Boys and Girls Club Counselor Training!

Last week was a very nice break from working with the kids and just spending time with other adults while we prepared for summer camp to start.  Every day we went up to Lawson Lake where the camp will be held and got familiar with the grounds, cabins, hiking trails and such!  The week as whole was just very fun and had many highlights, so here they are:

We got to go on a nice long hike around the entire camp!  We learned how to fish from professional fisherman and had some time to practice on the lake!  We had the chance to practice out high yield/icebreaker games and songs among the other counselors, while also each taking on a different stereotypical "difficult child" personality.  I was the "shy and doesn't like to participate" kid and got to sit in the grass, take a nap, and even try running away while playing my own game.  I was thoroughly entertained :)  Another highlight was getting our assignments for the rest of the summer!  My group is the Blue Barricudas, which is the youngest kids from age 5-7, with Lauren.  Sarah is working with Scott to run the middle group, the Silver Snakes, and Scott and Porsha manage the oldest group, the Red Jaguars.

When we're not managing our groups, the kids are in their activities, which will be Sports, Arts and Crafts, Hiking/Fishing, and Drama/Dance.  Sarah and I will be handling Arts and Crafts every day, and after reading through almost the entire curriculum binder, we planned out arts and craft activities every single day for the next six weeks!  That's right, there are activities scheduled for two weeks even after our Summer Service Scholar program ends.  Boom.

All in all, it was an incredibly fun week.  So far I've only been able to get to know the other staff members as a helper that came in towards the end of the school year and is just looking for ways to help.  Now they see me as a full member of the team and I have gotten to know each one so much better this past week.  It's almost going to be weird to transition back to having kids around all day, and I hope that these counselor relationships only make the summer camp experience even better.  Summer camp week one is upon us, and I couldn't be more excited!