A day in my life at camp

Long time, no post. My life has been consumed by my job as assistant director at a summer camp. I'll make up for lack of posts somehow. For now, I present to you a day at camp.

Wake up. Often to the most obnoxious bell. ever. Or, on occasions such as July 4th, to Bruce Springsteen serenading us with Born in the USA.

At mealtime we have "family style" meals. We all fit around 6 tables. And the cooks often join us. Straws are clearly a necessity.

In the mornings, we either offer workshops for campers so they can learn about butterflies, birds, etc. Or the campers get an opportunity to work on specific projects... Catching butterflies for instance (Mourning Cloak pictured here)

At lunch we present the inspection report of the camper's dorms to make sure they keep up with cleaning! This is clearly taken very seriously...

After lunch and a little rest/free time, we have afternoon options which can vary from hikes, to nature focused arts and crafts, to mermaid boot camp.

During dinner we have the bird list. The bird list is a daily tally of all the birds we have seen or heard. This is a highlight of my day since I LOVE BIRDS.

Evening program time provides a lot of flexibility for activity offerings. Since it is one of the coolest times (literally and figuratively) of the day, we can do hikes, more active programs, or just quiet reflective time inside or out.

Hopefully that provides a glimpse into what I've been up to these past few weeks. Over these next few days, I hope to have the opportunity to make a few more posts. Adios!

Greetings from the cove!

This past weekend I was at Cooper's Cove in West Virginia for "opening weekend" at BCWS/my place of employment this summer/the happiest place on earth (pretty sure disneyworld can't hold a candle to it! ..not that I've ever been..). For opening weekend, a group of parents and kids and former/current staff members, or just anyone who has been associated with the camp, comes out to unpack and get camp ready to go for the year. Oh and a little fun is thrown in the mix.

This year, if you completed a task such as put the cushion covers on couch cushions or clear sticks off of the road, you got an easter egg with candy or a toy or a peep inside to be kept for later. Then on Saturday night, after a lot of work has been completed, we all gathered around the fireplace for a "peep show" where groups had put together dioramas using the peeps they acquired throughout the day. My group took it very very seriously and played chubby bunny with our peeps. I think I fit 5 in my mouth before I burst into uncontrollable laughter and peeps started flying out of my mouth.

But opening weekend is a great chance to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while and it gives me the opportunity to see the cove at a different time of the year.

Summer, please.

Even though it's been cold these past couple days, the sun has been shining and the skies have been bright blue. And it makes me desperately want warm weather. It doesn't help that my room on the third floor is so hot, it's stifling, so I lie around in shorts and a t-shirt while it's 23 degrees outside.

It also doesn't help that i'm currently planning my summer that i will be spending at the cove. And as awesome as I feel running in my spandex tights (because in my body, where the shame gland should be, there is a second awesome gland. True story), I'd rather be running in shorts. But alas, it's early february and there is still a ways to go. I am at least comforted by knowing that I am not in Ohio anymore where winter overstays its welcome.

Happy Friday! (and three cheers for Egypt!)