Camp is almost over (kids leave in just a few hours!) and I have so many emotions. I am physically tired, tired of the drama, and ready to not be responsible for people for a while. But I am also sad that we will be saying goodbye soon and that the adventure and craziness will be over until next year. I am nervous about going home for the first time in over 5 months. I am eager to start planning 2012, nervous for school to start, unsure of all the newness in my life.
This was a weird week. We only had 30 kids and the energy was low. I had several staff working on special projects and it was a full time job to manage all of their tasks. I had a long list of things for them to do and even a general idea of which days they could work on which tasks, but it still required constant checking in and giving instruction.
On Thursday, we took all of the couches, carpet and anything else made of fabric out of the stone house. It was a dirty, smelly, disgusting job and the couches were heavy! PDS and I moved those couches into the basement 4 years ago and it was just as terrible moving them out. However, once we got rid of all of the fabric, the basement smelled a lot better and we’ve opened several walls and while there is a lot of moisture, we haven’t found much mold at all, so I am starting to think (and pray!!) that most of the mold and smell was from the couches and maybe this won’t be as big of an issue after all.
On the positive side, I have been incredibly impressed by Counselor B all week. She was a great counselor all summer, but I didn’t think of her as potential lead staff until this week. She has been on special projects because her major is graphic design and she has been helping with some media projects. But she is also a really strong leader, takes initiative well and has stepped up and really blown me away. PDS said the same thing and made the argument that she would be a great program director next year.
M&M have also been great this week and both have worked hard to prove themselves because they both want to be lead staff next year. Actually, I read everyone’s feedback form and about 10 people said they wanted to come back next year as lead staff, so that will make hiring interesting. But I can see M&M in leadership positions for sure.
Nurse J continues to stir up trouble, well, okay, it’s not so much that she causes the trouble as if there is drama, it always leads back to her. She seems to always have a slightly different version of a story and someone is usually upset or causing trouble in it. It’s as if she enjoys the drama and seeks it out (or possibly causes it herself). I pulled M&M aside and asked them about Nurse J. I told them I trusted them to give me honest feedback and that the conversation wouldn’t leave the room. I didn’t lead them at all, I just said, “tell me your opinion about Nurse J” which lead to a flood of negative comments. No one has come to me about her, but as soon as I’ve asked anyone, it’s unleashed a FLOOD of information.
I sure now that it’s not just me having an issue with her and that she shouldn’t come back next year, but I am not sure how that is going to go over or how I will handle that situation. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t trust someone. I think maybe it was high school or junior high and a mean girl was starting rumors. But I truly just don’t trust the things that she says. I don’t think she lies intentionally, but she stretches the truth and seems to enjoy the drama. It is very difficult to work with.
But anyway, I am trying to stay focused and enjoy every minute of the last day. I am going to miss camp almost as soon as it ends! Summer 2011 has been wonderful and I am very proud of the work we’ve done.
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