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.