Fall

After a long hiatus from the blogosphere...

I was just on the phone with my nana yesterday and she asked if the leaves were starting to change. I thought about it for a second and told her that I thought it seemed to be just around the corner, but wasn't quite there yet. Well, guess what I woke up to this morning? Yup, as I started to look around today I noticed them changing. In fact, they seemed to be changing right before my eyes. Like all in one instant they were turning from green to red and falling to the ground.
As I sit and think about the day today I couldn't help but notice a parallel between the transformation of the season and the many significant transformations happening throughout camp. As we have started our third of five weeks in this first session, these kids have been pushing their counselors to the limits. Each week though, these new counselors come back to the group with new ideas and admirable resilience. I watch them take hit after hit of attitude and craziness... only to get back up with new ways of dealing with the same old behaviors. Because of their hard work and tireless efforts, changes are happening. They are working hard and are challenging the kids to work even harder to make the changes they need to so as to prove to us that they are ready and willing to be the best versions of themselves. This hasn't happened with all of the kids yet, but I have definitely seen the kids start to realize how much we care for them here. They are putting up with the creaky bunk beds, communal bathrooms, and being fussed at by the adults around them because they know that we only want the best from them. They could have given up and stayed home, but they just keep coming back. Dr. Glasser believes that everyone needs at least one person in life who genuinely cares about them and who they genuinely care about. Here at camp we hope that they can find that. Even more than that, we hope they find an overwhelming amount of people here care deeply about them and their future. This is often the most important part of the equation that helps them to change. So just like the season, changes are happening here at camp. Big surprise right? I don't think I would still be here if there weren't big changes happening every single day. I love this place and the people here. Here's to a great start to what I hope is another great year.

for.the.kids

Half Way There!

I just love froggies in the spring. This one is about 2 1/2 inches long!

   We are in full swing here at camp. The third graders have been here for two weeks now, and we have two more left! Third graders are always a fun bunch for many reasons. One way that they are particularly fun is that none of them have ever been through the ACE Program before. Often times, when we have the fourth and fifth grade sessions, some of the campers that have been at camp the previous year or even previous sessions create an atmosphere that just isn't quite the same as having a camp full of newbies. They know how things work (or at least they think they do), they try to manipulate the system (and most the time fail), and they often don't show as much growth because they have done it all before.

      Please please please don't get me wrong... I absolutely love all the children that come through these gates and graduate... but third graders are just so rewarding because you get to start from square one!

   Another reason they are so much fun is because they are not quite as tainted by the world as fourth and fifth graders. They are more imaginative, creative, and energetic. Along with those traits... they are also extremely emotional, irrational, and have tiny bladders (They literally have to go all the time. And when they have to go, they have to go that minute. On more than one occasion this session, a kid has peed their pants because they couldn't hold it). Whoops! Our counselors are working so hard though, and have shown their strength and passion throughout these past two weeks. They clean up after the pee, they stay up until all hours of the night with a kid doing homework, and they plan tons of activities to make their campers' time at camp the most memorable experience. 

   We are half way through, and yet, have much work to do. We have made great strides with many kids, and continue to struggle with others. It is so difficult because you deal with a behavior of a camper and think that you've finally gotten through to them, only to see them do the same thing that got them in trouble the next day. You pour your heart and soul and will into them, and they revert to what they know. The counselor mantra that keeps us as sane (as one could be doing this job) is... "They have had 8-10 years to develop these poor habits- we have four weeks- we will do the best we can and hope we see a change, whether that change occurs here or back at home or at their school, or even in the years to come." 

This is what drives us. What we see in the present, and what we know they can do. Most importantly, we know that they are important and worth our effort. And when the kids understand that- that they are important and worth it- our mission is complete.

Kids are coming...

   Our new batch of 3rd Graders are coming one week from today, and man am I a tad anxious. I am not going to be in a cabin this session... in fact, last session was probably the last cabin I will ever have; therefore I will be more responsible for keeping track of ALL the cabins. With this Team Leader title, I am responsible for being more active in the cabins and helping with discipline issues. Since the kids this upcoming session have never been to camp, it is going to be a lot of helping them adjust to the routine and expectations of camp. Over the last few weeks I have been recharging and reflecting upon my skill set so as to best serve the kids and help them become the best version of themselves.

The tape cannot touch itself or clothes, and has to be completely unrolled.

   Friday and Saturday we had some ACE graduates and College and Career Readiness (CAC) teenagers come out to camp just to have some good old fashioned fun. I was with the CAC kids and had a great time helping them learn about the characteristics that make a good leader, and encouraging them through the twists and turns of high school. I can't say a lot about the boy CAC teenagers because they were with Mike more, but I can say that the girls are awesome young ladies. Of course they have their quirks (they are teenagers after all), but overall they are so much fun to be around. I really enjoy being a positive role model for them and letting them be whoever they want to be. They are great examples of the long-term impact Pfeifer Camp makes.

Removing the tape was painful on the arms and legs!

      One fun thing they did was program an hour of fun for the elementary kids that were at camp that weekend with them. With organizational help from Alice and I, they came up with what was sort of like an obstacle course for the kids. Different stations included Lacrosse, jacks, jump-roping, and hopscotch. It was definitely impressive watching them pull it off, and anyone could tell that the elementary kids had such a great time. They really looked up to the teenagers and were in awe that they would plan games for them!

    This overnight was a great way to get us counselors back into the mode of having kids because we have been without them for about a month now. 

    Everyone seems to be pretty ready to have kids come back and are excited to work with a new group of campers. This next session is only four weeks, but it will no doubt be a challenge. 

We are ready though! Bring 'em on!