It is an exhausting, and at times overwhelming task, to cajole seven 8 and 9 year olds through a full day of activities. As it is currently 11:43 PM, I'm going to refrain from writing a lengthy message and just give you a few pictures of what camp looks like...
The main bunk, which has stood for all 93 years that the camp has been run:
My bunk, number 4, with my co-counselor Jess in the doorway:
A view of the bathrooms that are inside my cabin:
My corner of the bed. Looking at the cabin face-on, I sleep along the wall on the left-hand side of the door:
A picture of the girls' beds, which we prepared before they arrived:
Lastly, I must wish Alana a Happy 21st Birthday tomorrow! I can't believe there are so many that I'm missing this summer. I hope you have a fabulous day, and enjoy Eclipse! Haha...
A lot has happened in the last few days.
I've participated in two lifeguard drills, one for a missing swimmer and the other for a downed water skier. For the missing swimmer drill, an air horn is blown three times to call all available staff to the waterfront to assist. I was assigned to stand on the beach and explain the drill to the rest of the camp while the other lifeguards searched the bottom of the lake for the missing swimmer. For the downed skier drill, though, I got to actively participate. Since I am one of only two people on the swim staff who are American Red Cross Lifeguard certified, I was a "spotter" on the ski boat and the first responder into the water to stabilize the downed skier. Wwe assume that all ski injuries are spinal in nature, and I stabilized the skier's head while the other lifeguards approached with the back board. Thankfully, all went well and the waterfront directors were pleased with our response time.
Yesterday morning, I water skied. All the Cliffe counselors were given an introductory lesson to prepare us for skiing with our campers. Since most of them will not have water skied before, the ski staff wanted the Cliffe counselors to know what was going on so we could comfort or encourage our girls as needed. When I got in the water, it took me four tries to get up. Once up, though, I skied for a short tour around the lake. Though I have water skied before (and even had a few tentative runs at Lake Geneva two weeks ago), I haven't really skied for six or seven years and it was exciting to get up.
Otherwise, the time has really flown by. I've been organizing my bunk, making friendship bracelets with other counselors, watching movies, and practicing a skit for the counselor talent show on Friday night. At the moment, we're all waiting for the campers to arrive. The first buses are scheduled to arrive around 2, and then we'll hit the ground running. We're also waiting for a thunderstorm to arrive. The Harrison area is expecting thunderstorms this evening that might even warrant a tornado watch or two. Just in case, we've been briefed on the tornado procedure to hide in the basement under the main cabin, and what to bring with our girls. Hopefully it doesn't come to that - I'd hate for the girls' first night to be one of crowded basements and flooded bunks.
Before I sign off, I'd like to wish Elissa a Happy Birthday!! Even though it's tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a crazy day, and I won't be able to get away to chat with you properly. Make it a great one (despite my absence). ;)
Next time I'll post a few pictures of camp, I keep forgetting to download them off my camera! Till then.
Yesterday was completely dedicated to preparing the bunks for campers. After breakfast, the councilors lined up and unloaded two massive trucks of duffels. Each camper brings two, and they're filled with 40+ pounds of clothing, books, toiletries, and gifts that the parents have sent along. With just over 200 campers, we unloaded for an hour and a half! Once all the duffels got to the right place, the staff bunk assignments were revealed. I knew what age group I was working with, because I contracted to work with the Cliffes, but I didn't know who the co-counselor in my bunk would be. I was paired with a counselor named Jess, and we spent the afternoon moving both our gear and that of our campers into place. (At Pinecliffe, the policy is to completely unpack the junior campers so they have nothing to do upon arrival.) It was amazing to see all of the little girls' possessions!! I wanted to become a personal shopper for an eight year old girl, the clothes the girls sent are that cute. For the most part, all the campers wear the same uniform...on a few nights, however, they get to wear "color clothes" and those were the cute items that showed their personalities. We also made their beds, organized their books and bath caddies, and packed their "under the bed box" with all the goodies sent from home. In the evening, I went to bed early (9:30ish?) after reading Anna Karenina for a while.
Today has been more of the same. Finishing unpacking, and then a few meetings on emergency safety procedures and how to operate the 15-passenger vans. Now, we have some free time until 3, when different vans are taking staff to different shopping locations. I'm off to Freeport - and hopefully a Walmart to buy a louder alarm clock - then dinner and bowling!
(Also, I was wrong before about when the campers arrive. They get here on Thursday, the 24th.)
Happy Father's Day to everyone! Love you Dad and Grandpas
Approximately 40 hours ago I started the adventure that is Camp Pinecliffe, and it’s been almost constant activity so far. Yesterday, I arrived in Boston at 9:30 am after an ungodly-early flight from O’Hare and set out into the city to do some exploring. I had prepared myself the previous night, with everything from a place to store my carry-on baggage for the day to what subway lines and stops were required for each of my desired activities. First, I stopped at the Boston Commons. I planned on walking the Freedom Trail, but without a working knowledge of Boston’s streets I wanted to buy a guide map. Of course, one must pay for a map of the Freedom Trail, and the cheapest cost me $3 (collector’s editions on fun paper and children’s versions were upwards of $15 or $20!). Despite how much it killed me to pay for something that should have been free, I do applaud the city for its clever marketing technique.
Finally setting off, I took my time to wander the streets and enjoy each of the historical sights along the way. Particularly humorous was the bar behind the Granary Burying Ground that unloaded a truck of Samuel Adam’s beer while I was looking at the patriot’s grave.
Further along, I entered the Old State House and toured the museum inside. They had a nice exhibit about the history of the Revolutionary War in Boston, but the best treasures were in a collection of the curators’ favorite pieces. There, I saw a lock of Daniel Webster’s hair, the scaffolding hook that hung John Brown following his raid on Harper’s Ferry, and – my favorite – the cane that Preston Brooks is believed to have used when he beat Charles Sumner in the Senate in 1856.
A cool street performer outside Franeuil Market:
After reaching the Old North Church, I ate at a fabulous lunch at Al Dente in Boston’s Little Italy (thanks for the recommendation Kristen!!). Afterward, I took the T to the Museum of Fine Arts and spent two hours examining the Renaissance and Impressionist works, Greek pottery, and a visiting exhibit of prints created by Albrecht Durer. Around 4 pm, I left the museum and made my way back to the airport.
Crazy Trojan Horse mock-up that was hiding at South Station:
Meeting up with the Pinecliffe group in the terminal was actually fun, despite having to wait in the airport for four hours for a delayed flight to land. I met people from New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain who were all coming to work at camp for the summer. At first, I was surprised to see so many international counselors at camp (the ratio of international to Americans is about 50-50), but I’ve been told that America is actually one of a handful of countries to offer summer camps. After the delayed girls cleared customs and we got on the road, the Pinecliffe van finally rolled into a dismally rainy camp at 1:30 am. After we got up in the morning, camp business began with meetings, both general and department specific, and the removal of some camp gear from storage.
Since I am technically in the Cliffe department, that dealing with the 7-9 year old girls, I’ve had a rather easy day. I was given a tour, made some welcome posters for the girls who will be new to camp, and met briefly with the head of the swim department (that’s where I’ll be spending about half my time once the Cliffes settle in a bit, and I don’t have to be with them 24-7). I went for a run with the girls of the swim department just before dinner, and have been catching up on my emails and the like since then.
Whew – sorry to write such a long post! I feel like I’ve been around the world and back again in the last two days though, and I wanted to get it all down. The girls arrive on the 22nd, I believe, so life should get really interesting after that.
Till next time!
Welcome to my blog! I will be covering both my time in Maine and London here, since I won't be able to use the phone very often. I leave on Wednesday for Camp Pinecliffe in Maine, and will try to write weekly updates once I arrive. How often I publish will depend on how often I have access to my computer, however, which has to be locked in the main cabin when not in use (I don't even have electricity in my cabin!).
I'll keep you posted; hope all is going well!
