City Livin'

Camp has been over for a week and I miss it, but I also I feel like summer was a million years ago. J, C, D and I drove home from the woods on Sunday last week and spent some time relaxing, eating out and going to the mall. They flew out on Monday and Tuesday and then I began my week of relaxation. I was reading back to posts at this time last year and I was surprised to see how HAPPY I was that it was over. This year, I was ready for the break, but sad it was over. I will miss my staff, camp, the adventure of summer. It is nice to be home though...

So far this week, I have enjoyed some quality time on the couch with Tivo, eaten pizza, steak, Thai food, and a lot of wonderful fruits and vegetables. I have been to Target 5 times, cleaned my house top to bottom, enjoyed cooking in my kitchen while blaring the Wicked soundtrack, eaten many healthy, entirely organic meals with my roommates, had burgers and malts with my mom, scrapbooked, and generally relaxed. The weather has been perfect and yesterday as I sat in my backyard, my feet up reading a People Magazine and eating cheese popcorn, I couldn't help think life couldn't get any better. I love my camp life but I also really love my city life. I am very lucky to have the best of both worlds.

On Monday, I shall return to the office and get to work preparing for summer 2010. I feel energized and excited and the only thing I am concerned about is figuring out which project I want to tackle first!

It's Over

Camp is over. Yesterday was our last day. It was totally bittersweet. I am exhausted and so are the staff. All week I have been losing motivation to do anything, other than hang out with staff and chat. But at the same time, summer has FLOWN by and I am not ready for it to be over. So it's bittersweet.

Once the campers left and we did or final staff meeting, everyone had about 30 minutes to complete last minute cleaning projects, final packing and then I checked everyone out. Last year, after I dropped staff off at the airport, I had to come back to camp and clean and pack for a full week. But this year, throughout the week we started packing and by the staff meeting, we were mostly done. Aside for draining water from buildings and other important maintenance things my dad has to do, we are ready for winter. I can't believe how easy it was this year. This summer has been awesome, start to finish.

Once everyone had turned in their clipboards, camp store money and end of the summer evaluations, and had loaded their cars, we all stood around, unsure of what to do next. We took a group picture in the same place we had at the beginning of the summer and afterwards, we had our first and only meeting of the Traveling Notebook Club. Program Director S had several friends working at other camps this summer and they had a traveling notebook that they would write in and then mail to each other. She decided we should do the same and so her and D created two, as well as a set of rules and membership cards. I think it is the cutest idea ever and I can't wait to get the notebook! This group of staff is so hilarious and creative!

After that, we all stood in a circle, no one ready to leave yet, but nothing left to do. Goodbyes are difficult. We've been together, 24/7, working, playing, living. For better or worse, we were family this summer and it is hard face saying goodbye to people who you have spent such intense time with.

Working at camp is like riding the longest roller coaster ride ever. Once you get on, you can't get off, you just have to ride, through the highs and lows, when it is fun and even when you are sick of it. There is no stopping once the summer has begun and it is the most intense thing in the world. Being isolated in the woods, with little free time and little contact with life outside camp is difficult to adjust to at the beginning of the summer, but once you do, it's difficult to adjust back to real life.

Today I slept really late, sat on the couch for several hours, played with Olivia for a long time and then started packing and cleaning and getting ready to drive home tomorrow. It is time to go back to the city, back to my office, back to real life. I think I will be excited when I get there but right now I'm still a little sad that it's over.

Best.Night.Ever!

Last weekend, the staff set up the big screen and projector and had an outdoor movie on the field. Several people said, "we should do this with the kids!" I am firmly against using movies in programming. Too often in kid's programs, a rainy afternoon or just a regular day, lazy, uncreative staff plop kids in front of a screen and waste the hours away. I could go on and on, citing sources and child development philosophy about the negative effects of that much time in front of media and why movie time will never be on my schedules. I don't care if it starts to rain at the last minute, or everything gets messed up and you are facing a group of kids with nothing up your sleeve. Play a game. Sing a song. Make something up. Okay, okay, I have to stop, that's not the subject of this post.

My goal this summer has been to plan creative, innovative and exceptional programming that fills kids with wonder and makes them feel as if they are in a magical place. I want them to leave saying, "I've never done that before!" or, "I could never do that at home!" So in addition to regularly scheduled programming, Program Director S and I have tried to come up with random surprises throughout the summer to keep both kids and staff on their toes.

With the wonderful memory of the outdoor movie fresh in our minds, we talked about it for the campers and decided that if it wasn't in place of regular programming and if we could make it special, it could be acceptable programming. We decided that after the talent show on Thursday, instead of showers, then bed, we would let them stay up late and we would turn on the popcorn maker and let them lay in the field under the stars and watch a movie. We decided on "Camp Rock" because of it's 'G' rating, it was about a camp and because neither of us had seen it but wanted to. We sent a staff into the nearest big town to buy it (2 hours round trip), and we decided to make it a surprise for not just kids, but staff too.

After the talent show last night, we stood up and had the following conversation in front of the group:

"Hey, S! You know how it's the last night?! Instead of taking showers and going to bed, we should do something fun" (that got their attention, you should have seen them hanging off our every word).

S said, "they could sweep" (groans from the crowd).

"Aren't you supposed to be the person in charge of all things fun?! Can you do better than sweep?!"

"What about a late night movie with all the popcorn you can eat" she said, as I pulled out the DVD from behind my back.

**DEAFENING screams**

The absolute best part of my job is when we can make an entire group of kids FREAK out and start screaming in excitement.

We sent the kids of to shower and change into PJs and get their sleeping bags and pillows. It had been raining for three days straight, so it was inside, rather than on the field. We popped popcorn and turned out the lights. The kids were so well behaved and totally focused on the movie.

The staff were not. After ten weeks of camp, the best term I can think of is "loopy". We danced in our chairs during the songs, we compared the movie camp to our camp, we joked around and laughed through the whole movie. It was one of the most fun experiences I have had at camp and during the next 8 months until I return to camp, I will think about it every time I am stuck in my office, doing some mundane task involving budgets or paperwork. It was the absolute best way to end the summer and one of the best nights of camp ever.

End of the Summer Anxiety

Right before I left for camp in May, I was anxious and dragged my feet packing and felt hesitant to come to camp. I was nervous about the summer ahead, didn't know what to expect, didn't want to leave my roommates, my house or my life. I got to camp and spent the month of May working hard with A, A and S and was enjoying myself. As staff training approached, I once again started feeling anxious and hesitant, not sure what to expect of the new staff.

And now it is the end of the summer, and that same anxiety, same hesitating to move forward, same nervousness of what to expect is here. It has been a fantastic summer and while I am exhausted, I don't want it to end. I spent the summer playing in the woods, but now I have to go back to the office where a messed up budget of a struggling camp, clueless board members and a mile long to do list await my return. Couldn't it just be summertime forever? Popsicles at the camp store, s'mores and songs by the campfire, sunshine, adventure, brainstorming sessions and constant laughter...

I will miss the staff terribly. We weren't peers and I worked hard to maintain a boundary between supervisor and friend. But they have become my family away from home and I will be sad to leave them. We have been together all day, every day, creating memories, sharing adventures, laughter and frustration. Each summer is a unique experience and only the people who were here sharing it with me can truly understand what summer 2009 was all about. It will be difficult to leave them and not have someone right there all the time, sharing inside jokes, understanding looks without words, and relating to the exact feelings and thoughts we all share because of our bond from the summer. I will leave, the same way I arrived, dragging my feet and sad to switch seasons.

Water Rescue

It was five minutes into lunch and the canoe group still wasn't back. No big deal, we started without them. Then it was 10 minutes into lunch and so one of the lifeguards went to check on them. Then it was 15 minutes into lunch and he wasn't back either, so Program Director S went to check on everyone. Then it was 20 minutes into lunch and the other lifeguard went to look for them. 25 minutes into lunch, I left and went to see what was going on.

When I got to the lake, I couldn't see anyone, so I got into a kayak and headed out to see if I could find them. It was a little bit windy, but there weren't whitecaps on the lake, and the waves didn't seem bad.... until I got about 40 feet from shore, at which point the lake turned into a wave pool and I stopped paddling because I was being pushed across the lake. I am a pretty strong kayaker, but I got nervous as I realized there was no way I was going to be able to turn around and paddle back to shore.

I could see the camp pontoon across the lake, rescuing the canoers I assumed, so I headed towards them. When I approached the pontoon, I could see all of the campers and staff safely inside, 3 kayaks stacked on top and dragging 2 canoes on either side. I climbed aboard and dragged my kayak on top as well and we all headed to shore. 8 campers, 3 lifeguards, 2 counselors, the camp director and my dad (who was waiting on shore)- the ratio of campers to staff was pretty excellent.

One last adventure before the end of the summer. It ended safely and life is good.

End of the Year Party

Last night, we had our end of the year staff party. It was such a wonderful night, and a great example of why the 2009 staff is so awesome!

We started the evening with Praise and Worship, during which I was able to thank them for their hard work this summer and it was a nice way to come together as a staff.

P&W was followed by dinner. Almost everyone had spent the entire day preparing for the evening in some way or another. Some were decorating, some were cooking- so when it was dinner time, we had everything ready to go and we just took it our of the over or refrigerator. We had planned to grill, but it had rained all day, so we moved the party inside. Instead of being in my house or the dining hall, some staff had set up the meeting room table. They set out the plates and silverware, put out candles, flowers, etc. It looked so nice. We had a great dinner and afterwards, I handed out memory books, staff photos, lead staff gifts and nice black fleece sweatshirts for everyone. Everyone was excited to get gifts and look through the memory books and it was wonderful!

This wasn't just a dinner party though, this was a multi-event evening. After dinner, we headed to the art barn, which P, S, and An had spent literally all day decorating. They had hung long pieces of fabric from the ceiling, completely covering the walls. Took out the big tables, and replaced them with comfy chairs and small round tables. They turned off the lights and filled the whole place with candles. Earlier in the day, some of us had made several pitchers of "mocktails" with blended drink mix, and so we enjoyed dessert and "drinks" in the lounge. They worked so hard and it looked beautiful, nothing like the art barn, and it was wonderful!

We eventually turned on the music and had a rockin' dance party. I was EXHAUSTED, but dancing was a blast and they had worked so hard to set up the art barn, that I decided to stay until everyone was done. In the end, it was just S, P, An, J and I dancing like crazy and sweating so much our clothes were soaked. It was so humid and hot, and so we decided to run down to the beach and jump, fully clothed, into the lake. The water was so warm and it was a great way to cool off.

They had planned a late night movie (also in the art barn) and I wasn't planning to go, but after I dried off from the lake, I went back, just to check it out and ended up staying for the whole movie. Olivia was also there, eating popcorn by the handful, which she enjoyed immensely. I didn't go to sleep until 1am, but it was a fantastic night. Everyone worked together to have fun and put together a great last night. I don't usually participate in weekend staff events. It is difficult to hang out and have fun as a peer and then transition back to being the boss. But last night was fun and carefree and I didn't have to be in charge and could just have fun. I am really going to miss this group of staff and I am sad the summer is coming to an end!

Camp Pranks

Last year staff thought it was funny to ambush other staff, pick them up, carrying them across camp screaming and throw them in the lake. That's not a funny prank for so many reasons I don't have enough room to type them all. So at training this year I let the new staff know that if they wanted to pull a prank, they had to get permission from me or Program Director S.

The staff this summer has been creative without being disrespectful, unsafe or destructive. The girls have decorated the boys' cabins with Jonas Brothers posters, replaced tables in the dining hall with canoes, and last week, one of the girls' groups got ready for bed early, snuck into a boys' cabin and hid under their beds. When the boys came in, the girls grabbed their ankles and scared them.

This week, the same counselor who pulled the ankle prank planned to do it again, however, her campers were a little younger and got so excited about the prank that night that they ended up telling the male counselors. I heard this story as they were getting ready for bed on Wednesday night and also found out they were going to wait until the next night to surprise the boys. So I ran over to Counselor J and told him what was going on and that if his boys could get ready quickly enough, I would stall the girls and they could pull the prank on them! I've never seen little boys get ready for bed that quickly! As the girls got ready to head back to their cabin, S and I ran outside and stood in the dark waiting to hear the reaction. Deafening screams followed shortly afterwards by a parade of victorious boys was absolutely priceless. We couldn't stop laughing. It was awesome!

On Thursday morning, the male staff bathroom (not to mention the entire downstairs) was filled with the worst smell I'd ever smelled in my whole life. The bloated, rotting carcass of an enormous dead fish was laying in one of the showers. The female counselors that put it there didn't realize just how much it would decompose in just one night. They also didn't realize that when you pull an unauthorized prank at camp, you end up spending your break scrubbing the bathroom with bleach. It was kind of hilarious overall though.

On Friday morning, my dad and I were heading to breakfast. The dining hall is about 100 yards from my house, maybe even less than that, but my dad is like a kid with a new toy and so he drives the 4 wheeler there every morning. He offered me a ride and just as we stepped out of the front door, there was the 4 wheeler, completely covered in plastic wrap. As my dad whined "Who would do that to my 4 wheeler?!?" I noticed that almost all of the surrounding staff cars had also been wrapped. And when we got to the dining hall, where chairs had been put on top of the tables and then tightly wrapped with plastic wrap. I couldn't stop laughing. I think that was the best prank yet. I knew right away that it had to be the Work Crew. S and I had attempted to plastic wrap a few different things at other times this summer. But the giant roll of plastic wrap is SUPER heavy and very hard to maneuver. The Work Crew is mostly teenage boys, lead by A, who is a strong guy, so it had to be them. I congratulated them on a great prank and they all looked very satisfied with themselves.

Yesterday, activities were running smoothly and I had nothing to do, so S, counselor P and I headed to the camp store to eat popsicles and hang out. We made plans for when the campers went home, to get all of the staff together and take the pontoon over to a nearby rope swing. That afternoon, as I teetered across a rickety balance beam, which jutted out of a hill covered in tree roots, 20 feet above the lake, I would have sworn places like that only existed in movies. Hanging onto the rope, jumping off the platform, swinging out and then dropping into the lake was one of the most terrifying/ fabulous things I've ever done. Afterwards, we celebrated our achievement by going into town and getting ice cream. A perfect end to a crazy week.

When I imagined working at an overnight camp (prior to actually working here) I thought it would be just like every camp movie I've ever seen, with funny pranks, crazy adventures and carefree summer days eating popsicles and swimming by the lake. Last year was 3 months of plunging broken toilets, cleaning up a junk filled property, answering angry phone calls and dealing with crabby staff. I still believed in the mission and loved camp, but I left the summer reminding myself that in the future, I would NOT make life decisions based on movie fantasies. This summer has been exhausting and a lot of work, and there have been a few bumps along the way, but overall, it has been an absolute dream come true. I am constantly, at least one a day, awestruck by something going on around me. I regularly catch myself thinking, "wait, is this real or am I in a movie?!" It has been an exceptional experience and I think one of the best summers I've ever had. It has flown by and I can't believe we have only one week left.

Being a Kid

Camp is a super fun job, but whether I'm having fun or not is mostly based on if kids are having fun and if everything is going smoothly. My fun isn't playing games or doing activities, and that's okay, at the risk of sounding totally lame, I have little desire to participate in most things campers are doing. Even when I was a camper, I can remember standing on the sidelines with the counselors, thinking (even as an 8 year old), "I'd like to be supervising this and if I was, I would do things differently..." I like to facilitate fun, but don't expect to see me playing soccer any time soon.

Every now and then, we have activities that I participate in, like the all-camp jello fight or making s'mores and I enjoy myself as an individual, not as a satisfied overseer. It is times like those that make camp really special, because, as I get caught in the moment, laughing, running, playing and absolutely carefree and childlike, I am always amazed that this is a job I am getting paid for.

This week, my little cousins are campers at camp. They are used to me going out and playing with them on holidays or other family get togethers. And so when we had spontaneous all camp swim last night, my cousin K said, "are you swimming?!" and I answered, "sure!" And it was really fun. We jumped off the dock and she rated my cannonball as "terrific". The staff and other campers were a little surprised to see me splashing around, but it was really fun. Today, during third hour swim time (K's swim time), I turned off the computer and put away the paperwork and headed down to the beach. I spent an hour jumping off the dock, playing "Marco Polo" and splashing around with kids. They were totally into it and it was a great reminder of why I always tell staff that connecting with kids, building relationships and interacting is the most memorable thing for kids, not how elaborate the activities or fancy the facilities. And I am also reminded why this job is the best job EVER! Where else do you get paid to play?!!

Sad

Thursday night. Staff A- "Can we talk?" (sad, sick, stressed out... I can't tell, but this is not going to be a good conversation).

We decide it is best to walk and talk. We're not out of my driveway when she says, "Counselor T is dating K (K is a 17 year old who was in our Leader-in-Training program and then came back later in the summer as a volunteer)." I wish I would have worn my running shoes because this is going to be a long walk.

I started the teen programs last year and encountered a lot of questions about rules and expectations, and so before this summer, I created a VERY long list of what was allowed and what wasn't. I revised the code of conduct, the staff handbook, and created a detailed training to make everything clear to the staff. These are kids we are responsible for. Yes, they are 16-18, and staff are 19+ but they are kids, whose parents sign them up. Staff are representing the organization and ultimately responsible for the kids. No dating. No friendships even. KIDS= OFF LIMITS.

So we walked and we talked about teen programming overall. We came up with some things we want to change and improve and I used the brainstorming session to calm down and figure out what to do with the information I'd just received. When we returned to my house, I got out the staff handbook, code of conduct and paperwork from training. I couldn't have been more clear unless I'd actually used his name.

In real life, a 19 year old dating a 17 year old wouldn't be a problem. At camp, it is a huge problem. We have these rules in place for safety. What if she was 16? What if he was 20? What if her parents called me and freaked out. The bottom line is, staff can't have relationships with kids. He broke the rule. Details don't really matter.

But Counselor T is one of my best staff. He's a great leader, takes initiative, kids love him, he is fun and wonderful and I see him coming back to camp for several years. There are two weeks left and next week we are already stretched thin in staff because of high enrollment.

So I called my old boss K and asked for advice. I like being in charge of camp and being able to have complete creative freedom. However, times like these are not fun at all and I just needed someone to tell me what to do. I explained the situation. She asked what I was struggling with. I said, "I really like him... Hmmm, that's probably not a good answer." She agreed. Ugh.

Firing someone at an overnight camp is not a simple thing to do because we all live here, so there's an issue with transportation and moving stuff and timing. I was so thankful to have K to talk to because I didn't know when or where or how to talk to him and she was able to not just answer my questions, but give me the language and process to use. When our conversation ended, I felt prepared, but absolute sick with dread. I knew he would be sad, that the staff would be sad, and I was really sad too. As Director, I'm not one of their peers, I'm not a friend, and it is my job to uphold the policies of camp, maintain a safe environment and represent the organization in all decisions. But I'm still a person who has connected with these people and I knew it would be difficult to say goodbye.

On Friday morning, Program Director S and I met with him. It was a relatively short meeting. He admitted to having a relationship with her and was pretty much silent as I handed him the highlighted copies of everything he'd already received in staff training. He had tears in his eyes as I explained that he would have to pack his stuff and find a ride. He quietly said he was sorry and then left to pack. It was AWFUL. In some ways I wish he would have thrown a tantrum, insulted me, argued with me, anything to make it easier to see him go.

We had lunch, parents arrived and I put on a happy face as I lead the closing program and then the staff gathered for our weekly meeting. I went through usual announcements and then I reminded them that safety is my number one priority at all times. That with two weeks of summer left, if they needed to review their handbook or code of conduct to do so. I told them that I make all decisions based on the policies of camp because they are there for the safety of campers, staff and the organization. And regardless of my personal feelings, my job is to represent the best interest of camp. At the end of the day, my decisions might not be popular, but my hope is that everyone can agree that I am consistent, fair, and follow the rules.

After I said that, I told them "Counselor T is a very valuable member of the team. His work this summer has been outstanding. I consider him a leader and I have great respect for him as a person and the work he's done. Today is his last day at camp. I will be sad to see him go and he will be greatly missed."

I told them I would bring him in and they could say goodbye. Once he was in the meeting room, I left. I had said all I needed and didn't want them to feel awkward. Later, he came back to my house to apologize again. He had been crying. I felt so sad for him. It's been a fabulously fun summer, and I forgot that my job isn't all about singing and games and laughing and being goofy. I think that this will be a good lesson about professionalism for him. I think that this story will be repeated by staff for years to come and that I've set a precedent that breaking rules will not be tolerated, regardless if you are a great staff or if there's only a few weeks left. I think there's a lot of positive that will come out of the situation. But it feels terrible right now.

T left and the sky was gray and I felt drained. S came to my house and told me I'd handled it well and it would be okay. I asked her if everyone hated me and she said she didn't think so. I felt slightly better. Later, Counselor J, who was T's closest friend, came to my house and just stood awkwardly at my door. I asked how he was doing and he said sad. I told him I was sad too. We talked a while and it was good. He understood. He doesn't hate me. He knows that I still care about T. When he left, I felt better. Counselor D came by a little later and apologized for not saying anything even though she knew. I told her it was okay, it was a tough situation.

I think we will feel his absence in the next two weeks, but I think we will be okay too. It's not a fun situation, but he didn't die or anything terrible. He's only missing two weeks. Camp is still fun. Life will go on.

Project- Organization

When I got to camp last May, the entire place was in shambles. Buildings filled with piles of broken or old or just unnecessary furniture, piles of junk and garbage, shelves and cabinets filled with old papers and basically garbage. Outside there were piles of more broken furniture, more junk, dead boats and vehicles, and rotting wood. It was clear that it had been years since anyone had cleaned, organized, or even paid attention to all of the stuff that camp had accumulated.

I started out motivated and ready for the challenge. I was going to clean up, create systems and get the place organized. Quickly, I realized what a massive project was ahead of me and last summer, I often felt overwhelmed and frustrated. I wish I would have taken pictures the first day I arrived. No one can possibly understand what a terrible mess it was.

Throughout the month of May, my staff and I worked HARD and moved more furniture than I thought possible.I threw away or burned a MASSIVE amount of junk. It was an improvement.

This year at work weekend, I had several big strong guys helping and they moved even more piles, furniture and junk. More improvement.

This week, we have a small number of kids, and instead of putting staff in the kitchen, tripling them in cabins or making them take time off, I decided to assign Counselor A to a special project- organize camp. She loves organizing projects and we've talked about it before, so it was a natural assignment and also something she was excited for. I was excited too because I've wanted to do these things, but just haven't had time.

She has been an organization tornado, swirling through buildings, moving things around, creating systems, getting rid of more junk, going through shelves and cabinets, labeling everything and I am BLOWN away by what she has accomplished. We now have a beautiful and ORGANIZED office/copy room. A room of programming supplies. A books and games area for kids to sit. A specific lost and found site. And so much more. Camp looks beautiful. We also have plans for turning an old building that is being used for staff housing (but should be something else since it is at the front of camp) into a Welcome Center and also plans for a "Camp Archives" which will be a great place for photos, old stuff we've found, etc.

I am so excited to see camp becoming what I have envisioned since I arrived. We are making progress like you can't believe. It is energizing and thrilling and I am so proud of this camp. Less and less often I think of it as "dirthole junk camp" and more as a life changing place of beauty and fun. Each week seems to bring more and more wonderful things and I couldn't be happier.

Mustache Day!

It's Mustache Day at camp! What?!?! And then... why?

It's August and we are in our 8th of ten weeks. If you don't create a crazy random holiday every now and then, you will go crazy. Counselor T has been letting his facial hair grow out this summer and I have been trying to convince him to shave it all off except for a mustache. He didn't want to. And so I created Mustache Day and basically forced him into it.

Yesterday Program Director S and I told all of the kids and staff that it would be Mustache Day and to be prepared. Counselors P and J both shaved their faces leaving just mustaches and even counselor T gave in and did it as well.

Late last night, in typical "late night crafting at camp" fashion, S and I were in the Art Barn, painting a huge sign, making giant fabric mustaches and planning out the day ahead. I don't know why we don't have these brainstorms at a more reasonable hour so we could get to sleep at a decent time, but we don't.

This morning, we headed into the dining hall, Counselor A helping us by carrying the "Mustache Train" sign behind us and blowing a whistle as we shouted, "come on and join the moustache train!" while marching around the dining hall. Kids and staff didn't even hesitate, and so we marched and then S and I got them into a circle and sang (to the tune of Happy Birthday), "Happy mustache day to us, happy moustache day to us. It's the happiest day of the year! Happy mustache day to us." Then we taught them the "mustache dance" which consists of wiggling around your upper lip, while shaking your hips and pointing your fingers in the air. We let campers know that any time they saw the moustache train today, they should do the mustache breakdown and celebrate!

We also set up a "grow your mustache here" sign on our table and painted all of their faces. We designed 6 different stickers (see photo) and throughout the day, we've created mustache challenges (singing songs we've written about mustaches and other silly random things) and if they do the challenge they earn a sticker. We baked cupcakes this afternoon and decorated them with mustaches. At the end of the day, if they have all 6 stickers, they will get a mustache prize (aka- cupcake).

We do a lot of silly things at camp but sometimes they aren't always original and counselors have to be super professional and laugh at the same jokes they've heard 50 times throughout the summer or act surprised at the same stories that have been repeated over and over. So it is extra fun when we can plan something that earns genuine laughter and surprise, which is exactly the reaction we've gotten all day today. It has been awesome. I am enjoying this random, hilarious day so much.