Summer Camp Highlights

The summer camp season has officially come to an end...Between the start and finish there were hundreds of special moments for campers, staff, and volunteers. Generally, I lean more towards the funny moments as some of my favorites...kid's say the darndest things, right?

The smallest staff I have ever trained strafed right through one of the most dramatic and diverse programs in the summer. I am so proud of the job they did. And while no summer staff is ever perfect, this one came close on most occasions. One of the most difficult jobs I have is to manage 25 different personalities. It is IMPOSSIBLE to manage every one the same way...though that's how many would say it has to be done. When working conditions call for 100 degree heat, rambunctious children, and a healthy, tasty - but redundant - menu, people will become hyper-stressed...all while trying to figure out what the heck they will be doing in school in the coming months. I enjoy the challenge. I like to watch people dig deep. Even better, it's nice to know that they are doing it for me (or the paycheck that I provide to them)...

Nevertheless, the two funniest things I heard a child say this year were:

(1)

"Lemme shoot that boom-a-lang!" This was in reference to our International Night program...our Aussie counselor showcased a boomerang...her New Zealand counterpart was a whiz at tossing it...the results were impressive, obviously motivating a 9 year old American to do the same, and immediately. Obviously because of the dangers, the "boom-a-lang was not tossed by a child, but they were allowed to hold it and examine it...

(2)

"The bottom of the Pool smells like my cat..." Not sure if the kid was being truthful or not. Can you smell the bottom of the pool without taking in a nare full of water? Probably not...though all of the staff, including myself, went to the bottom for a sniff. Also - It would have helped us, though, if we knew what the feline smelled like. The cat might have smelled like nothing. Nevertheless, the campers announcement was made in public...I saw 8 year old children contemplate the blurt...all left scratching their heads...

Also - campers would wear funny shirts, staff had crazy nicknames, and some staff became vegetarians on certain days...There are many joys of operating a summer program, but the Grand Poobah is seeing children have fun and enjoy the freedom of being a kid...

Enjoy the day...