Banquet

I was able to come back to camp once the campers were gone. I didn't think I was contagious but I still have a horrible cough, so I completely understand. I have never had a cold take over my body like this one did. It wiped me out, head to toe. Once the campers left it was cleanup time. This includes putting all the couches in one room, sweeping all the floors, organizing everything into rooms and taking all things off the walls. This is done so people can rent the camp for events. The next day there is a group of over 250 people staying at camp! They bring motor homes and tents.

After clean up we had to pack up our room and get ready for banquet. This allowed all staff to get dressed up fancy, wear makeup, have a good meal and a great time with the best friends that you have made through the summer. It is unbelievable that it has only been 2 and a half months since we have met these great people but time does fly and it has been a remarkable summer with incredible people.

This summer has been an unbelievable one with some of the genuinely greatest people I have ever met. These people are going to do great things in this world, and I can't wait to see them grow into greater individuals and be with them in their journey.

We found out that in Winfield there is a farm that has kangaroos in it. There was an albino Joey that was only 8 weeks old. So cute.

Week 5

Night 0 was great. The entire staff crew did a huge tie dye session with 7 colours and they had the giant swing running. The next morning I was starting to feel a bit tired and sick. I was told to take the day off and try and get better. My thoughts: this is great, first days at camp are always busy and hectic. Throughout day one I felt worse. Day 2 I started coughing and had multiple fevers and chills. Day 3 I slept even more, had another fever and was coughing like I was hacking up a lung. I have never slept more and been so knocked out from a cold and my leg is starting to lock up on me. I went to the walk in clinic in town, and they just closed, but the doctor that was there saw me, I was super thankful. He said that if I wasn't getting better than it wasn't a sinus infection, he gave me a stronger medication to cover more viruses/bacterial infections. Night 4 I have had the worst fever ever! I took some meds and jumped in a cold shower. I went to a dr the next day and he said it should take a few more days. COME ON! it is the 6 day I've been out of work. This Is RIDICULOUS. Anyways, so he sent me for a chest x ray and we haven't heard anything yet, which is good news. My cousin has some of the same symptoms, and we both got sick on the same day, she had a blood test and has MONO. So tomorrow, I think I am going to get that checked out. Hopefully to rule that out.

Its really sad, I have only been away for camp for 2 days and not working for 5 and I feel is distant and sad that I am not there during the last week of camp. This week had kids with physical disabilities and it was the week that I was looking forward to the most, to show the kids that they can do anything.

The following day I went to My cousins real doctor, he assessed, listened to me breath, and realised there was a problem with that. He thought it was my asthma acting up. I haven't had a puffer in years! I took two puffs in clinic and it was like magic. Right now I can take deep breaths. I still cough a bit, but I can breath. As the day progresses I continue to feel better.

Camp Week 4

The theme for this week was movies on the loose. Movies were being taken over by Darth Vador, He wanted to be the star in all of them. THis week I was a float which means I don't have one team to myself, I do things that others may need help with or covering for staff that have been on dorm duty. It was really cool because I was able to work with different staff and meet many more kids. Some of them were so adorable.  Every week, volunteers and floats paint the backdrop by the firepit every week. This week we had 2 artists paint it and it turned out very well.

One of the groups was the gleeks, and my mom was Sue Sylvester last year for Halloween, so I though, How perfect could that be to dress up as her and hang out with the gleeks all day.

Every week they have staff appreciation, where they have snacks and treats for us. They had notes written from the campers on the wall showing how they like the staff. It was really touching.

It was secret buddy week. This is when everyone has someone secret and they give them gifts, notes, really anything to make them happy. I came to my room one night and there were these pink glasses and some sparklers with a note. It said, you will need these for your adventure to come, do not use until instructed to. The last night, he played the Macarena, but over that spoke Makrina, it was really cool, it revived the dance. When I headed to bed there was a poster, that had another set of glasses, more sparklers and a lighter. Take a friend and light up the night. When the glasses were pointed at a source of light hearts were formed. A bunch of us went into the dark and sparkled up the night. It was soooo cool.  I then went into my room and my buddy put over 150 glow sticks on my wall and on the floor with a disco ball. I had an idea of who it was, and it was the fact that he left his headlamp in my room that led me to find out who it was. It was super special.

This break I stayed at camp. We did the enderby float and watched a movie at the enderby drive in. The float was short, about an 1hour and a half. and the drive in was pretty cool. It was my first every drive in. They were showing the batman. Night 0 we did a giant tie dye session and giant swing. I finished tiedying my bed sheet set. Pictures will come.

Camp Week 3

This weeks theme was aging avengers. The idea behind this was the super heros are getting old and we need new superheroes to become stronger and able to be prepared. The kids werent really into the there, they would rather jump on the trampoline and swing on the swings. We were going to sleep outside at OP. It was looking quite cloudy, once my group was down there it started pouring. We were able to get a tarp over the area. The water was pooling in areas. I gave my crutches to taller staff and they held them up with there hands or head so the water would drain off the tarp.

The group wanted to go to waterfront, but it was a bit chilly. The group went and we went canoeing. It was cool because I had never steered a canoe before but I told the campers that I could. Its really easy. I preferred that way more than jumping in the water. 

At the end of the week my buddy counsellor said she needed a ride to the airport. I was going into Kelowna anyways so said it would be no problem. We then high-fived, at camp that is like a handshake. She then told me the time she was leaving. Her flight was out at 7. We went out the night before probably didn't get to bed till 2. So I had a little catnap.

This break was really good. I was able to have a beach day with a friend  that has moved to Kelowna. The weather was hot and we had a great time catching up, tanning, swimming and such. Also spend time with my family up there hanging out by the pool.

Camp Week 2

This weeks theme surrounded ancient civilizations. Our group was the Amazing Aztecs. THe entire week there were challenges that overtook other civilizations. The age group of this camp was teenagers. In my group we had two teens that were grading from camp. Each camper had unique personalities, but with teenagers there was drama between boys and friends. There were laughs and tears. All of my campers wanted to go in different directions. One of the girls wanted to prank somebody all the time. We had to limit her to once a day.

One of the challenges was to explode a coke bottle cap as far as we could by putting mentos in it as fast as we could. I do not think this was practiced by the progs because it ended up exploding as soon as we put it in.

When a camper turns 18 they graduate from camp. The last night at camp after the dance they get to hang out in the A-frame and play games, watch movies,, really whatever they want. Both my buddy and I wanted to spend the night with our graduates. We thought the only fair way to figure this out was a rock-paper-scissors game called bear-cowboy-mistress. You act this game out. To say the least I didn't win but it was fun to play it.

As the weeks progress I feel like I am getting more involved and knowing when and what to do at each moment.

Camp- Week 1

RIght now I am sitting in quarantine, I have a cold and can't get the kids sick. The camper weeks have been busy, I have had no time to write about the great camping weeks we have had. If there is anything that doesn't make sense, its either because I am sick or its camp, and you gotta be there.

The first week I was paired with a buddy counsellor that has been working at camp for 4 years. She was so much fun and very knowledgeable. It was the first full week of camp, some of it was overwhelming. It was really cool to see how a full week goes. The week was called cool communicator week, some of the kids have communication devices that they use to communicate with. It was really cool to see them and work with the campers that use them.The theme for the week was pokemon. There were many characters always dressed up. Our group loved doing pranks, we TP'd the bus, the coord office and dumped potions on many people. Our group found this note that led us on a treasure hunt, we were so excited becuase it sounded like it was something that was really good. once we found it, it was a pretty box, filled with Toilet Paper. To say the least, my campers were not happy. The team even saran-wrapped Alistair to a pole by hypnotizing him first. It was a great first week
For break I went with my aunt and uncle from kelowna to meet other cousins and family on a houseboat at shushwap lake. It was nice to see them, be on the water, and take a break from camp.