Happy Campers

While writing my blog on the letter B, I was already considering the letter C.
With my first New Zealand camp approaching, I was adiment that I would create a blog around Camp. So I find myself here, reflecting on my first camp with 25 awesome children, 8 fantastic parents and 1 amazing co-teacher!

On the lead up to camp I realised just how stressful and manic the preparations were. With a tonne of safety paper work that Tez and I sifted through, and food arrangements with parents and children,it was getting to the point where I just wanted to go and get it over and done with. The children were getting so excited that normality in the classroom was limited!

The Sunday night before going on camp, I packed my bags, got into bed and settled down, to then realise I had forgotten to find a sleeping bag! A good start, but to be honest it was the least of my worries. I found myself at school at 7.20 the next day, dilly dallying around the classroom, photocopying emergency contacts and just silly last minute things. From then on, I found myself relient on my co-teacher Tez, I felt like I was discovering a new world! No idea what to do or when!

The three days I was on camp, okay we were responsible for 25 children, but I realised just how hard it must be to be a parent! 24/7... manic! I really do take my hat off to the amount of time and effort parents put into their children lives and how quiet time is so hard to come by!

While on camp, one child in particular had a day of sickness, it did not strike me at the time, but we followed procedures and the mother came to visit, but the child did not want to leave. The child recovered that day and then proceeded to enjoy camp, however when it came to leaving on Thursday, their mother came to pick the child up, and came to Tez and I with an Easter egg to thank us for our hard work and looking after her child. It nearly brought a tear to my eye! The care that we had subconciously given her child, had come back in gifts, smiles and a happy parent.

It is those rewards that are worth the world. To see that what we do, pays off, either for the child or the parent.

Camp also introduced activities enhancing team work. I sound like a sappy adult... but it made me so proud to see them cheering on the other teams, especially if they were losing a race. As it was my birthday on the last day of camp, the class has a tradition of having a birthday circle, where everyone can give their birthday wishes. For me it was fantastic to end such a great camp with all the positive birthday wishes.

As a round up, I couldn't pick one word for the letter C... there had to be three!

Children, Camp and Care.