post camp

back from a secondary school camp!

as a camp facilitator.
although the pay doesn't seem alot after considering the no of hours we spent really doing work, it was quite the most satisfying job I have.

it started off with a posting online asking for facilitators for a school camp.
although i couldn't make it for that camp, there were others available and i got the one at Queenstown Sec.

it was a very last min thing and because i (and some others) couldnt attend an earlier briefing, we had one on the eve of the day of the camp. was surprised because i ran into jc friends who were also doing the same job!

I was having some regrets on the morning of the camp  because I was quite uncertain how I would be able to handle the kids. but i told myself, i have to go through it. (the penalty of pulling out =XXX)

me and another facilitator, D, was in charge of a class. (we called ourselves D-J)
It turned out to be an awesome class.

1st day high elements was at hougang pri. Doing high elements while the primary school classes were still on and the little ones running around us.

with an on-the-spot training, I became the belayer for a station involving the climbing of logs for the whole morning under the burning sun. the inexperienced me only got the hang of it after getting several blisters and rope burns, and nearly flying off when a person was falling and my archor was not holding me properly...lol

the afternoon I spent it pushing back and forth the trolley (and climbing up and down it)  to get students down after the flying fox. Even with the help of several students, it left me physically drained by the time evening came. it being flying fox and several students doing it more than once didnt helped. Overall, it was fun though tiring.

the night with the students wasnt very well spent, because we had a lot of time alone with the kids, and after the debriefing and stuff, we had totally nth to do. I tried chatting with my group, but they were quite restless - some lying down, some running around, others in their own world. we were waiting for the night walk, which my group attended halfway and was abruptly canceled because of a last-min talk from another company =/ the students were clearly disappointed.

2nd day was the better day! morning amazing race was conducted in school instead of at south ridge park due to the rain. It was actually a blessing in disguise as it was much easier to manage them in school.  Had to add in my own games to lengthen the time. But it was worth it overall as i get to bond with the kids and get them doing things.

Afternoon was replaced by captains balls (of which my class sort of thrashed the other classes), and more small games.

at the end of everything, my class won the best class! totally awesome class. the form teacher is a nice guy, buying gifts for the class and so on. on the previous night, he even pulled the class boys out of stuffy and noisy ISH into the more cooler area outside some classroom!
Reminds me of 2/3 and ms chan.

Overall it is a very satisfying experience! although i am not sure if the short 2d1n camp let the kids learn anything much, but i am sure i had fun. Meeting and working with the cheerios conducting the camp, I can sense their spirit. Even though many of them are newbies like me, all of us did our very best in engaging the many many different types of kids. Working late into the night, and wearing the  same smelly shirts with a smile and enthusiasm, determination and passion, espeically from the senior ones.

Hopefully they(the kids) gain from the camp. I certainly do.