Camp Wingate Kirkland (wooo)
So its now Saturday the 26th of June and so far so good!
The last few days have been pretty heavy schedule and work still remains to be done! Waking up at 8am (max) to a full day of training until 8.30pm has been pretty hectic to say the least. Whilst all the work doesn’t necessarily focus on theory and also contains various fun team games and simply designing stuff for my bunk, it can be a bit much after having got to sleep at 1am (much like tonight).
Also today was an awesome day because each of the counsellors were assigned to their bunk/cabins for summer and the age group of kids that they will be looking after. After much discussion and the possibility of choice for which bunk to take care of for summer, I opted to take care of 12 year olds due to my past experience and my ability to get along with them (lets hope).
So leading on from this, the kids will be arriving on Wednesday and we will see from there if everything works out =)
I also found out who I would be living with and sharing responsibility for the kids and they were the English guy I met on the way over, Billy Barclay, and a 16 year old counsellor named Julias. Both pretty down to earth, level headed people so it shouldn’t prove a problem in the long term. We look forward to meeting our campers and taking them along to paint their own name plaques (pictures to be uploaded as an example. Don’t take the piss out of my art skills, and yes I know im crap at it ok?).
We also found out which CIT’s (counsellors in training) we would be living with for the duration of camp as well and they turned out to be some funny, quirky, 16 year olds.
We had their names before they arrived so one of our tasks were to create chants for each one as we welcomed them into our bunk. Pretty stupid but it was hilarious to hear some of them.
Fun fact! : Each bunk consists of at least 2 counsellors (older applicants that have applied out of camp i.e. BUNAC, Camp America etc), a varied number of CITS (0-4 and we have 4), and campers that are the kids that come to camp(from 8-12, we have 8).
Sunday the 27th June
So I woke up today not quite sure what to expect as we are sometimes left in the lurk specifically (but not generally) about whats going on, however, after breakfast finished we were sent to play team dodgeball (frikkin awesome!). A lot more challenging than I expected but awesome nonetheless. After team dodgeball followed our practice at search and rescue. Explanations on how people found people in the lake were shown (looked very strenuous and a serious drill took place to show us the importance) and we were then taken through step-by-step stages on what to do following a blow on the emergency beacon. They told us that we should expect an adrenaline rush when they plan to run a drill in a few weeks when the kids are present, and that it can be quite a scary time but we just have to deal with it to the best of our ability. I am NOT looking forward to performing that one.. =<
The evening was the most fun as we had yet another random event. Camp was split into 3 groups (youngest bunks – middle bunks – oldest bunks) and the objective was to build a boat using provided materials and to then get a team member to row out on the lake and collect a fish (not a real one, so.. a potato) and then return to land. ALL the boats were funny and creative yet none were immune to the inevitable fate that was water (base materials included cardboard haha). We were even provided with harpoons (an air pump powered rocket) and had a side objective to shoot other boats. Hopefully if I can put some pictures up I will but I didn’t take any so will try nab some off another counsellor at a later date.
To say the rest of the evening was fun would be an understatement but I’ll leave it at that.
Monday 28th June
So today after waking up pretty early in the most expensive house I’ve ever set foot in, we went to the mall in search of a few things and I finally managed to get a phone and some extra clothes that I really needed. Pretty lazy day really, however getting back on shift at 6pm we were surprised with a hilarious evening event. We were all told to dress up in the stupidest possible way and were all told to meet by the car park. The camp counsellors also told us that this was the best idea they had thought of yet since the camp was built so after gathering and laughing for about 30 minutes,
An example of the outfits (Brian in this one)
we boarded the camp buses and were all pretty hyped up about where we were being taken. After having been driven round the block and straight back into camp (pretty funny at the time), we got off the bus into the canteen. The counsellors in charge of the camp had transformed the building into a disco, hilarious. We all had to queue up outside with ID and then were let into a manic (and about 40 degree) room full of people high on sugar from being served red bull and random energy drinks. We were specifically told to dance like idiots and anyone being seen dancing well would be kicked out =P
Such a funny evening and I’m amazed at the energy this place has. I’ve never felt so open to being an idiot/dancing like a madman/just doing whatever the hell I feel like in order to enjoy myself and amuse others around me.
Other stuff
Stuff that happened but I forgot what day (its all quite jumbled up at the moment)
Other stuff to mention that was pretty funny was the camp being on lockdown for the last world cup USA and England matches and had random pictures posted around camp. You'll get the idea from these pictures hehe
A scavenger hunt was also organised for the whole camp last week sometime whereby we were all given clues and had to drive off campus to find the locations and then met for dinner. The second we were given directions, our group SCRAMBLED and i mean that in the full sense of the word as you can see here:
And had to take pictures at each place to prove we had been there (pay particular attention to the women on the right side of one of the photos as shes pretty mad..although we found it pretty funny at the time)
Random photos
Ben-rich's swollen hand from a mosquito bite
They are quite itchy i have to say. Also I look like I have chicken pox 24/7 so going to load up on bug spray asap!
Ted and Harry playing the M.I.N.E. + swear game
Basically we started playing a game whereby anytime you say the word 'mine' you have to do 10 press ups no matter the place or time. Pretty hilarious to say the least. Also any swear words incurred a 10 situp fine. YOU'LL BE RIPPED IN 4 DAYS!
Eating a big apple in the Big Apple (Credit goes to Jose)
A super sick house I stayed at = HUGE.
Picture of all the tennis crew! From left to right: Tarrafa (One of the most interesting guys I have ever met. His words are very wise and his stories are incredible. Hes been through alot!), Arturo, Ben-Rich, Sammy, a mexican, and Rachel!
The lake at camp
The last few days have been pretty heavy schedule and work still remains to be done! Waking up at 8am (max) to a full day of training until 8.30pm has been pretty hectic to say the least. Whilst all the work doesn’t necessarily focus on theory and also contains various fun team games and simply designing stuff for my bunk, it can be a bit much after having got to sleep at 1am (much like tonight).
Also today was an awesome day because each of the counsellors were assigned to their bunk/cabins for summer and the age group of kids that they will be looking after. After much discussion and the possibility of choice for which bunk to take care of for summer, I opted to take care of 12 year olds due to my past experience and my ability to get along with them (lets hope).
So leading on from this, the kids will be arriving on Wednesday and we will see from there if everything works out =)
I also found out who I would be living with and sharing responsibility for the kids and they were the English guy I met on the way over, Billy Barclay, and a 16 year old counsellor named Julias. Both pretty down to earth, level headed people so it shouldn’t prove a problem in the long term. We look forward to meeting our campers and taking them along to paint their own name plaques (pictures to be uploaded as an example. Don’t take the piss out of my art skills, and yes I know im crap at it ok?).
We also found out which CIT’s (counsellors in training) we would be living with for the duration of camp as well and they turned out to be some funny, quirky, 16 year olds.
We had their names before they arrived so one of our tasks were to create chants for each one as we welcomed them into our bunk. Pretty stupid but it was hilarious to hear some of them.
Fun fact! : Each bunk consists of at least 2 counsellors (older applicants that have applied out of camp i.e. BUNAC, Camp America etc), a varied number of CITS (0-4 and we have 4), and campers that are the kids that come to camp(from 8-12, we have 8).
Sunday the 27th June
So I woke up today not quite sure what to expect as we are sometimes left in the lurk specifically (but not generally) about whats going on, however, after breakfast finished we were sent to play team dodgeball (frikkin awesome!). A lot more challenging than I expected but awesome nonetheless. After team dodgeball followed our practice at search and rescue. Explanations on how people found people in the lake were shown (looked very strenuous and a serious drill took place to show us the importance) and we were then taken through step-by-step stages on what to do following a blow on the emergency beacon. They told us that we should expect an adrenaline rush when they plan to run a drill in a few weeks when the kids are present, and that it can be quite a scary time but we just have to deal with it to the best of our ability. I am NOT looking forward to performing that one.. =<
The evening was the most fun as we had yet another random event. Camp was split into 3 groups (youngest bunks – middle bunks – oldest bunks) and the objective was to build a boat using provided materials and to then get a team member to row out on the lake and collect a fish (not a real one, so.. a potato) and then return to land. ALL the boats were funny and creative yet none were immune to the inevitable fate that was water (base materials included cardboard haha). We were even provided with harpoons (an air pump powered rocket) and had a side objective to shoot other boats. Hopefully if I can put some pictures up I will but I didn’t take any so will try nab some off another counsellor at a later date.
To say the rest of the evening was fun would be an understatement but I’ll leave it at that.
Monday 28th June
So today after waking up pretty early in the most expensive house I’ve ever set foot in, we went to the mall in search of a few things and I finally managed to get a phone and some extra clothes that I really needed. Pretty lazy day really, however getting back on shift at 6pm we were surprised with a hilarious evening event. We were all told to dress up in the stupidest possible way and were all told to meet by the car park. The camp counsellors also told us that this was the best idea they had thought of yet since the camp was built so after gathering and laughing for about 30 minutes,
An example of the outfits (Brian in this one)
we boarded the camp buses and were all pretty hyped up about where we were being taken. After having been driven round the block and straight back into camp (pretty funny at the time), we got off the bus into the canteen. The counsellors in charge of the camp had transformed the building into a disco, hilarious. We all had to queue up outside with ID and then were let into a manic (and about 40 degree) room full of people high on sugar from being served red bull and random energy drinks. We were specifically told to dance like idiots and anyone being seen dancing well would be kicked out =P
Such a funny evening and I’m amazed at the energy this place has. I’ve never felt so open to being an idiot/dancing like a madman/just doing whatever the hell I feel like in order to enjoy myself and amuse others around me.
Other stuff
Stuff that happened but I forgot what day (its all quite jumbled up at the moment)
Other stuff to mention that was pretty funny was the camp being on lockdown for the last world cup USA and England matches and had random pictures posted around camp. You'll get the idea from these pictures hehe
A scavenger hunt was also organised for the whole camp last week sometime whereby we were all given clues and had to drive off campus to find the locations and then met for dinner. The second we were given directions, our group SCRAMBLED and i mean that in the full sense of the word as you can see here:
And had to take pictures at each place to prove we had been there (pay particular attention to the women on the right side of one of the photos as shes pretty mad..although we found it pretty funny at the time)
Random photos
Ben-rich's swollen hand from a mosquito bite
They are quite itchy i have to say. Also I look like I have chicken pox 24/7 so going to load up on bug spray asap!
Ted and Harry playing the M.I.N.E. + swear game
Basically we started playing a game whereby anytime you say the word 'mine' you have to do 10 press ups no matter the place or time. Pretty hilarious to say the least. Also any swear words incurred a 10 situp fine. YOU'LL BE RIPPED IN 4 DAYS!
Eating a big apple in the Big Apple (Credit goes to Jose)
A super sick house I stayed at = HUGE.
Picture of all the tennis crew! From left to right: Tarrafa (One of the most interesting guys I have ever met. His words are very wise and his stories are incredible. Hes been through alot!), Arturo, Ben-Rich, Sammy, a mexican, and Rachel!
The lake at camp
