Monday, August 18, 2014

Boys Camp Diary Day 5



August 15th, Friday

Summer 2014 Session 7, Day 5





Dear Parents,

Our last full day of camp was filled with fun for campers and counselors alike. Campers once again slept in a bit later than usual die to the cooler morning weather we've been having. Soon after seven, though, camp was filled with murmuring and laughter as all awoke and started thinking and talking about what they day had in store for them.

Our Youth campers used the morning to finish off their "sign-up" free choice activities. Campers moved between sports, climbing and archery, zip line, ecology and crafts. It was a very active morning and it continued after lunch. During lunch, youth campers had another slate of free choice activities from which to choose. This time they simply handed their name tag to the counselor in charge of their desired afternoon activity. They could choose from magic, river tracing, giant swing, Taekwondo, and hockey. For the second activity period all the youth campers made their way back to their living quarters for "tent time" with counselors. Most groups busily prepared for tonight's closing campfire skits.

Teen campers spent the morning working on outdoor survival skill activities. It was quite fun watching them learn how to "survive" in great outdoors. After lunch, the teens rotated between two hight ropes activities - giant ladder and zip line. I can't wait to see what they've prepared for skit night as teens are held to a higher standard by our skit night judge (me).

Mini campers rotated between bouldering and water play before lunch. In bouldering, they practice simple rock climbing skills while traversing our climbing wall side-to-side. Water play was their chance to basically drench their counselors with water while splashing around in our small pond and on the water slide. After lunch, mini campers did archery and ecology.

Right now, we are finishing up journal time. Youth and teen campers have written one highlight from the week on a small slip of paper, and one wish for next week's campers on another. At our closing campfire, returning campers will burn the wishes from last week's campers and all campers will burn their highlights. Next week, session 8 campers will burn this week's camper wishes - connecting campers from session to session.

It is hard to believe that we are on the last night of the penultimate 2014 summer camp session. This season has flown by.


Good night from Camp Taiwan
Mike













Boys Camp Diary Day 4


August 14th, Thursday

Summer 2014 Session 7, Day 4




Dear Parents,
We had the best weather of the week today and it couldn't have happened on a better day with some of our campers heading to the beach for ocean kayaking. As always, we started the morning off with breakfast and juice and then went our separate ways for our free choice activities.

Teen camper spent the morning moving between giant swing and archery. It was a beautiful day for the giant swing as you could see all the way to the ocean off the north coast while swinging. In the afternoon, teems got into that same ocean during their introductory kayak session.

Youth campers started their free choice rotation. Campers no longer go around with just their teams, but instead are mixed together with other teams for their activities. For the two sessions before lunch and one session after lunch, these campers had their choice of zip line, archery and climbing for level badges, ecology, crafts and sports. For those who pre-registered for ocean kayaking, they spent the morning at the beach learning how to paddle every which way. For second period after lunch, campers joined in another camp-wide game. This time they were pirates looking for treasure around camp.

We welcomed a new group of mini campers today and they spent the afternoon on crafts and cooperative games. We had really enjoyed our 7b campers who are all very cute.

Right now we are in the middle of party night. The blog is a little late tonight, so I will include this video below. Please do not share it online until campers have left camp on saturday.

There will be more videos and pictures on the DVD.


Good night from Camp Taiwan,
Mike















Boys Camp Diary Day3


August 13th, Wednesday

Summer 2014 Session 7, Day 3



Dear Parents,

We got off to a great start this morning as campers awoke to fresh blue skies after a cleansing rain the night before. The rains kept things cool cool for us as we headed up to the dining fall for breakfast. Wednesday is when the campers really start to fell the effects of long days of campy activities.

Our teen campers left immediately after breakfast for their trek into the wilderness for big river tracing. They hiked into the national forest area and the Touqian River. They scurried up small waterfalls and helped one another through the river to their lunch  spot where they enjoyed their packed lunches. Mini campers had an active morning of sports games before getting their luggage together and heading home on our afternoon bus.

Youth campers continued their core activity rotation. Starting tomorrow, core activities give way to free choice activities where they can pick and choose which activities interest them most. Below is the schedule we had for today.


Blue: Ecology, crafts, cooperative games
Red: Crafts, Cooperative games, Climbing
Orange: Cooperative games, climbing, giant swing
Brown: Climbing, giant swing, archery
Light Blue: River tracing, ecology, crafts
Pink: Archery, river tracing, ecology
Yellow: Giant swing, archery, river tracing


We had some heavy rain at the start of our afternoon activities, so some things got moved around. We were back on track for our second afternoon session which was a Youth camp-wide game.

Campers right now are watching our Pirate movie of the week. Movie night is a great chance to rest at the midway point and have a nice relaxing evening program. Our movie tonight is "Hook"

We have more adventure in store for everyone tomorrow.
Good night from Camp Taiwan,
Mike









Boys Camp Diary Day 2


August 12th, Tuesday

Summer 2014 Session 7, Day 2



Dear Parents,

We had another very busy day of camp today and everyone had plenty of rest. Since the clouds were overhead in the morning, the cool temperatures allowed all to sleep in until the morning bell rang at 7 a.m. Counselors were there when campers awoke and got them started on their routines. At 8, all headed up to the dining room for a big breakfast of french toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, cereal and fruit. They all needed the energy as a big day was ahead.

Teen campers spent the morning sessions on a geo caching course and leadership activities. During their afternoon sessions they had lessons in first aid and how to deal with outdoor situations. Mini campers rotated through bouldering and water play in the morning before turning their sights to archery and ecology in the afternoon.

Youth campers had three more sessions of their core activity rotation - two before lunch and one after. The second afternoon session was spent on Tent Time. During Tent Time, campers hang out with just their counselor for a non-rotation activity. Some groups played board games, some basketball, and some made bracelets amongst other things. The three core activities followed this rotation.

Blue: Giant swing, archery, river tracing
Red: Archery, river tracing, ecology
Orange: River tracing, ecology, crafts
Brown: Ecology, crafts, cooperative games
Pink: Cooperative games, climbing, giant swing
Yellow: Crafts, cooperative games, climbing
Light Blue: Climbing, giant swing, archery

Soon campers will make their way up to the dining room for dinner. We will have time to write in our journals after that and then we'll get started on our evening program - a night time camp-wide game. Mini campers will have their own games up a the lodge after dinner tonight. It is hard to believe mini campers will already on the way home tomorrow. Time flies.

Good night from Camp Taiwan
Mike












Boys Camp Diary Day 1


August 11th, Monday

Summer 2014 Session 7, Day 1



Dear Parents,

We had a great start to Session 7 this morning as a muggy gave way to a nice cool afternoon. Counselors met campers at the pick up location in Taipei and led them back to camp for our final Buccaneer session of 2014. More counselors were awaiting campers when buses arrived and we immediately started the check in process. Campers get unpacked, checked in with the nurse and made their beds. Then it was time to get to know their new room and teammates better through some ice breaking and warm up games.

Soon it was time for lunch and we had a big meal of spaghetti, quesadillas, hash browns, salad and watermelon. We encouraged campers to fill up because we had a big afternoon planned for them. After rest time, teen campers participated in climbing and cooperative games, while mini campers rotated through crafts and their own cooperative games. Youth campers started the first of their core activity rotation after lunch before joining in a pirate-themed camp-wide game. The Youth Camp activity rotation by team looked like this.

Blue: Climbing
Red: Giant Swing
Orange: Archery
Brown: River Tracing
Pink: Crafts
Yellow: Ecology
Light Blue: Cooperative Games

Right now we just had a light rain which mean we may have to adjust our campfire to indoors tonight for youth and teen camp. Either way we will be roasting marshmallows and having a great time.

Campers are just finishing up showers and rest time and will soon head up to the dining room for dinner. After dinner, youth and teen campers will have a chance to write their journals and then we will get started on our evening program. Tomorrow is another big day at camp.

Good night from Camp Taiwan,
Mike