Itineraries
Here are a few past itineraries from former participants regarding their camp experiences and travel after camp:
My name: Aby Parsons
Camp Name: Camp Pisgah, Camp Occoneechee and Camp Sugar Pine
Camp type: Girl Scout
Since first trying out the Camp America experience on my gap year back in 2001, I've been hooked on camp and, to prove it, I'm about to return for my 7th summer!
Girl Scout camps are a great way to motivate and inspire girls to become strong and successful young women in a safe and fun environment. From canoeing to horseback riding, arts and crafts to the adventure tower, there are many ways to learn new skills and challenge yourself. I first went to camp as a city girl who couldn't live without a hairdryer. Now I like nothing more than swimming in a lake all day before cooking over a fire I built myself and then going to sleep in a teepee. And the best part is, I get to do it all with women I know will be my lifelong friends!
My name: Deepam Patel
Camp Name: Southampton Fresh Air Home
Camp type: Special Needs
Being at a special needs camp is no field trip, you have to be dedicated, willing and supportive at all times. It's amazing how much you develop on these qualities working at a special needs camp. When it all begins and the kids arrive at camp, it takes getting used to especially for someone like myself who had no experience working with special needs children. A week or two in and you're all set, it's full steam ahead and the term 'special needs' is scrapped from your vocabulary as you learn that the kids are just kids and there's nothing special about them, it is a real eye-opener and very rewarding experience! I returned to the same camp and would not even consider going back to a different camp. You do have to prepare yourself for Special Needs as you do find that you may have to clean up after the kids.
7:10 - Wake up - Brush teeth, shower, get ready.
7:30 - 8:25 - Wake kids and get them ready
8:30 - 8:35 - Flag raising and announcements
8:35 - 10:00 - Rest hour for the kids, bunk clean up
10:00 - 11:15 - Arts and Crafts - get messy time! Help the kids to make things, break things and paint things.
11:15 - 12:30 - Army - break up the bunk into two teams, put on some paint on the face and body, set out guidelines as to what is acceptable in my platoon. Counsellors get punished for kids' misbehaviour but they eat the gross mix of cookies, ketchup, salt and pepper in a cup full of pink lemonade. Play games where they have to steal the general, capture the flag, prison break...
12:30 - 13:30 - Lunch time - bunk cheers against the other bunks while stuffing eating showing them who's best!
13:30 - 15:00 - Rest time - the kids can stay in the bunk or just hang out, listen to music, play games, go to cooking club or just chit chat with other bunks - there are 2 counsellors from each bunk to supervise.
15:00 - 16:00 - Computing - kids get to play games, spice up their myspace, e-mail home or simply learn more about computers.
16:00 - 17:10 - Swimming - the kids love being in the pool and swimming is an everyday activity.
17:10 - 18:25 - Showers, kids shower and change
18:25 - 18:30 Flag lowering and announcements
18:30 - 19:30 - Dinner - again more shouting and noise while eating.
19:30 - 20:30 - Rest Hour - kids and counsellors chill out on the back deck or around the stage ready for evening activity.
20:30 - 21:45 - Counsellor talent show/ camper talent show/ magic show/ karaoke/ or just get up on stage and look silly!
21:45 - 22:30 - Kids brush their teeth, change clothes ready for bed time.
22:30 - 12:00 - Shower - freshen up, hang out with other counsellors to watch a DVD, play pool or just relax.
My name: Jessica Buttigieg
Camp Name: B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp
Camp type: Jewish Camp
Hello, my Name is Jessica. I worked at B'nai B'rith Perlman Camp Pennsylvania. I live by the saying "A Summer of Fun, A lifetime of Memories". It was an absolutely amazing experience. I'm counting down the days until I get to return for summer 2007.
7:30 - Beep- Beep, that's my Alarm time for me to wake up the entire camp because I'm the Radio Specialist. I have made a song list on my trusty ipod. It's good feeling knowing that I was first to witness the gleaming sun every morning at camp.
7:45 - Ahhh the privilege to jolt everyone out of their deep slumber- what power I hold. "Goooooooood Morning everyone- Time to wake up". I can just see everyone stirring and thinking just a little bit longer no chance as my first song choice blast out through camp.
8:15 - I make the journey back to girl side of camp because it's time for the tradition of Flag Raising. We raise the stars and stripes- the almighty American Flag.
8:30 - Breakfast- My favourite- BAGELS with cream cheese. The Campers favourite, making a mess.
9:15 - For the Campers its time to clean their Cabins for me it's my chance to get organised for my Hobby and Activity campers that I will have joining me for the day.
10:00 - Campers doing Radio as their Hobby have arrived. These children are a blast to have around because they have chosen to do Radio every day for their stay at camp and I love that I can share my enthusiasm and knowledge with them and this will stay with them forever.
11:00 - My first & second lot of Campers arrive. With the ages ranging from 7-17 I approach each group differently. We conduct interviews about the camp - What's their greatest memory of camp etc. Everyone gets to feel like a famous DJ as they don headphones and a microphone.
1:00 - Oh hale the ring-a-ling-ding of the lunch bell! It's time for lunch. Working with all those kids can really work up your appetite.
1:45 - ZZZZZ M'nucha (rest period), a much need time of the day. It's time to bring the kids down from their camp highs. I use this time to write as many emails as I can and tell everyone about the BEST SUMMER of my life.
2:40 - Rest period over and everyone is revitalised. My third and forth group come. The interviews we do are hilarious and make great segues for my radio program through out the day.
4:40 - General activity, now specialists get the chance to play around. You can choose any activity on the entire camp and have a go for 1 hour. Whether it is a swim, playing the guitar, shooting some hoops- whatever you want.
5:30 - Shower time. I'd love to sugar coat it for you but this is a must- you do get dirty!
6:30 - As the sun sets its time to lower the stars & stripes. We all dash to the dining hall to fulfil our hunger. What will they have for us today?
6:45 - Mmmm dinner we all dig in to a well earned meal. Everyone is in happy camp spirits.
8:00 - Evening activity. What will it be today? Swim-in Movies, toga party, trip to the cinema, field games, treasure hunt- FUN GALORE. What ever it is it's always a laugh, good fun and great memories.
9:30 - Lights out for the campers and time to relax or time to get 8 excited kids to bed. This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 60 minutes. It's all part of the experience.
My name: Nick Fon Sing
Camp Name: SOCAPA (School of Cinema & Performing Arts)
Camp type: Performing Arts
7.00 - 8.00 - Woke up
8.00 - 9.00 - Breakfast in canteen
9.15 - Meet and take attendance for all campers in the lobby
9.30 - Take the campers to the nearby dance studios
9.30 - 10.30 - Warm up and practise dance technique
10.30 - 12.30 - Practise dance routine for the music video shoot at the end of the week
12.30 - 13.00 - Take the campers to lunch
13.00 -14.00 Lunch at the canteen
14.15 - Meet campers in the lobby
14.30 -Take the campers (via subway) into Manhattan for open dance classes at Broadway Dance Centre
17.00 - Head back to camp
17.00 - 19.00 - Dinner, relax, change for evening activity
19.00 - 21.00 - Evening meeting with campers- announcements, warnings (trying to get them to be quiet! J) Movie screening
21.00 - 22.00 - Check in- Check off names of campers on my floor
22.30 - 1 - Trying to get campers to go to sleep and stay in their rooms! J
1.00 - 1.30 - (although 11pm in theory!)- Staff meeting, any issues arisen in the day, plans for next day
1.30 - Sleep (if your lucky!!!!!)
