About once a week, maybe a little less, the staff at camp get a day off. Now normally we drive into Scranton, watch a movie or two, shop for a while, and then get some really nice food, to make up for the abysmal stuff they serve in camp. Which is all very well, but after a while it can get a little..well, dull. So this week we (that is, Seth, Laura, Sparkles, Sparkles' girlfriend Kim and I) decided that we could do better. And better we did, when we discovered Ithaca, NY, famed for the Buttermilk Falls, a series of waterfalls that drop about 500' in total.
It took us a total for three and a half hours to drive there (two legs - we took a hotel the first night, just to get out of camp), and the weather was absolutely abysmal. It was rainy - not just rain, but a proper downpour, all day. Anyway, after some faffing about with the Navsat we found it. By now it's raining more heavily than it has done all day, but we decide to walk up anyway. The walk to the main fall, which has to be about 150' high, is about 300m walk away, and by the time we get there I'm wishing I'd changed into my swimming shorts because I'm soaked through, and panicking because I've nearly been brained by a rock the size of my head during a rockfall. But it was worth it. The falls are utterly breathtaking, but it gets better. The entire group decides that as we're here, and as we're soaked through already, we may as well swim in the splash pool. Which was cool.
After that we ended up changing into the only dry clothes we had, our swimming stuff, in the porch of a kindergarten, the most private place we could find, and then driving to the mall to buy new clothes, with all the hilarity that ensued.
So all in all, a great day out, but that won't compare to the next one, a double day off in New York! Woop!
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Tuesday 8 July 2008
The Show, and more
Saturday was 'Performance Day', which is the culmination of the last two weeks' work. It's stressful - immensefully so, but fun. The juggling act in particular was worrying, but it worked out in the end. The parents were impressed with the tricks their children had learn, and the trainers were all impressed that noone messed up. For myself, it was the first time I've ever taken part in a circus show, and spotting children in acts I've not done before (Lyra!) was difficult, but I enjoyed it. There's even a few photos taken by my friends in the audience, which might show up at some point.
I don't have a massive amount of other news at the moment. Lots of stuff happening, but nothing worthy of being written down, especially as I have to go down to digi to watch a movie.
Bye all!
ps. I now own 5 bandanas...
I don't have a massive amount of other news at the moment. Lots of stuff happening, but nothing worthy of being written down, especially as I have to go down to digi to watch a movie.
Bye all!
ps. I now own 5 bandanas...
Thursday 26 June 2008
The First Week
So again, I must apologise for not updating recently. This last week's been pretty hectic. The children arrived on Sunday, and eat up a phenomenal amount of time. The children in my bunk (aged 11-12) are all pretty cool. Sometimes a little troublesome, one who exhibits all the symptoms of ADD (but is one of my favourites), but they're the reason I've been finding this job particularly rewarding.
In terms of teaching, I've been put to teaching juggling (that's all manipulation stuff), junior single trapeze, which is great, and human pyramid, which is utter chaos but brilliant fun. I've got high hopes for what my staff kids are going to be doing in the performance, because they're all fast learners and come up in their free time to practice, which means they'll be great. I'm hoping to get a few up to using fire.
Anyway, yesterday was my first day off, so we headed into Scranton (the local 'city'), and just kicked around for a while. Had a burger, which was amazing, saw a movie which was tolerable, and then I broke my toe, which was a little pants, to be entirely honest. It's a fairly clean break, and should heal nicely, but I've been reduced to hobbling around camp doing not too much. Still, it could be worse. Anyway, I have places to go, and people to see, so I have to sign out.
More updates soon!
In terms of teaching, I've been put to teaching juggling (that's all manipulation stuff), junior single trapeze, which is great, and human pyramid, which is utter chaos but brilliant fun. I've got high hopes for what my staff kids are going to be doing in the performance, because they're all fast learners and come up in their free time to practice, which means they'll be great. I'm hoping to get a few up to using fire.
Anyway, yesterday was my first day off, so we headed into Scranton (the local 'city'), and just kicked around for a while. Had a burger, which was amazing, saw a movie which was tolerable, and then I broke my toe, which was a little pants, to be entirely honest. It's a fairly clean break, and should heal nicely, but I've been reduced to hobbling around camp doing not too much. Still, it could be worse. Anyway, I have places to go, and people to see, so I have to sign out.
More updates soon!
Thursday 19 June 2008
The Start of Camp
Firstly, I have to apologise for not updating earlier. This is the first time I've had access to the internet since I've arrived - It's been a hectic few days to say the least!
The flight was pretty uneventful. A complimentary bar, which I didn't use, an enormous range of films which I didn't watch, and an annoying person next to me who I didn't talk to. It was almost all CA staff though, which was fantastic. It was a great atmosphere to fly in. On arrival in America we got taken to our hotel, which was kind of pants. They hadn't sorted out enough rooms for us, and so about 20 boys had to wait for half an hour before we could go to bed. And when I could go to bed, there wasn't any bedding. I never expected to go to a hotel and have to use a sleeping bag.
The camp itself is absolutely enormous. The grounds are some 300 acres, and we can go off grounds whenever we want, so it's pretty much complete freedom. So far I've not spent much time off site though, there really isn't much that you can't do here. So far my new friends and I have just wandered around the grounds, but I've already been invited to stay with one after camp, something I was told would happen, but didn't expect to. My bunk is B8. Up on Elkview (overlooking an Elk-something ski resort), rather than lakeside, and the younger children. My bunk will apparantly be filled with 10-11 year olds, which should be easy enough to handle. I have four co-counsellors - Two Brits (Troy, a magician, and James, a climber) and two New Yorkers (Jake and Dave, a musician and a role player respectively).
So far we've been mostly getting the camp ready. For me, this means fixing poi, taping the bars on the static trapeze, hoops and lira, and a lot of training in 'spotting'. Spotting is simply supervising the children doing an activity, teaching them and making sure they don't injure themselves if something goes wrong. So far, I know how to spot on the mini-tramp, globe, rola-bola, human pyramid, circus bike and static trapeze, and I can assist on the flying trapeze too. An enormous learning activity, given that this has all been in the last two days! I've had to learn how to use all this equipment myself too. I'll certainly be finding somewhere back in England that has a static trapeze, I really enjoy it and I'm picking it up quickly.
Today, I got my first go on the 'rig', the flying trapeze. The first thing to say is that it's big. It's about 15m high, and climbing up the ladder is a nervewracking experience. Waiting on the board at the top is the worst bit though, because you don't have anything to do while you're being attached to the safty lines except look down, which isn't a good plan! Then you're told to bend your legs on the "ready", and jump on "hep!". It's tricky when you're flying through the air to remember to bring your legs up onto the bar, release the handle and reach out for a catch, before dropping off into the net (we're not catching yet). I had two tries at flying normally, and then one try to do a flip on the dismount. Needless to say, I messed it up, but it was good to hear that the staff have confidence in me.
We're just cleaning up the bunks tonight, ready for the campers to arrive on Saturday. It's hard work, but I think it'll be worth it. I've certainly been thoroughly enjoying my time here so far.
More updates soon!
The flight was pretty uneventful. A complimentary bar, which I didn't use, an enormous range of films which I didn't watch, and an annoying person next to me who I didn't talk to. It was almost all CA staff though, which was fantastic. It was a great atmosphere to fly in. On arrival in America we got taken to our hotel, which was kind of pants. They hadn't sorted out enough rooms for us, and so about 20 boys had to wait for half an hour before we could go to bed. And when I could go to bed, there wasn't any bedding. I never expected to go to a hotel and have to use a sleeping bag.
The camp itself is absolutely enormous. The grounds are some 300 acres, and we can go off grounds whenever we want, so it's pretty much complete freedom. So far I've not spent much time off site though, there really isn't much that you can't do here. So far my new friends and I have just wandered around the grounds, but I've already been invited to stay with one after camp, something I was told would happen, but didn't expect to. My bunk is B8. Up on Elkview (overlooking an Elk-something ski resort), rather than lakeside, and the younger children. My bunk will apparantly be filled with 10-11 year olds, which should be easy enough to handle. I have four co-counsellors - Two Brits (Troy, a magician, and James, a climber) and two New Yorkers (Jake and Dave, a musician and a role player respectively).
So far we've been mostly getting the camp ready. For me, this means fixing poi, taping the bars on the static trapeze, hoops and lira, and a lot of training in 'spotting'. Spotting is simply supervising the children doing an activity, teaching them and making sure they don't injure themselves if something goes wrong. So far, I know how to spot on the mini-tramp, globe, rola-bola, human pyramid, circus bike and static trapeze, and I can assist on the flying trapeze too. An enormous learning activity, given that this has all been in the last two days! I've had to learn how to use all this equipment myself too. I'll certainly be finding somewhere back in England that has a static trapeze, I really enjoy it and I'm picking it up quickly.
Today, I got my first go on the 'rig', the flying trapeze. The first thing to say is that it's big. It's about 15m high, and climbing up the ladder is a nervewracking experience. Waiting on the board at the top is the worst bit though, because you don't have anything to do while you're being attached to the safty lines except look down, which isn't a good plan! Then you're told to bend your legs on the "ready", and jump on "hep!". It's tricky when you're flying through the air to remember to bring your legs up onto the bar, release the handle and reach out for a catch, before dropping off into the net (we're not catching yet). I had two tries at flying normally, and then one try to do a flip on the dismount. Needless to say, I messed it up, but it was good to hear that the staff have confidence in me.
We're just cleaning up the bunks tonight, ready for the campers to arrive on Saturday. It's hard work, but I think it'll be worth it. I've certainly been thoroughly enjoying my time here so far.
More updates soon!
Sunday 15 June 2008
The Airport
Well I'm stuck in the departure lounge for the next three hours, so I thought I'd post a quick update. The journey here was pretty painless, to be honest. Easy train journey to Paddington, easy trip on the Heathrow Express, job done. Actually, the Heathrow Express is cool. Nice big train, and fun music that to my mind was all adventure-y, and it kicked in just as the train was starting, which was good.
On the less good side, it would transpire that I've managed (somehow) to forget my letter of employment, which means that there's a chance that I could be turned away at immigration. And I can access it online, but there's no printers in the departure lounge, or anywhere in the airport for that matter, so I can't print it off again. Also, despite being certain that I'd put it in my hand luggage, my watch seems to have been left behind as well. The one item I was told to bring at all costs. I guess I'll just have to pick up a cheap one in America (provided I get let in!).
Anyway, that's about all for now, so I guess I'll be heading out to have a look around duty free. For three hours. Joy.
On the less good side, it would transpire that I've managed (somehow) to forget my letter of employment, which means that there's a chance that I could be turned away at immigration. And I can access it online, but there's no printers in the departure lounge, or anywhere in the airport for that matter, so I can't print it off again. Also, despite being certain that I'd put it in my hand luggage, my watch seems to have been left behind as well. The one item I was told to bring at all costs. I guess I'll just have to pick up a cheap one in America (provided I get let in!).
Anyway, that's about all for now, so I guess I'll be heading out to have a look around duty free. For three hours. Joy.
Saturday 14 June 2008
Ready to go!
That's it! I'm packed, I've got my clothes for flying sorted out, train tickets have been purchased, so I'm finally ready to go! Which is pretty convenient because I'm leaving tomorrow.
It's been a long road to get to this point though. There's been trips to York, Leeds and London, a seemingly never ending series of forms to fill in, and a list of payments that if anything was even longer. I've had to buy a bag, a watch, an entire new wardrobe, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and ridiculous amounts of petrol. But my guess is that it's going to be worth it! I'll be teaching circus skills in Pennsylvania, and then visiting three cities in the North East United States, New York, Washington DC and Boston, which certainly is an American Adventure.
So all I've got to do is stick some songs on my mp3 player, get a decent night's sleep, and then I can go! Huzzah!
It's been a long road to get to this point though. There's been trips to York, Leeds and London, a seemingly never ending series of forms to fill in, and a list of payments that if anything was even longer. I've had to buy a bag, a watch, an entire new wardrobe, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and ridiculous amounts of petrol. But my guess is that it's going to be worth it! I'll be teaching circus skills in Pennsylvania, and then visiting three cities in the North East United States, New York, Washington DC and Boston, which certainly is an American Adventure.
So all I've got to do is stick some songs on my mp3 player, get a decent night's sleep, and then I can go! Huzzah!
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