Duct Tape... Duct tape fixes
everything. If something breaks, falls apart, or needs help, duct tape will fix it. ( One
person referred to it as "Jesus on a Roll!") Children are what you
expect them to be... That is to say, if someone labels
a child a trouble maker, and you listen and accept that label, then the child will live up
to that expectation. If you allow them the chance to prove themselves, and you don't label
them, then sometimes they turn out to be great kids. Water, Mud and all
that yucky stuff... If you go to camp, you have to
expect to "get it". I've never gone through a season when the times that I had
the most fun or the times I remembered the most did not include water, mud or something
really gross. And, as in life, sometimes you need to get a little messy to have fun! Camp isn't just for
the kids... Camp is a unique opportunity for us all to
have fun and be kids again. And, through the examples we lead, the kids see a group of
adults who have fun and act "silly" without needing drugs, alcohol or anything
else to have a good time. But while we are having a great time, we must never forget that
the children are our #1 priority at camp ! Do onto others, as you
wish them to do onto you!!!... This is self
explanatory. Treat people as you want them to treat you... But this also includes
practical jokes... If your going to play a practical joke, like fixing someone's bed to
the ceiling and turning everything upside down in the room to match, then you better
expect that person to get even!!! Stop, Look and
Listen... Most problems at camp, and in our lives, get
complicated because we jump before we know all the facts. Listen to the child or staff
person, and try to find out what is really happening before you judge that person. And
take a moment to cool down before you make choices. People often get hurt when you make
snap judgments. Children are more
perceptive than you think... As adults sometimes we
think that children can't possibly see everything and know what's going on. But each one
of us give off nonverbal clues that other people, including children, pick up on. And they
figure out what's going on pretty quick! Don't be afraid of
making a fool of yourself... At camp, and in life, you
can't be afraid of doing silly things and having a good time. Once in awhile you might
have to be the "victim" in a skit, or be the brunt of a joke. If you can't laugh
at yourself, then you may not be comfortable with yourself. If your having fun, then the
staff and children around you will have fun!!! You can be anyone you
want to be... I've seen children who were
"dweebs" at school become the center of attention and be the "cool"
kids at camp. Camp provides children and staff with a place where they are not generally
known and they can experiment with different looks, actions and styles. And they don't
have to be worried if they fail, because the failure will not follow them around for the
rest of their life. If you don't enjoy
what you are doing, then why do it?... This is one of
the hardest lessons I just learned. I was at a great place. I had a good job, I was
offered a 28% raise and benefits. They ran a great program. The problem was, the director
there was making me very unhappy. I was becoming someone who I didn't like, all because of
this one person wanting me to be a certain way. Finally I realized that there is more than
one way to do things, and that I really loved what I was doing, but I wasn't happy in the LOCATION
that I was doing it in. So I took a leap of faith and told the facility that I wasn't
going to return for another season. Which brings me to my point. If your not happy, figure
out why. Life is too short (unless you believe in reincarnation), you have too much to
learn, and you have too much to offer to let yourself become walled up and unhappy. Children belong in
nature!.. If children never experience what it's like
to climb a tree, or catch a frog, or even walk barefoot in the grass, then I feel they
miss an important part of childhood. Let them go out, and climb a tree, and to experience
life! It's all part of being a child. Don't forget your
friends... Along the way, we meet so many unique
individuals, especially in this type a setting. And many of them are transient at that
point in their life. But never loose touch with them, even if it is a post card at
Christmas. As a song we sing at camp said, " Make new friends, but keep the old, one
is silver and the other is gold..." It's only summer
camp!!... Sometimes we take what we do too seriously..
once in awhile we need to just enjoy what we are doing... And even if it is all screwed up, there is always next year!Stop and smell the bug
spray.....OK, so that isn't how the clich� really
goes, but the point is well taken. Enjoy camp... and life... as you go along. Why else are
we living for? To pay taxes?...Enjoy life and enjoy the people your with. Left handed smoke
shifters and dehydrated water...Even the best of us
need a break from children once in awhile! So send the child looking for a left handed
smoke shifter, or dehydrated water, and take a well earned breather. If you aren't fresh,
and your tired, then your apt to be quick tempered and not making as good of choices, and
it's the campers who suffer. So take those breaks and come back with tons of energy! to be continued....
