CCUSA 2007 - International Sports Training Camp

Fun with Water, I Love Jet Skiing

2007-08-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it but the second last week of camp has just finished. Once again so many new and exciting things have happened but the sad news is that it is now only 7 days till the summer camp part of my summer is over. On a positive note there is alot of talk about; what everyone is doing once camp finishes! It looks like a trip down to Miami and then across the border to Mexico is taking shape for me and a few other of my camp friends.

Well week 8 involved alot of water for myself, having obtain my Pennsylvania jet ski licence a few weeks ago. I was finally given the opportunity to use it and I had many a session as a Jet ski instructor this week with all the campers. It is alot of fun, whizzing around the lake, however, there are many nerve racking experiences when I felt that I was about to get thrown off the back into the water by a kid. The good news is that it was never the case.

I was back in a cabin with campers this week. It was tropical week, so alot of our camp activities were centred around the waterfront. It took me a little bit to get back into the swing of things after my soccer week. I had to get my campers excited for events, but once we got the cabin together in organising our synchronised swim, it was all hands on deck. Well I must say that 12 year old boys come up with some great ideas and although we didn't win the event there were alot of funny moments in the preparation of our routine.

So my final week is just about upon me, and I can safely say that the summer has gone too quick. I am really excited for this week as I want to do everything I haven't had the chance to do yet but I am also a little sad as I know that it is all about to end.

Still travelling plans are also keeping me entertained, who would have thought that I would be thinking about travelling with an American and Englishman around the U.S. just 9 weeks ago.

Soccer Coaching

2007-08-11T14:41:00.000-07:00

When you work at camp, you quickly realise that it is hard to give you an accurate job description, camp is a place where you need to be very flexible, think on your feet and be ready for a change at any time.
I have enjoyed my weeks so far, I have counseled some great kids, learnt so many great camp games and then this past week I have been involved in the soccer camp coaching soccer for 7 hours each day.
It was a great week, we had 57 kids come to soccer camp and they were all there purely to improve their skills, so it was quite intense and run very professionally.
I worked with 5 other coaches (an Irish guy, 2 English, an American girl and a New Zealand guy) so we had many varying influences and soccer backgrounds but we also had a wealth of knowledge to provide to the kids.
The hardest thing about the week, was the extreme heat and keeping all our kids motivated in the fields for each session, it was also very draining on myself but it was great to be a part of the week, and I definitely learnt a lot about coaching children.
The highlight of the camp week was the Grand Staff Hunt which was held on Thursday evening, it is an event that the kids come back for and absolutely love, all the staff are paraded around as fugitives for the week and then on Thursday are let loose and it is up to the kids to go and find them, it was real exciting to be a part of it, and a great success.

We also had a staff surprise last week that was put on for us by our camp directors, where after all our kids were put to bed, we were invited to get dressed up and come to the main meeting hall, where it was all decked out fancily and we had a chinese buffet feast, it was a little thank you from them for what we have achieved so far and it was cool to chill out with the staff, as it does become quite difficult when you are around kids 24 hours a day.

Well only a couple of weeks left, I can't believe how quick this summer is going, there is starting to be a lot of talk about post camp travel, so I think I will have to start thinking myself.

Musikfest

2007-08-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

Had a pretty amazing day off recently, a group of us decided on our day off that we would hire a car, and rent a motel room and go to Bethlehem, PA which is about 45 minutes from camp, as they were holding their annual musikfest. It was a great day, they closed all the streets in the town, and had 12 live stages where the music varied from old school, multi cultural and folk. It was a great laugh, there was plenty of dancing, food and beverages and a night away from the camp bubble really freshened everyone for the final weeks of camp.

Halfway through the summer

2007-07-27T10:49:00.001-07:00

So the summer has just ticked over the halfway mark and I have had an absolute blast. It is kind of sad to think that I only have a month left but I am also pretty excited for the month ahead. The relationships that I have made with all the other staff here, have meant that everyone wants to make each week the best week ever. New ideas and games are being played and it is really exciting finding out what is going to happen.

Our camp had a visit from CCUSA last week. One of their staff members from Australia and one from England came to check on all the CCUSA staff and see how everything was going. I had no problems but it was nice to be able to share my thoughts so far, and also it was nice to know that they actually are there to help you, if you do have any problems. There were some staff who had some questions about travelling after camp and claiming back some medical expenses so they got all their questions answered.

The big event of the last week was the mini olympics that were held. They were held over two nights with the younger campers on Wednesday night and the older campers the following evening. The event involved all the campers being split into countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, England and USA) and then going through a circuit of events gaining points for their country. I was the team leader of Australia and it involved me exciting all my campers to sing lots of aussie songs; let me tell you there was alot of Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! The great result of the night was that Australia was victorious! It was a really fun event but it definately took alot out of me and I am looking forward to a bit of rest and relaxation on my day off this weekend.

Got to run, got a camper's parent that needs to be called.

Days Off and Time On

2007-07-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

After a pretty hectic week of camp it was nice to hear that a group of us had organised a rafting trip for our day off. After the campers checked out, it was time to get in the car and head about 30 minutes away from camp.

There was a group of 18 of us on 3 rafts that rafted down the Delaware River. It wasn't your typical white water rafting but it was such a beautiful day; the sun was shining, the water was nice and calm, and it was a great way to relax and enjoy our time off. The day ended with a nice dinner and some beverages. I can safely say it was one of my most memorable days. The river and hills are so beautiful here and it was nice to actually be in the midst of it all.

So week 3 saw me with the older boys. It was a bit of a change but a nice one to be really able to relate to them and really get involved in all their games. There were alot of fun times, I actually learnt alot about American culture. It also meant that I got a chance to climb the rock wall and go down the zip line; something I didn't really see myself doing at the start of the summer. I have attached a photo so you get a glimpse of what I was up against.

Although the week didn't have all the cheering and chanting that you get with the younger campers, it was one of my favourite weeks as I felt a pretty strong bond with all the boys.

Feasts and Festivities

2007-07-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

First week over and it was time for a well earned break!!

My co workers & I decided to check out the local town for our day off so we all went to the mall to watch a movie. One of the senior staff had organised a table at a local restaurant so we could all have dinner together, this turned out to be a great idea as we all got to know each other better and hear all the cool stories people had from all over the globe.

I never would have thought how close I am to these people that I only met a couple of weeks ago, I suppose that is what you get when you live in a small bubble that is known as camp.

It was down to week 2 and what a fun week it was. It was 4th of July week where all the activities were centred around red, white and blue and celebrating America's proud history. The highlight of the week was on the 4th of July where the kitchen staff excelled themselves with an a massive feast for the camp, which included ribs, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, and an assortment of salads and desserts. It was actually a struggle to get everyone ready for the evening session after the feast as most people were stuffed from eating too much. The day ended with fireworks right over our lake It was the closest I had ever seen fireworks and it really was amazing to watch.

Most of the week went along without any hitches. My campers were for the most part great kids. The only real situation I had was when one of my campers got sick and I was kept up for most of the night making sure he was alright, all ended well and he was really thankful when it was time to leave about helping him out. It made me realise what a difference I have on the campers that by helping him for the week how he would always remember me in a positive light.

Can't believe 2 weeks have gone already, the summer is passing by too quickly.

Sun, lake, dances and dress ups

2007-07-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

When I signed up for working at a summer camp, they prepare you as best they can, they tell you where you are going and what type of camp you are going on, but the best preparation you get is when the kids arrive.

It's the end of the first week of camp and week one has been filled with so many fun and amazing things.

Our theme for the week was "Sports Camp at the Grammy's" so if someone had of told me before I arrived here that I would be in full KISS (Gene Simmonds) make-up and dancing up a storm at camp I would have said who are you kidding but what a night it was.

The first week at camp saw me jet skiing with campers, playing soccer in the fields, epic games of dodgeball and an amazing Wednesday night dance, where all the staff dressed up with the Grammy's theme.

The weather this week was something like I had never seen before, it was really really hot for most of the days and then in the afternoons there would be big thunder and lightning storm, one storm was even close enough to see the lightning hit the lake, but once all the kids were calmed down and the rain had stopped it was back out in the fields where fun and games were once again played.

If the rest of the summer is going to be as good as the first week, it is going to be quite amazing.

Week 2 next week and it is 4th July and I hear there are big celebrations in store.

Keep you posted.

Arriving At Camp

2007-06-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

After months of preparation and lots of money saving it was time for me to begin my overseas working holiday and I was ready for the adventure. I had the flights booked and paid for, I had all my shots I needed, and I had packed everything I could think of into my backpack.

I was a bit apprehensive about what to expect or what the camp was going to be like but from all the information that I had received from the camp directors at International Sports Training Camp in Pennsylvania it looked like an amazing place and it was going to be a great summer.

I made my way from New York to the town of Stroudsburg and was met by camp staff for my final journey to the place I would call home for the next 10 weeks. As I entered the camp, I was amazed by the place, it is situated on a 100 acre lake with lakeside cabins for the campers and staff. There are soccer fields, and baseball diamonds, beach volleyball courts, trapeze, and climbing tower and zip line, mountain bike trails, dune buggy courses all situated on 300 acres in the mountains.

International Sports Camp is exactly that, there are staff from all over the world, we have counselors from Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Poland and of course Americans as well. It is a melting pot of cultures and personalities and it is exciting to get the summer under way.

The first week of the summer was orientation. It involved no campers at all, but it has prepared me for everything ahead. The week involved lots of games to get to know everyone that I will be working with, and many scenarios for dealing with campers. I think I am ready to go and can't wait for the campers to arrive!

Bring on the summer!