Reflections on Session Three at Camp ABC

Korrin B.

August 6, 2009 - 7:00 PM

Another session of campers ends tomorrow and what a session it has been! It is very interesting to watch yourself getting more and more exhausted and being completely unable to stop it. Each camp session, I notice how tired I am getting. This job is an amazing experience, but definitely takes all of the energy out of you. I had some days this session where I just felt like I was on autopilot, doing exactly what I have been doing the last two sessions, but just with a more intense exhaustion.

During session two, I had campers that, for the most part, acted like angels. They were incredible and I loved working with them so much. However, it is learned that when working with children, the moments of "heaven" can never last forever. You are bound to get that one group that, no matter how hard you try, is just tough. My session three group was hard. I think sometimes though, you learn the most from these groups.

Several campers this time bickered with each other, wouldn't follow directions, yelled loudly, wouldn't go to sleep, etc. I found it hard to cope with in my state of exhaustion, but I knew that I just had to keep pushing through and giving these children the best I could. This camp is about "giving summer to a child," and it's important to remember that during times of frustration. This was the first session that was so hard on me that I had to take a break during the day to just go cry, let it out.

This session, however, did teach me a few things. It helped strengthen my ability to see the little things in each child that make them special, the little things that they can excel in. It was also a strong reminder of where these children are coming from. Some of them coming from backgrounds that none of us could imagine. They have seen neglect and abuse that no child should ever see. That kind of background affects their behavior and it's important to keep that in mind and think about why they're acting the way they are. We as camp counselors have the chance to be that loving, saving force in their lives.

As for my art classes this session, I continued to teach the bucket-filling lesson I've been doing and then added in an emphasis on community art this time around. I had groups of children in my class work on murals. I gave three groups a big piece of paper that was split up into a bunch of pieces by drawing lines through it with a marker. We then talked about community and how it brings all different kinds of people and talents together to create something amazing. Next, I played different kinds of music for the campers and they drew in one of the spaces how that music made them feel. By the end of the class, they had collectively helped to fill in all of the spaces on the paper and you could no longer see the lines that were drawn anymore, just the art coming together like a community.

I can't say that I'm sad that session three is over, but I also can't say that I'm unhappy it happened. I learned a lot and continued to test my limits, as well as push them. I keep thinking about Eugene and how I miss it. It will be nice to go home when it's time. One more camp session to go! Until then, it's off to Niagara Falls for our three-day break from camp!