Swimming and crafts. These two activities are pretty far up the list on the most popular activities at camps all across America. Is it truly summer time if you don't spend your days playing Marco Polo and carrying around your newly assembled Rain Stick or Dream Catcher? Ironically, my job at Lookout is the "Aquafts" Director. I manage the pool as well as organize and set up the daily craft. How does one get such an odd conglomeration of duties you may ask? I'm still not sure, even halfway through the year, but I am sure glad that I did!
Many kids like to participate in crafts during their time at camp. I'm glad I get to provide them with an activity that's not nearly as high adventure. I know a lot of kids would rather clean the dishes at camp than climb up the high ropes course and soar through the sky on the zip line or V-swing. Other kids get overwhelmed by the high-energy lifestyle that camp often demands. These introverted kids thrive off their time at the Craft Hut to recharge for the rest of their day. I have tried to make the Craft Hut a place of peace. A place where kids can let the right side of their brain take control, where creativity know's no bounds. The pool on the other hand, is a different story.
The pool is play; and play hard. Seeing the smiles and the gleeful shrieks of campers jumping off the diving board or getting thrust into the air by their counselors brings joy to my heart. I watch this and see exactly what childhood should be. Unapologetic splashing about in frigid water and wishing that pool time could last forever. Making sure everyone is having fun and being safe is only part of my job at the pool, however. I also make sure the water is clean, and safe for swimming in. I check the chemicals of the pool several times a day and without fail, campers are always so intrigued about what I am doing with the water bottle full of pool water and different colored dyes. I use these opportunities to engage the campers in a little science lesson! I call myself Bill Nye, camp edition. I explain what the chemicals do, how they react with the water and how I know how much of each chemical the pool water has. I have learned that anything and everything can be a way to teach. I can teach kids the importance of loving your neighbor at the dinner table, and I can explain chemical reactions during their bathroom break.
I look forward to these lessons every week. Children are, by nature, curious beings; so eager to learn. Why deprive them of this? Teach them things every step of the way! Let the craft hut be a time of introspective thinking and questions, let the pool be a way of showing the importance of chemistry in every day life. Never shy away from explaining the way nature works with each other to keep our Earth functioning. I can't think of a better way to learn about God than by learning about the things that he has created. Let us glorify and praise Him!!
Anyways, I'm so glad I have the opportunity to bring just two of the many activities your children do at camp to life. Thanks for letting me hang out with them and teach them just a little bit of what I know best.
Mentor, Teacher and Friend,
The "Aquafts" Director
Many kids like to participate in crafts during their time at camp. I'm glad I get to provide them with an activity that's not nearly as high adventure. I know a lot of kids would rather clean the dishes at camp than climb up the high ropes course and soar through the sky on the zip line or V-swing. Other kids get overwhelmed by the high-energy lifestyle that camp often demands. These introverted kids thrive off their time at the Craft Hut to recharge for the rest of their day. I have tried to make the Craft Hut a place of peace. A place where kids can let the right side of their brain take control, where creativity know's no bounds. The pool on the other hand, is a different story.
The pool is play; and play hard. Seeing the smiles and the gleeful shrieks of campers jumping off the diving board or getting thrust into the air by their counselors brings joy to my heart. I watch this and see exactly what childhood should be. Unapologetic splashing about in frigid water and wishing that pool time could last forever. Making sure everyone is having fun and being safe is only part of my job at the pool, however. I also make sure the water is clean, and safe for swimming in. I check the chemicals of the pool several times a day and without fail, campers are always so intrigued about what I am doing with the water bottle full of pool water and different colored dyes. I use these opportunities to engage the campers in a little science lesson! I call myself Bill Nye, camp edition. I explain what the chemicals do, how they react with the water and how I know how much of each chemical the pool water has. I have learned that anything and everything can be a way to teach. I can teach kids the importance of loving your neighbor at the dinner table, and I can explain chemical reactions during their bathroom break.
I look forward to these lessons every week. Children are, by nature, curious beings; so eager to learn. Why deprive them of this? Teach them things every step of the way! Let the craft hut be a time of introspective thinking and questions, let the pool be a way of showing the importance of chemistry in every day life. Never shy away from explaining the way nature works with each other to keep our Earth functioning. I can't think of a better way to learn about God than by learning about the things that he has created. Let us glorify and praise Him!!
Anyways, I'm so glad I have the opportunity to bring just two of the many activities your children do at camp to life. Thanks for letting me hang out with them and teach them just a little bit of what I know best.
Mentor, Teacher and Friend,
The "Aquafts" Director
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