Camp Blog

More Precamp Fun

by: 
Camp Director

 We are having a great week of staff orientation. Yesterday it rained all day but we didn’t miss a beat. Our entire day was spent with clinical child psychology, author and consultant Dr. Chris Thurber.  The topics Chris cover ranged from Bullying Prevention to Internet use, to duty of care and what it means to be a youth development professional.  The staff went through four separate workshops, did a lot of role-playing, and participated in loads of discussions. Chris does a phenomenal job covering a wide range of important topics to help prepare the staff.  My staff has no idea how lucky they are to be able to spend an entire day tapping into his wealth of knowledge.


After dinner, our returning and administrative staff had the opportunity to complete an additional workshop with Chris. The staff was able to role play different scenarios that are typical during the camping season such as: cabin disagreements, co-counselor issues and giving and receiving feedback. Meanwhile, our first time staff members were kept busy learning about activity sign-up and how that all works. Our wonderful staff finished the night with a Staff Show practice in Happy Camper Hall.  Lots of singing and laughter could be heard across the camp grounds.


Today the sun popped out. Brandon and the boys were kept busy all day long completing Mary’s LONG list of “to-do” items.  I keep handing Brandon my lists and he keeps telling me he’s done with my list. So…..I walk around camp some more searching for little things to add to my next “to- do” list. I have finally come to a point where I am searching for items to get done. This is an unbelievable feeling.  I am one Happy Camper!!


We spent a good amount of time in activities today planning lessons and prepping activity areas. Officer Jaeger stopped by for a friendly visit to talk to the staff about safety and local town ordinances. This summer we have 5 nurses, three of which will be living on camp property for the entire summer.  Earlier this morning they addressed the staff on infirmary procedures and protocol. They went over various topics such as ticks, allergies, sick call and the importance of getting their campers to apply sunscreen. We have a lively and fun bunch of nurses this year.  The nurse’s office is now open so if you need to contact our infirmary please call them directly at 715-358-7772. You may ask for Linda, Dilya, Paola, Dani or Whitney.


Tonight Camp Agawak proudly presented our version of Iron Chef. Our head cook, Chris Domack (Ducky) and assistant cook, Tim Larkin, went head to head in a camp “cook off”.   We divided staff into their B &W teams and it was as intense as Iron Chef looks on TV. Each team was given certain ingredients (shrimp, meat, vegetables, fruit, etc.). The counselors were divided to complete different tasks. We had Alexa B., Lainie K., Karaline C. and other JC2’s flipping beef. We had the Aussie’s like Bridget and Sally tossing shrimp on the Barbie.


Becker, Mary, Liz, Suzi, Emily, MP and Timmy K. were the official judges. First, they took a look at the food. White team’s presentations were beautiful, as were the Blue’s. Our favorite dishes of the night were Tim and the Blue Team’s pasta and ginger shrimp, and the White Team’s Greek Salad and the Pineapple Salsa. Ducky even threw in a lime flavored tortilla chip that we cannot stop raving about! Overall, it was a fun, festive night and we all have full bellies and smiles on our faces.


The feeling in the air tonight is energetic, but rest assured this crew will be even more energized when we see all those smiling campers on Wednesday.
 

Smile on...

Mary