Indian Springs Camp, July 2 - July 4th
1st week vs. 2nd week
I finished 2nd week of camp! Some of the goals I was hoping to reach are still unattainable. However, I reached my main goal. When I finished the first week I was dead tired every day that I worked, I napped for up to 1 hour after work and even afterwards I was tired with no energy left. My neck was bothering me more and more. By the end of first week I was a Royal mess, both mentally and physically!
I promised myself that I need to do something immediately because I can't work for 8 weeks in exhaustive state of mind and physical ailment. I followed the advice of my yoga teacher and started doing breathing exercises 20 minutes before work and after . Worked like a miracle! (Just like it did last year when I was working at camp. Only this year I couldn't find the time to do that until everything was hurting)
Last Saturday, right after the first week of camp I went berry picking to my favorite farm. It was morning, I was not working, I was hoping to be refreshed and have energy. Wrong! The exhaustive week continued into the weekends. I hardly managed to pick for 1 hour and hardly got home without falling asleep. On the other hand yesterday, on Friday, after work I went to the same farm. Picked for 1.5 hours, felt only a little bit tired. What a difference between last week and this week!
Promising myself to stay with breathing, not cut it out. Need to have the energy to do stuff outside of work!
Schedule beggar and Cleaning beggar
I realized the other day that I'm turning into a schedule beggar. Every single day I bug our head counselor about the schedule for the next day. It's funny, we keep using words like "regular schedule" whereas in the first 2 weeks of camp there was hardly a day with a regular schedule. Every day something happened and he had to change the schedule. A few of those days were "my" days where he actually changed the schedule because I told him how much I was in pain and he made my schedule lighter. It was a big secret which I hope will not come out.
Well, this is nothing compared to the kind of beggar I was last year before camp started. When I was shown the Art room for the first time last year I couldn't believe what I saw! Half of that huge room looked like someone was moving. There were boxes and boxes of mostly unsorted stuff everywhere. I took one picture:
About a month before camp started I asked the director if I can please come in and clean the Arts&crafts room. Both the director and the previous head counselor told me not to worry, I have plenty of time. The first week is slow in the Arts room, I would have a few free periods a day, so I can clean.
Their words made me really nervous. These people had NO idea what was happening in that room and how much work was required to clean that HUGE mess made by numerous counselors before me. So, second time instead of asking I was begging them to let me in. They did. I worked for a good 2-3 hours. After that I came a few more times for the same amount of time, and every time it seemed I was begging them to come.
This begging left a big impression in my mind. Don't forget, I didn't get paid for any of those hours, it was a volunteer job. I did it so that I could function in that room and do my work. I cannot really think or work when it's messy, I would soon lose my head.
And it's not like the head counselor or the director opposed to me coming , but I caught the looks they gave to each other while I was begging and our director's wry smile. I imagined them talking about me how mashugana I must be. Which is ok, since I know I am on a crazy side, however, it does feel a little weird when you can read it so plainly in their expressions.
Tioga bunk
Tioga are the oldest girls in camp, age 12-14. They are a strikingly different group than last year when it comes to Arts&crafts. Last year's Tiogas would eagerly come to the room, all sat down at the table, listen to what I planned to do. After that usually a few girls said they are going somewhere else, a few girls said they want to stay in the room but do their own crafts, and some girls usually did the project I prepared for them.
This summer I'm not even sure who is in that bunk, because only a counselor and 2-3 girls actually come to my room. The rest of the girls don't bother to come in. That's a little frustrating. I would like to meet them all at least once and find out if they are interested in any of the projects I was planning for them.
Oh, there is one girl in that group who, so far, is willing to do any project that I suggest. She is absolutely cool with the idea that none of her friends join in, she works alone, she is very creative. I really enjoy working with her.
Seminoles
Hey, I got to meet the oldest boy's group, finally! Boys 12-14 years old. Their counselor is Alex this year. Last year Alex dropped by the art room occasionally and stayed for a while working on a long fuse beads project.
one of Alex's creation. Name of the group he likes
Last year he was in charge of boating, so he had some free periods. This year he is the counselor of Seminole boys, so, no free periods for him. Last week he came to my room and said that he felt sad he cannot come any more because the boys are not interested. I told him to be firm next time and say that their counselor needs some Art therapy.
That's what I guess he did this morning. They surprised me by all coming in the first period. I am not sure how to behave with that group.
The day before I got a glimpse of Mohawks for the first time (boys 10-11). They stormed into the room looking for pencils and paper to write down some information. However, they did't look for me or try to ask any questions. They searched themselves. The same with older boys. They didn't acknowledge my presence in any way, didn't look at me or say anything.
The boys all sat down and did fuse beads for a while. Soon after that most of them were walking around the room looking for something else to do. They discovered their favorite, playdough!
Last summer it was such a shocker to me to discover that playdough was one of the favorite things for boys age 10+ to do in the arts&crafts room. Every other group enjoyed so many different types of arts. I kept searching for interesting projects for these older boys to do while all they needed was to relax with a piece of playdough. Unlike Chippies (3-4 y.o) who liked to create something out of the same playdough the boys didn't care to build anything. They would just sit their and squeeze the playdough in their hands.
I was glad they found something interesting to do. I'm planning to buy modeling clay. Clay is a little harder than playdough. We'll see if they like playing with clay. If Alex manages to bring them in again.
Ironing
I hate ironing! I'm so glad I don't have to iron any clothing. In camp, however, I am having to iron the Perler beads creations every day. This year we have so many enthusiasts of Perler beads that I simply cannot manage all the ironing by myself.
Every day there is at least 20-30 shapes to iron (maybe more, I didn't count). Not all of them come out right, some break during ironing. I try to fix them, takes even more time . I'm glad I have Eleonor who said she is enjoying ironing, so I don't feel bad giving her that task.
In addition to Eleonor turned out that Elisa from older girls bunk also enjoyes ironing and knows well how to that. Plus, a counselor from Lenape also said she is willing to help. Yes! All the help is welcome, especially by the end of the day when I'm running like a hamster in a wheel.
Art room is more than Perler beads
Perler beads is without question the most popular part of Arts&craft room. Last year I didn't have as many kids creating perler beads pictures. Or, willing to create them for so long. Last summer I would usually have kids trickle in during free swim at the end of the day. Some of them would stay for a little while and do Perler beads, some would stay for a period. This summer I have kids who come to my room during Instructional swim to do Perler beads and then during Free swim it's usually CROWDS of kids who come in and position themselves at the Perler beads table.
Hey, I bought the biggest possible jar of Perler beads last weekend. I was hoping it would last us a few weeks. One week exactly, and the jar was gone! What a speed!
One group of kids, Cherokees are positively obsessed with Perler beads. The same kids from that bunk come every day, twice a day actually. And when their whole bunk comes to art, of course the first thing they go to is Perler beads. Last time when it was their art time I stood close by the door and when they came in I almost had to shout (because it was noisy and there were other kids in the room) "Cherokees, you are NOT doing Perler beads, you are coming to this table with me!"
That worked, or almost worked. I got most of them. I was doing a cute project of parachutes from coffee filters. I overestimated their skills at working with pipe cleaners, though. These boys had a tough time with twisting and turning pipe cleaners to make a shape. I ended up asking their counselor for help, and together he and I helped every boy to finish up their parachutes. They were happily flying them outside and from the barn when one more boy emerged from nowhere and asked me to make him a person for a parachute.
Turns out he was one of the Cherokees, but he chose to do Perler beads instead. Chose? Or maybe he didn't hear me? I don't know. It was the end of the period and I told him next time to listen to what I say in the beginning of the period.
Still felt bad for the guy.
Independence day
Early on Sunday morning I went to camp. The pottery teacher was baking all the clay pieces that the kids made the first week and I was curious to see how she would do that. I also wanted to do some stuff in the room with no one around asking me to do 100s of things. I was thinking to spend 1-2 hours in camp.
We put in the pieces, figured out how to turn the kiln on (another interesting thing, since I was also puzzling about it last year).
I worked a little on the room, got tired. Decided to finally go for a walk around the lake. I've been wanting to do it all week, however, I could not get away from my room long for that enough. The weather was beautiful, I walked around the lake twice.
When I came back the pottery teacher was there without her son, she took him to his grandmother. We spent some very pleasant few hours together. She talked about her life, we talked about art. She gave me some wonderful ideas of crafts, one of them I did right then as a sample for kids. I got to see what a creative and interesting art she does for herself.
When I was leaving it was 2 pm. I spent 6 hours at camp today! Don't regret any of that time, so calm and pleasant!
I finished 2nd week of camp! Some of the goals I was hoping to reach are still unattainable. However, I reached my main goal. When I finished the first week I was dead tired every day that I worked, I napped for up to 1 hour after work and even afterwards I was tired with no energy left. My neck was bothering me more and more. By the end of first week I was a Royal mess, both mentally and physically!
I promised myself that I need to do something immediately because I can't work for 8 weeks in exhaustive state of mind and physical ailment. I followed the advice of my yoga teacher and started doing breathing exercises 20 minutes before work and after . Worked like a miracle! (Just like it did last year when I was working at camp. Only this year I couldn't find the time to do that until everything was hurting)
Last Saturday, right after the first week of camp I went berry picking to my favorite farm. It was morning, I was not working, I was hoping to be refreshed and have energy. Wrong! The exhaustive week continued into the weekends. I hardly managed to pick for 1 hour and hardly got home without falling asleep. On the other hand yesterday, on Friday, after work I went to the same farm. Picked for 1.5 hours, felt only a little bit tired. What a difference between last week and this week!
Promising myself to stay with breathing, not cut it out. Need to have the energy to do stuff outside of work!
Schedule beggar and Cleaning beggar
I realized the other day that I'm turning into a schedule beggar. Every single day I bug our head counselor about the schedule for the next day. It's funny, we keep using words like "regular schedule" whereas in the first 2 weeks of camp there was hardly a day with a regular schedule. Every day something happened and he had to change the schedule. A few of those days were "my" days where he actually changed the schedule because I told him how much I was in pain and he made my schedule lighter. It was a big secret which I hope will not come out.
Well, this is nothing compared to the kind of beggar I was last year before camp started. When I was shown the Art room for the first time last year I couldn't believe what I saw! Half of that huge room looked like someone was moving. There were boxes and boxes of mostly unsorted stuff everywhere. I took one picture:
About a month before camp started I asked the director if I can please come in and clean the Arts&crafts room. Both the director and the previous head counselor told me not to worry, I have plenty of time. The first week is slow in the Arts room, I would have a few free periods a day, so I can clean.
Their words made me really nervous. These people had NO idea what was happening in that room and how much work was required to clean that HUGE mess made by numerous counselors before me. So, second time instead of asking I was begging them to let me in. They did. I worked for a good 2-3 hours. After that I came a few more times for the same amount of time, and every time it seemed I was begging them to come.
This begging left a big impression in my mind. Don't forget, I didn't get paid for any of those hours, it was a volunteer job. I did it so that I could function in that room and do my work. I cannot really think or work when it's messy, I would soon lose my head.
And it's not like the head counselor or the director opposed to me coming , but I caught the looks they gave to each other while I was begging and our director's wry smile. I imagined them talking about me how mashugana I must be. Which is ok, since I know I am on a crazy side, however, it does feel a little weird when you can read it so plainly in their expressions.
Tioga bunk
Tioga are the oldest girls in camp, age 12-14. They are a strikingly different group than last year when it comes to Arts&crafts. Last year's Tiogas would eagerly come to the room, all sat down at the table, listen to what I planned to do. After that usually a few girls said they are going somewhere else, a few girls said they want to stay in the room but do their own crafts, and some girls usually did the project I prepared for them.
This summer I'm not even sure who is in that bunk, because only a counselor and 2-3 girls actually come to my room. The rest of the girls don't bother to come in. That's a little frustrating. I would like to meet them all at least once and find out if they are interested in any of the projects I was planning for them.
Oh, there is one girl in that group who, so far, is willing to do any project that I suggest. She is absolutely cool with the idea that none of her friends join in, she works alone, she is very creative. I really enjoy working with her.
Seminoles
Hey, I got to meet the oldest boy's group, finally! Boys 12-14 years old. Their counselor is Alex this year. Last year Alex dropped by the art room occasionally and stayed for a while working on a long fuse beads project.
one of Alex's creation. Name of the group he likes
Last year he was in charge of boating, so he had some free periods. This year he is the counselor of Seminole boys, so, no free periods for him. Last week he came to my room and said that he felt sad he cannot come any more because the boys are not interested. I told him to be firm next time and say that their counselor needs some Art therapy.
That's what I guess he did this morning. They surprised me by all coming in the first period. I am not sure how to behave with that group.
The day before I got a glimpse of Mohawks for the first time (boys 10-11). They stormed into the room looking for pencils and paper to write down some information. However, they did't look for me or try to ask any questions. They searched themselves. The same with older boys. They didn't acknowledge my presence in any way, didn't look at me or say anything.
The boys all sat down and did fuse beads for a while. Soon after that most of them were walking around the room looking for something else to do. They discovered their favorite, playdough!
Last summer it was such a shocker to me to discover that playdough was one of the favorite things for boys age 10+ to do in the arts&crafts room. Every other group enjoyed so many different types of arts. I kept searching for interesting projects for these older boys to do while all they needed was to relax with a piece of playdough. Unlike Chippies (3-4 y.o) who liked to create something out of the same playdough the boys didn't care to build anything. They would just sit their and squeeze the playdough in their hands.
I was glad they found something interesting to do. I'm planning to buy modeling clay. Clay is a little harder than playdough. We'll see if they like playing with clay. If Alex manages to bring them in again.
Ironing
I hate ironing! I'm so glad I don't have to iron any clothing. In camp, however, I am having to iron the Perler beads creations every day. This year we have so many enthusiasts of Perler beads that I simply cannot manage all the ironing by myself.
Every day there is at least 20-30 shapes to iron (maybe more, I didn't count). Not all of them come out right, some break during ironing. I try to fix them, takes even more time . I'm glad I have Eleonor who said she is enjoying ironing, so I don't feel bad giving her that task.
In addition to Eleonor turned out that Elisa from older girls bunk also enjoyes ironing and knows well how to that. Plus, a counselor from Lenape also said she is willing to help. Yes! All the help is welcome, especially by the end of the day when I'm running like a hamster in a wheel.
Art room is more than Perler beads
Perler beads is without question the most popular part of Arts&craft room. Last year I didn't have as many kids creating perler beads pictures. Or, willing to create them for so long. Last summer I would usually have kids trickle in during free swim at the end of the day. Some of them would stay for a little while and do Perler beads, some would stay for a period. This summer I have kids who come to my room during Instructional swim to do Perler beads and then during Free swim it's usually CROWDS of kids who come in and position themselves at the Perler beads table.
Hey, I bought the biggest possible jar of Perler beads last weekend. I was hoping it would last us a few weeks. One week exactly, and the jar was gone! What a speed!
One group of kids, Cherokees are positively obsessed with Perler beads. The same kids from that bunk come every day, twice a day actually. And when their whole bunk comes to art, of course the first thing they go to is Perler beads. Last time when it was their art time I stood close by the door and when they came in I almost had to shout (because it was noisy and there were other kids in the room) "Cherokees, you are NOT doing Perler beads, you are coming to this table with me!"
That worked, or almost worked. I got most of them. I was doing a cute project of parachutes from coffee filters. I overestimated their skills at working with pipe cleaners, though. These boys had a tough time with twisting and turning pipe cleaners to make a shape. I ended up asking their counselor for help, and together he and I helped every boy to finish up their parachutes. They were happily flying them outside and from the barn when one more boy emerged from nowhere and asked me to make him a person for a parachute.
Turns out he was one of the Cherokees, but he chose to do Perler beads instead. Chose? Or maybe he didn't hear me? I don't know. It was the end of the period and I told him next time to listen to what I say in the beginning of the period.
Still felt bad for the guy.
Independence day
Early on Sunday morning I went to camp. The pottery teacher was baking all the clay pieces that the kids made the first week and I was curious to see how she would do that. I also wanted to do some stuff in the room with no one around asking me to do 100s of things. I was thinking to spend 1-2 hours in camp.
We put in the pieces, figured out how to turn the kiln on (another interesting thing, since I was also puzzling about it last year).
I worked a little on the room, got tired. Decided to finally go for a walk around the lake. I've been wanting to do it all week, however, I could not get away from my room long for that enough. The weather was beautiful, I walked around the lake twice.
When I came back the pottery teacher was there without her son, she took him to his grandmother. We spent some very pleasant few hours together. She talked about her life, we talked about art. She gave me some wonderful ideas of crafts, one of them I did right then as a sample for kids. I got to see what a creative and interesting art she does for herself.
When I was leaving it was 2 pm. I spent 6 hours at camp today! Don't regret any of that time, so calm and pleasant!