Reading the Group

With a camp as small as this one, it is possible to make big changes to the schedule based on the needs of the group. I think it makes the program that much stronger and I am so proud of PDS and PDP for absolutely the best programming yet.

In pre-camp planning, we'd had a great idea for a canoe race around the island. It takes over an hour to get around the island usually, so racing it should take slightly less, but it's still a long distance. I was really looking forward to the race this week because it was a cool idea. However, this group of kids is not competitive at all and canoeing that long in a race was not going to work out.

PDS and I decided to change it and spent all day, literally the entire day coming up with the coolest program yet. It was active and challenging, but really different. Teams had to do different challenges that all lead to a final challenge. They had to dig in rice to find a pin, then they had to pass water balloons from neck to neck, use the pin and pop them into a bucket. They had to run to a pile of keys find one, and then run back and attempt to unlock a box. Inside the box was a squirt gun, which they used the water to fill. They had to use the water gun to squirt coffee filters, which we'd written different letters on in permanent marker and then colored over with washable marker. When squirted with water, the washable marker bled to reveal the letter. The letters spelled out a clue and so on and so on.... It was awesome.

At 4:30, which is the last activity before dinner (and the activity was planned for after dinner), the kids were just dragging. The kids who had been on the overnight were EXHAUSTED and the other kids were worn out too. So I walkie talkie-d PDS to the beach where I was life guarding and we decided that they were too tired to do the activity and so we switched around several things so they could do it in the morning today and have quiet time last night before the dance party. By the time the dance came around, they had a little more energy and had a blast at the dance.

The activity went super well this morning and I was thrilled with our ability to make changes to ensure the success of our programs and make sure the kids have the best time ever!