Withdrawing
5:32 PM
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20-Apr-2010
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Thanks to everyone who has read the blog and been supportive on the forums etc. Sadly I have decided to withdraw from Camp America. It kills me doing this as I was so looking forward to the summer ahead, but after what happened with 'The Camp' and not hearing anything, as well as being offered gaurenteed work upto the end of July I have decided that this is the only option.
I have had a great time doing Camp before and I know that all you guys who are doing it for the first time or for another time are going to have an awesome summer. For those yet to be placed, hang on in there and you'll have a magical summer. I'll never say never about taking up the chance of going to America again to do camp. However it's looking unlikely. But if I ever have the chance to do this big whole adventure thing again then I'll be jumping at the chance. Thanks again for all your great support. Jonny x The journey that ends before it's begun...
9:03 PM
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17-Mar-2010
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Finally got word from 'The Camp'.... and it wasn't great telling me that they didn't have a position for me.
The position they offered me way back at the recruitment fair was amazing, one that I don't think could be bettered and I doubt it will. When I reapplied I told myself I'd only want a specialist position which I'm not feeling confident about anymore. Sadly I've taken the decision to give it a few more weeks and if nothing happens then I will consider withdrawing from the programme. Writing this is gutting as I was so looking forward to taking part in another amazing summer and taking full advantage of my last summer of 'fun' before the real life begins. But I wont get downhearted. Speaking to another guy who was in the same situation as me at the same camp has made me feel a bit more positive as he's been in contact with another camp. Told him to put in a good word for me.... Apologies....
12:35 PM
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14-Mar-2010
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Just realised how negative my blog has sometimes appeared, but I feel as though it's important to be honest in this blogging environment so please accept the apologies for the negativeness that sometimes appears. Like I've mentioned before I'm currently working as a supply teacher and at the moment on some long term work. At the school I'm at at the moment, when marking I need to make a positive comment for every negative so I will try and apply this to the blog from now on so that it isn't such a tear fest for you readers!!
Was hoping for another update....
12:23 PM
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14-Mar-2010
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I was told that there would have been a definitive decision about my place at camp made by last Sunday and I emailed the camp to ask about it a couple of times this week but sadly with no reply.
Camp America have been great though these last couple of weeks and they've said that if I'm unsuccessful that I'll be put onto gaurenteed status. However my application is only visible to the camp and no others and has been since the recruitment fair which means that I doubt I'll get a placement as a specialist which is what I was hoping for this year. In other news though, my Camp America hoody arrived yesterday!! Hoping I can wear it to America this summer now.... Update
5:44 PM
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3-Mar-2010
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Thanks for the comments on the previous post, however shortly after that blog post my status changed back.
As you can imagine it's been a bit of a whirlwind going from placed to not been placed back to placed and back to not being placed and I finally found out the reason why last night and that I should finally find out for certain what's happening by either the end of the week or start of next week. So keep your fingers crossed for me!! PHEW!!
9:03 AM
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17-Feb-2010
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After a week of being in a state of flux my CAD has gone back to being placed :-) SOOOO happy I can start thinking about things again.
In other news, on Monday I graduated! Wait.... Part 2053420
8:58 AM
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16-Feb-2010
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About a week ago my CAD changed from 'Placed' back to 'Ready to be placed'. It was a bit worrying, but after emailing my camp director I got a reply saying that he wanted to go through my application himself as I got placed at the recruitment fair by one of the other manager people. It's now been a week since this happened and I'm trying to resist temptation to email him asking for an answer. I have it in my head he's literally snowed under in an effort to stay calm, but as it's half term and I'm not working it means my head is in overtime with thinking!! So wish me luck and I hope to report good news next time.
The Camp America Forum
7:56 PM
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5-Feb-2010
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One thing that really helps getting excited for Camp and keeping it an important part of your life is talking to other people and participating in things with people in the same situation. Camp America has a great forum where, if you've not had a gander, I'd suggest a visit once you've read the blog.
At first the forum may look scary with loads of random threads in the general area and people taking the mick out of each other, but once you've got past that you'll see that everyone is there to help each other out and if you've got a question to ask it's the place to do so. It's a good mix of first timers and returners and advice is often shared along with the regular jokes. Also its great to find people you'll be working with at camp using the Camps and Resorts area. Just look for your camp name and you'll probably find a thread with people talking about it, if not start one and someone will hopefully come talk!! Once again the perks of having returners tell you about your camp and what to pack etc is always a good thing! Likewise the Travel area's good to see what people plan and to get ideas and stuff. Later a Flights section comes up to see who's on your flight and you can arrange people to meet at the airport so you don't go through checkout and security on your lonesome. Overall the forum is a great place to hangout and it just heightens the whole Camp America experience. So if you haven't used it - get yourself over there and join in the fun. And now ends the Forum Political Broadcast. YAY!!
9:48 AM
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5-Feb-2010
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Its all confirmed on my CAD so now I feel as though it's actually starting to happen :) Camp here I come!!
Also - Can anyone help me out?!A few questions and answers would be greatly appriciated:1) How do I make my blog to show the paragraphs I write in? - SORTED (Thanks Sarah!) 2) How do I change the font? 3) How can I put a picture into my blog? All the options I used to have and are mentioned on the help bit don't appear for me :( THANKS!! When I have time off....
9:33 AM
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3-Feb-2010
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I'm currently working as a supply teacher which means I can sometimes go days without work or weeks with loads of work. After having a busy term working all but 2 days so far, I'm now having a quiet week and its getting me thinking about the summer loads. At the moment I know only a few things I'll be in charge of when at camp. Being the Theatre (going to have to start writing theater) Director is going to involve a load of responsability over shows the campers perform, rehearsal schedules to make sure everyone is doing something during the theatre sessions, designing sets and how its all going to be constructed, and a whole load more!! At the moment I'm thinking about things loads but don't have a complete list of things I'm responsable for so that'll be the next email I send to camp I think... I have a few ideas. I have a show in mind (still need a couple of others tho - any suggestions welcome), and ideas for scenery and so on but at the moment it all still seems unreal to me and until my CAD changes I'm sure I'll stay in this cloud of uncertainty. I'm mega excited though and its the best excitement because it contains a fairly large amount of nerves and a large amount of responsabilty. I'll have to make sure I'm the most organised I've ever been and on top of my game so much to make sure its the best summer the campers (and I) have! London Town Recruitment Fair
3:54 PM
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1-Feb-2010
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I spent last Thursday and Friday debating with myself whether to go to the recruitment fair down in London. After looking at the list online I could only see two camps that interested me and was unsure whether it would be a waste going for just two camps. In the end (around 10pm on Friday) I decided to go for it and booked a train and coach to make the return journey.
An early start of around 5am was needed to make sure I got the train on time and I made it down to London and straight to the building where the fair was held by just before half 10. The que was massive and it was freezing and I was so tempted to just walk away. I got talking to a couple of other people with huge lists of camp and started to feel more and more pessimistic about it all. When we finally got in about a couple of hours later the friendships made in the que went and we all went for it. The camp I had my eye on wasn't looking for the position I had my eye on from the list and I couldn't find the second camp. Then I bumped into James from the que and the camp he wanted to had filled the place already. I walked around with him and then we ended up at a camp that needed people with both the jobs we wanted and while we both chatted to people and had a good positive vibe when it came to it the director felt as though she had seen someone better than me and didn't want me wasting my time and any other opportunities but she did know my previous camp director!! Feeling really deflated I almost walked out of the fair but decided on one last walk around and ended up spotting a camp with no crowd or que looking for a position I was interested in ‘Theatre Director’. Taking it as a good sign I sat down and got talking to the guy behind the desk and we got on, he was interested in what I had to say and the camp sounded great. I was told to go look around some more and come back when I was sure this was the camp for me (which I had decided and it was a matter of how long to wait before going back to the camp) and that if I did come back and the position was still there then he’d sign me up. I forced myself to look around for a few minutes then noticed a crowd forming round the camp so decided I had left it long enough and got back in sight of the guy behind the desk. I watched someone sign up and then a girl sit down for a chat only to be told that the guy before had got the position she wanted. I was so scared someone else in the crowd was going to get *my* job!! Luckily the guy saw me and got me to the front and sat me down and we did all the paper work and I GOT PLACED!! Currently waiting for my Camp America Direct to update – until then I can’t believe its real even if I have had an email from the camp. Got so much responsibility this year with being the theatre director from arranging shows and rehearsal schedules to building sets and directing as well as doing the general counsellor duties involved. Most of all I’m just excited to be going to a traditional camp and do the traditional camp things that I missed out on last time. I may have had my eye on another camp, but this camp didn’t even have this job listed anywhere except on the stand. That I even looked at it must have been some form of sign and I’m so glad I didn’t give up. So come June I will be preparing to head to Camp W!! WHOOOOOP! :) Rereading what I wrote a couple of years ago.... and I also have a dream!
6:48 PM
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20-Jan-2010
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I just spent some time reading my blog. Its so strange seeing the dates being almost exactly two years ago when I spoke to camps (including the one I'd love to go to this year!) In the back of my mind I have images of the people who hire sat in an office going through the Camp America applications seeing my name pop up and them thinking "Oooo its that bloke who we spoke to a couple of years ago but couldn't hire.... lets see if he wants to work for us" and I'll get an email asking if I'd like to and I'll send one straight back saying YES YES YES A MILLION TIMES YES!! And then I'd go to this camp in June and have an awesome summer..... because that's how it [doesn't quite] work!!
Anyway, I had a dream last night. For me to remember a dream it has to be a very vivid one as I am completely rubbish at remembering dreams, and considering I've taught a year 1 class all day today and I still remember it, it must be a good 'un that I'm going to share with you today. Bare with me though as I might ramble (as if I haven't already) a bit but hopefully you'll follow me!
Basically I dreamt that I had just arrived at camp. I had decided that I didn't want to know what the camp was called or anything about it as I wanted a surprise and it turned out that one of the girls I went on Trek with was also at this camp. We got there and to my surprise it was the camp I really want to go to this summer [I am aware I'm bigging up this anonymous camp and thus preparing myself for not going to this camp!] and it was like arriving at this big amazing place. Then my friend turned round and told me she didn't want to be at this camp and wanted to go back to the camp she had been working at for the last few years so before I entered camp I said goodbye to her and we promised that we'd visit each other - even though her camp was in a state quite far away!! As I then entered camp I woke up so I didn't get a chance to go in...
Anyways, back to how I started, when I re-read the blog I saw that I had said that I would post all these photos that I never did - so hopefully I'll remember to post some photos from my previous Camp America experience to share with you all over the next few blog posts. So, a bit of a random blog today - but that's why you love me!!
The wait...
5:26 PM
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16-Jan-2010
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I'd forgotten how the wait takes hold of you as you wait for the Camp America Direct page to change from ready to be placed to placed.... Even though I've asked for my application to be sent to a specific camp it's not doing anything to ease the wait!!
I know from the previous experience that the wait is nothing to fear. Sometimes people get placed quickly, other times people wait a while. Anyway, I hope the wait isn't too long - as long as the result is a good one!!
Well its a good job I put 'probably'....
6:02 PM
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13-Jan-2010
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Because today I got confirmed as 'Ready to be Placed'!!
Yep! I am [hopefully] going back to camp!! :-) I have the opportunity and have decided I would be stupid to let it go so I applied and now I'm circulating. Hoping to go to a certain camp or to do a certain thing at camp - not saying anything at the moment though!!
So yep! I'm back.... :-)
Probably the last blog...
2:03 PM
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29-Dec-2008
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Hi everyone.
I had clung onto the hope that I would return to America this summer but things have happened that has made it not possible. For all those returning I hope that your summer is either as great or better than the last and for those going for the first time I can promise you are going to have the summer of a life time.
I highly recommend going with an open mind and to take every opportunity as it comes. Go travelling if you can after too as you'll meet even more great people and do even more amazing things. This time last year I had no plans to travel but after the orientation I booked a place on a 3 week trek. I went down into the grand canyon and flew over it, stayed out in the middle of monument valley, went white water rafting, saw mama mia at a drive in cinema and got evacuated from New Orleans!!!
At camp I drove a school bus, learnt some life saving skills, met an amazing group of people who, although didn't always get on and agree on things, still made a great experience. I embarrassed myself dancing to Sunshine Day from the Brady Bunch infront of camp, I almost managed to water ski, bruised my backside several times from tubing on the lake and had a great group of kids to look after.
Go on the forums and get advice. I found so much out on there that helped me and I'm so grateful to the guys at Camp America for providing it. Make sure you go to the orientation as its so stimulating to be in a room full of people in the same situation as you... and most of all... bore your mates so much with stories of camp when you come back!!
Finally - if you're not placed yet don't give up hope. It may take ages for the right camp to find you but don't give up hope. Its a great experience and I hope that you all find it as great as I did.
Probably for the last time,
Jonny Trekking
4:39 AM
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2-Sep-2008
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The kids have long gone and Im two weeks into my three week trek across America with Trek America. Its AWESOME!!!! Tho evacuations from New Orleans arent that great.... Will update properly sometime!!
The final countdown....
10:30 AM
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5-Aug-2008
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So here it is, the FINAL week of camp. The kids go in 72 hours and so much is packed into those few hours. Today is the final proper day of camp (classes in the morning and afternoon activities etc). Tomorrow we have our morning and then we're off to a fake beach for 'beach day'! Thursday we again have morning activities for the final time and hen we have a banquet and talent show (my boys are doing a version of we will rock you dressed as geeks and singing we are big geeks, and with 5 of the other counselors I am dressing up as a member of the brady bunch to do a little dance kinda thing to Sunshine Day (Youtube it - its amazing!!)). Friday the kids who have done horseback riding put on a horse show so that the parents can see what they've been doing in it and then by midday the kids should all have gone home. I'm here till Tuesday packing away camp, going to the lake to water ski (this time I WILL SKI - tried twice, both times very almost got up!) and doing a few little activities and a party.
So I need to go do a tennis session... till next time!
Golden Rubber Chickens
8:10 PM
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1-Aug-2008
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Thanks Camp America!!!!
I got my first parcel today and saw that it was from Camp America.... They had sent me a certificate and a golden rubber chicken for being a top ten forum poster and blogger!!! Im so proud!!
Tonight we're off to a roller disco - very exciting!! Then this weekend we have lots and lots of fun fun fun! Then we;re into final week...
Adventures of the facial hair!
2:47 PM
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30-Jul-2008
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I've been unitnentionally growing my facial fuzz for a while now and at the start of the week I was gonna shave - but the kids picked up on how I needed to shave so I refused.... then last night I decided to compromise and I'm currently sat here with a goatee beard!! hehehehe. Maybe it'll stay, but maybe it'll become a moustache tomorrow!
I'll pop some photos up soon....
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