pop up” down by the lake for shade and the WF staff tried on their new uniforms. Dinner was meatloaf and mashed potatoes - very good. After dinner, Talar and Jen for the girls; and Dan and I for the boys; visited each cabin and the cabin leaders each presented the rules, procedures and camper issues to their staff. It was a new way that I presented to empower the cabin leaders to show their position in the cabin and let the other counselors listen to the cabin leader rather than head staff. Head staff observed each meeting and it was a nice shift for everyone. I think its a great way for us to do this in the future. After our meetings we had a staff soccer game until PCM twisted his ankle; then we went to the gym for a series of “boys vs. girls” Dodgeball games. The entire staff participated and the energy in the room was impressive. This group really likes one another and at the same time has been working hard to get the camp ready. Everyone is very excited and very appreciative that we are taking them to Margaretville tomorrow for 4th of July. We are going to work hard in the morning and simulate a General Swim in the afternoon. Goodnight!
Wednesday began with a great run/walk to the chapel - a few new faces, but only a small group again. Breakfast was eggs with peppers, onions, zuchinni, tomatoes, etc. - very good as usual. The kitchen staff was not wearing hair nets, so I had to speak to Ovi - he took care of it. After breakfast, we checked the cabins for inspection - all checked out ok. Some repairs still pending, but Anthony is on top of it. In addition we did a tour of the entire camp and came up with about 10 areas that still needed work. When we inspected each cabin, we assigned them each a camp area to take care of. Then the activity leaders worked with their staff on their plans. Andrea and Parig went to Oneonta for some shopping - a lot of this shopping should have been done prior to precamp. It is a continuing challenge to find out what is needed. We had a nice lunch and then PCM took us up to the gym and presented an orientation of the rules of the waterfront. He then called each cabin to the lake for swim and dive tests. It was pouring outside, but all but two counselors participated and were great sports. The remaining two will be tested tomorrow. After the tests, Dan and Talar reviewed the camp areas and the staff continued working on their plans and some took a break. Due to the continued pouring rain, we cancelled the bus trip to Margaretville. The health director and Sue presented to the staff, and then we had dinner (hamburgers and hotdogs). After dinner, Jen and I met with the activity directors and then had each group come in and reviewed their rainy day plan. More detailed review/presentation will happen tomorrow. After the review, we headed to the barn for some excellent team building activities. We set the clocks back to camp time. Had some snacks and went to bed. Tomorrow we are going to do a final review of everything and run through emergency procedures including lost camper and swimmer drills. My kids called me homesick - they can’t wait to come to camp! Goodnight!
Thursday morning we had breakfast and then PCM gave an overview of the lost swimmer drill to the counselors and staff. Since the staff has been working so hard this past week, we were able to focus on activities for the first session. Each activity leader presented their entire plan to Jen and me. Having all of the plans for the 3 sessions made us all feel like we are beginning the summer at a great point. In addiition, the counselors worked on their evening activity skits for the SNL and “rules” skits for Saturday night. First Aid kits were handed out to each cabin and activity. Dan and Talar held CIT meetings to overview the camp rules and procedures in more detail. We then reviewed a Lost Swimmer Drill and Lost Camper Drills. Even though the weather was not ideal, the counselors worked hard on their dives and then we reviewed the other procedures. We discussed change over weekend schedule and potential issues. After that meeting, the counselors practiced their SNL skits. It started raining (again) so we cancelled the campfire. We are a team and ready for the summer - I am very proud of this group.
On Friday morning, I let the staff know how much I appreciated their hard work for the past week. The counselors prepared for their cabins for a final inspection. The staff continued to work on some minor items - the camp looks great. Then Mardi, Lisa, Diane, Sarah, and Roxanne arrived and helped with several pending items. They then prepared a nice “thank you” dinner for the staff. We then enjoyed a campfire with the committee and the counselors. The big day is tomorrow!
