Summer Camp, Week 1:Training

So for those of you who don't know, I took a position as a day group facilitator in a summer camp here in Alberta. I started training on Saturday, and had a day off today to get rested up for the weekend. So I thought I would tell you all about how it is going so far. The camp I am working for is a camp that offers summer camps and day groups to children with special needs that come from under priviledged families, and youth at risk.

The camp itself is such a beautiful peace of property right in the middle of nothing but the nature that surrounds it. There are about 30 teepees, 6 cabins, two large buildings, about 30 horses, 12 canoes, a pontoon boat, a covered bridge, a low ropes course, hiking trails, 2 sports fields, a lake, and a large island placed on 255 acres of beauitful country side. The mornings have been so beautiful and peaceful, I am sure that will change when there are 200+ kids on site, but just as beautiful :) There is lots of wildlife around including some Canadian geese, a few ducks, a beaver, lots of deer roaming around, red winged black birds, bears (at least one mother and 2 cubs), and 2 cougars. Although in the first week I did not see any bears or cougars, lets hope we keep it that way.

It has been one busy 5 days that is for sure! All of the staff have been pulling pretty long days, we start our day at 7am and don't end until around 11pm. It will be a different schedule once the camp is in full swing, but the training was pretty jam packed. Our days went a little like this; Wake up, we all meet at the flagpole to sing the national anthem, line up for breakfast, eat in the hall, and then they day in broken into team building games, workshops, etc. and lunch and dinner in there too. I have to say tho, despite the long days I am so much looking forward to the summer there. I am in love with what they are doing out there with kids at risk, I am in love with the property, the people and just about everything about it! All the staff have camp names so none of us have real names. My camp name is   J-Mo. I have had an easy time making friends, and all the girls in my cabin have gotten pretty close.



I have to go back to work tomorrow to run a family camp on the weekend. On the weekend families living in poverty have the opportunity to come out all together and stay two nights at the camp and enjoy our facilities. Families that might have not otherwise had the chance to go camping all together. As a facilitator me and the other facilitators host the families each weekend. So after the weekend, and I have a few more days off I will write more.