Day Camp 3: Day 1

Good morning from Day Camp 3!

It is hard to believe that this is our final week at camp for Summer 2017. Despite almost 2 months of camp, our counsellors are full of energy and are super excited to have our 10-15 year olds at camp this week!

Yesterday, we begun our day with a Camp Wide Game. Beginning each day with a game allows our campers not only to meet each other, but also work together in a team. This was a perfect leeway into our first social skill of the week, team building. In one of the head counsellors teams, campers had to work together to spell out certain words using their bodies. While it did initially seem difficult for some, campers encouraged each other and everyone ended up participating in these activities. Team building is one of my favourite social skills to start off, because it sets everyone up for success for the week. Campers are able to feel successful working together, which then pushes them to try new things throughout the week. Hearing all the positive encouragement and collaboration is one of the reasons why I love this age group.

After our social skills, we moved into braid making... a Camp Amicus tradition! Campers are able to attach several different items to their braid throughout the week. These items represent all of the activities that they tried over the course of the 5 days. On each of their braids, you will see a Camp Amicus button with their name on it. Your camper may also have stickers on their button. When they return home tonight, ask them what the stickers mean and how they might earn a sticker from a counsellor or their peer. It is such a cool way for campers to be recognized for all of their accomplishments made here at camp.

Yesterday afternoon, we had a Choice Afternoon. Campers got to choose 2 different programs; either soccer outside with the Omniken ball, ukelele time, or a game of Warewolf. Warewolf was a new game this week which is a detective card game. Campers must investigate the group in order to see who the betrayers are. I know that I say this every week, but our campers are so smart, creative and sporty. It is such a strong group!

At the end of the day, we did our usual end-of-day routine. This consists of Steps in the Right Direction, a Zones of Regulation check-in and 'Rose, Thorn, Bud.' When your camper returns home tonight, make sure you ask them what their 'rose' of the day was, what their 'thorn' of the day was and what their 'bud' of the day was. This is a great way for campers to reflect on their day had at camp.

Today we are off to Southland Leisure Centre for a swimming afternoon. If you are picking up your camper from Southland at 2:40pm, make sure you email csintake@foothillsacademy.org if you have not already! A staff member in a Camp Amicus t-shirt will be at the front entrance.

Thanks for following along with the blog.

Check back in tomorrow!
Tigger (Hayley Graham)