End of first session included watching our upper riders do a horse show for main camp, checking out an art show by main camp kids, and listening to a music show & drama performance. We also had a dance out on the basketball courts which was fun and a banquet where i accidently ate two bowls of ice cream (what?! It had strawberry and chocolate and sprinkles and oreos and everything!). Last was closing campfire and all of the girls and boys in my riding group were awarded their neckerchiefs. Was very proud haha.
We also had a secret ranch-only tradition that night when everyone got back. I brought out a box full of candy (some of which was the camper’s candy which was confiscated earlier in the session) and we had a sugarfest. In real terms, it was like feeding time at the zoo. They went crazy sugaring themselves up and then a pile of them decided to have a “sleep-over” in the centre room with Caitlin and myself. It was fun. And Caitlin was an awesome co-counsellor.
So first session is up, i’ve bid farewell to my campers and have just chilled out for 24 hours. Then session two arrives. I have moved from the Bucks cabin (the two-week program for like 11-12 yr olds) to the Clydes cabin which is the one-week program for about 9-10yr olds. I have a new co-counsellor too – Julie. She’s super awesome, particularly with the younger ones so it’s good. She’s from Watertown, CT, so is fairly close-by.
The Clydes are definitely quite a challenge... mainly because we have had some severe homesickness with a couple of the campers and because they are just that little bit younger and smaller that you have to do slightly more to help them. Staying up till 1am holding camper’s hands and patting them to sleep i sure don’t want to have to do too often.
After a day or two of being here the homesickness seems to have settled a bit and i am actually really proud of two campers in particular who were CERTAIN that they were going home straight away because they could not stay. They have pushed through their homesickness and actually come up and said “You know, it’s only 3 more days, I can get through this and i am actually having so much more fun now. Thanks.”
I am now teaching the Quarter Horses riding group too, which is the most beginner group in the one-week program. I can still take it nice and steady with my teaching, which i like, however some of the girls are only waist-high and so need lots of help tacking, etc. which i honestly cannot manage with my hands at the moment. In talking to my bosses they were super, super good and have set me up with 3-4 other counsellors/ junior staff at all times around horses and all so that i can just do nothing except use my voice.
My hands have actually been pretty good in general, but the stress of younger kids has made an immense difference. At least i only have the younger ones for another week and a half then i should be able to move back to older kids, which i seem to relate better to.
Being in the one-week program i also go on a different overnight camp, which is tomorrow night. We go up through the top horse pastures to near the top of the mountain where there is a campfire and some picnic benches, etc. Apparently it is amazingly beautiful, particularly at sunset.
This weekend on Saturday morning this group of kids go home and on Sunday at noon the new ones arrive so i will have almost 24 hours to be “on” but with no kids to be responsible for which will give my hands a break.
I have been half reading – half writing in a book my Uncle told me i should read, by Neale Walsch. He says, “Know that what you do in the time of your greatest trial can be your greatest triumph.”
So although this session is a little more of a challenge i am just taking it as it comes, and am actually really enjoying just mucking about with the kids. You kind of let everything go around them because to the kids, the more ridiculous you are, the more they like it.
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