Four LONG days of lifeguard training, followed by another loooonnnnngggg day of CPR/First Aid training with the rest of the staff and I was drained. Staff training is my favorite week of the year, but I went into it this year feeling exhausted and a little nervous.
Staff training is eight days, 12 hours per day, filled with nonstop activity. It is the time to teach staff everything they will need to know from how to lead activities to emergency procedures to helping a kid cope with homesickness. And as if that wasn't important enough, it is also the chance for me to take 18 strangers and turn them into best friends, teammates, a family, a cohesive unit that will live, play and work together 24/7 for the next 3 months.
I have started staff training the same way for the past several years- singing songs and playing silly name games. It is the way we begin the week with the kids as well. It is the perfect way to break the ice, get comfortable with each other and let loose.
When I woke up this morning, I was still feeling exhausted, not fully prepared and actually kind of dreading the day ahead of me. We all gathered together in a circle and I gave the same speech as always- "if you don't sing and dance with the group, I will make you do it on your own..." and then I began, "THIS IS A REPEAT AFTER ME SONG!!!!!! THERE WAS A GREAT BIG MOOSE..."
And with those words, my exhaustion faded, my face lit up with a smile and I officially began my 11th summer of camp. It's good to be back!
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