We have created a blog to write each summer about our experiences as Camp Directors in our home with some terrific kids from our neck of the woods. We want to post photos from each week and let them see their photos and be able to save them from this website.
OUR BEGINNINGS
Maddie B. started hosting/directing Kids' Camps 3 summers ago. We got the idea from the Earnshaws in NH. Maddie attended them when she was little and as she got older we both thought we would enjoy (and Moms would really enjoy) giving young kids something to do and to look forward to during the long days of summer. So Discovery Kids' Camp was born and we have added new things each summer and increased our enrollment, too.
OUR SUMMER CAMP GOES LIKE THIS
Maddie hand draws little name tags that feature themes of the week (starfish, planets, jungle animals) for the kids to put on when they come over; they sign in and we get parents' contact information. We play a CD of kids' music (ABC song, Ants Go Marching, etc.) and usually a CD of 'rock-n-roll' from Vacation Bible school, which really gets the kids excited and dancing.
We spend a few weeks planning out our themes and then head to the best craft store, Hobby Lobby, to purchase supplies for all our crafts and activities.
She advertises with a bright flyer that we make together on the computer. We email and hand deliver it all over the neighborhood. She puts her email address on it and telephone number so they can register with her. She starts getting calls and we start the roster. 10 kids was our cut off this year.
We made a big poster to welcome the kids; during our first week we let them draw on it and make it look Kid-Friendly. Maddie writes up the exact schedule, for every half-hour of what she will be doing with the kids. I do a little crowd-control, homesickness help, and guide distracted ones back to the group. Making muffins or cookies, and inviting "cooking assistants" seems to help... :)
She includes:
Yoga (mom)
Crafts
Reading
Acting
ASL (last year)
Spanish (mom)
Water Activities
Recess
Snacks
Cooking (with mom as the lead)
Coloring
Learning about the weekly theme
She loves the teaching and reading and crafting and recessing. She doesn't love the clean-up and the exhaustion that comes after, but I keep telling her, "Making good money doesn't come easy." It's true! She has saved lots of money every year and been able to buy most of her own school clothes. We look forward to next year, when we plan to offer two types of camps: Pre-K Discovery Camp and Art Camp for ages 6 and up. I plan to use some of my Humanities major and a fabulous "how to" art book that focuses on certain famous painters' styles of creation and teaching about the painter and then letting the kids imitate and try new art techniques. We are super excited about it!
Photos from 2009 to come and then later we will post photos from 2008 camps. And if I can find any from the small camps we had in 2007, I'll post them, also
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Robyn, I just wanted to thank you SO MUCH for your rich and insightful comments on my blog recently - WORK. LIFE. BALANCE. And for the suggestion of your friend who I will be sure to look up. I resonate with so many of the things you brought up and appreciate your willingness to be so forthright and open. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteSummer camp sounds like it was a blast and you and your daughter are gorgeous - I love that photo!
Delighted to connect with you and I hope to do so more and more. I have lots of questions, but this blog probably not the appropriate forum. If you want to get in touch directly at some point, you can reach me at chrysula (at) gmail dot com. Would love to get to know you more.