Week 4

My time spent at Jameson goes so fast!  Monday I was told that I could take on an activity known as the 'banner project' for an event we call 'AVID Day' where Youth Leaders (seniors at Ben Davis) facilitate numerous activities for the freshman class.  I went to Joann's Fabrics, collected some materials I thought would be useful, and had a heck of a time purchasing them with Jameson money.  The trick is to have updated proof of tax exemption and adequate contact information for the agency.  It all worked out.  When I got back from this expedition, I refined some documents that have been under construction, and made sure all the addresses for the Youth Leaders were as up-to-date as possible.  Monday afternoon there was another interview session for a potential deputy director.  We had a chance to ask her questions, and she had a chance to get to know Jameson and its staff a little better.  After this meeting, I began working with the materials I strategically picked out.  Dan and Tim came into the office for advice about who seemed like a more appropriate candidate for Deputy Program Director.  I worked with fabric paint and banner material to produce an example banner piece to show AVID seniors (for Wednesday).  After producing an example, I quickly rushed off to tackle a huge project for S433 (which will likely be the death of me).  

Wednesday started EARLY (for me) at Ben Davis--8:30.  Tim and I met inside the classroom with the group of about 22 seniors who are being trained to facilitate AVID Day at Jameson Camp.  This went really well.  Tim did an overview of what the event should look like , and I introduced the banner project, and let the seniors get some hands-on experience making banner pieces based on leadership quotes/pictures/and characteristics.  They can now use their experience to facilitate this project with the freshmen on AVID Day.  Other trainings with the seniors will be similar with different activities being taught.  

Wednesday was also geared toward completing invitation packets and flyers for youth leaders we hope will attend the Follow-ups this fall.  Tim and I spent some time putting together a new template for invitations to the October follow-ups with Halloween themes.  This was tough!  Formatting the document, mail merging the labels, and making the invitations inviting took a lot of collaboration and cooperation.  I wanted so badly to put way more time into this invitation and get really creative, but it's not logical for the time frame.  Resist!  *clenches teeth*  We had to move on to the next task... low ropes challenge course with women from United Way.  The group went less than smoothly, but this is a welcome chance for reflection.  Time was restricted, but all parties had a lot to talk about afterward.

Week 3 Continued

I got so much accomplished today! :).  I've finished all but one element of the statistics project.  I also updated my learning plan, and revised the list of students involved with Youth Leadership.

I stayed late on Monday to attend a very interesting board meeting.  Only 7 people were present, but almost everyone had a contribution.  The members talked about a Wellness program (because we have an Americorps intern creating new programs and partnering with more agencies), and Tim talked a lot about the Camper Interview Surveys issued at the end of summer camp.  He would like to make the surveys that the camp issued this past summer better, more valid, and more reliable (Not that the surveys are terrible now, but they're always looking to be better).  I let the board know that I'm studying the topics of program evaluation and that  I am willing to make it a project of mine.  

We had a discussion about long-range program goals as well.  Some of the main goals they talked about were: more family involvement--possibly having a subcommittee to specialize in events or outreaches to get more family involvement; putting in a lake; install a zip-line for the high ropes course; add four elements to the center pole of the high ropes course; using the extra land (currently fallow farming fields) for a lake or "remote" camping.  Cool, huh?

Week 3

I feel so much more prepared for the elements of the practicum class after last semester.  I would like to report on my awesome Monday morning before I get into some other cool task and the ideas are not as fresh.  In such a case, there might be an additional posting for the week.

This morning I was the shadow for a staff member named Chris (his tentative title being "naturalist").  

 

Chris is the recreation guy (in my own words).  The first day at camp, he was the be-layer for the high-ropes course.  Today he was the facilitator for the low-ropes challenge course.  I arrived before him and led the scheduled group of people (from a mental health agency in Indy) to the porta-potty near the trail.  In turn, I had some time to let the group feel welcome at Jameson.  

When Chris showed up, he greeted everyone cheerily and led the group into some icebreakers using a hoola-hoop and the knot game where everyone holds hands.  He let the group know that 3 qualities of the activity would be discussed after every activity.  1. What did the group do well? 2. What could the team improve? 3. How can this be applied to the office/real world?

The team had 2 men and 5 women of varied size, shape, athleticism, and cynicism.   We went over some safety concerns then moved on to about 6 elements of the challenge course in the low ropes area.  The first one was a “TP shuffle.”  A long 2 by 4 is nailed atop a telephone pole lying horizontal on the ground.  The group was told to arrange themselves by birthday order while balancing on the board.  Chris let the group set a goal for the least amount of times any members feet touched the ground. 

Another element let the group members balance weight on a large wooden platform similar to a teeter-totter but low to the ground and much wider surface.   One member had to cross the platform twice with all the members aboard the giant teetering object.  The goal was to keep a balance while the one member moved from one end to the other.

The most interesting element to me is the “Acid River.”  Several small platforms are raised about 5 inches off the ground (the ground in this area is actually a nasty, make-believe acid river resulting from toxic waste that will eat your feet and burn your resources for getting across).  The group is given 4 long boards to lie on top of and create a safe walking path to pass from stationary lilly pads that are actually small wooden platforms.  It’s basically a puzzle to get the group to work together.  The team succeeded in getting all its members to the other bank of the “river.” 

The rules for the “low ropes” course are always altered during the activity in order to add challenges and explore leadership opportunities.  The team of workers had a great time, and so did we. 

Chris and I even got to show the group the tricks to some of the puzzles after members had tried their own method.  We ended with a discussion about our experiences on the “high ropes” course along with an introduction to the climbing wall.  The group is looking into a similar experience for next year using other elements at Jameson. 

When all that ended, I looked at the binder Chris uses called the Experiential Resources (ERi) Reference Manual.  It had lots of icebreaker activities, paperwork for liability, and instructions for the outdoor elements. 

The rest of my day will consist of the continuous work of organizing statistics resulting from exit interviews from the kids who participated in summer camp.

 

An introduction

All things Jameson Camp:  I started early in August getting oriented to JC.  I attended a day of activities when summer sessions were still going on.  I got to climb my way through the high ropes course twice.  I also assisted all the kids who would swing down to the ground via steel cables attached to two poles 40 feet in the air.  I also got to eat with the kids, camp out, make chili over a fire, watch a talent show, fashion show, and participate in a nightly devotion.  Devotions are a time before bed when character beads are awarded, and the kids can report on the fun they are or are not having at camp.  

Tim and I have also been discussing several upcoming events like Wellness follow-ups and youth leadership programs.  He wants me to take the lead in working with the kids to become better leaders.  

I've been assigned the task of finishing some statistics from the exit surveys given to the campers at the end of camp.  This involves open-ended questions as well as a Liker-scale concerning different areas of camper qualities like friendship, communication, confidence, etc.  The campers seem to love Jameson Camp.  The kids said they loved swimming and creek walking, but a common complaint was the food.  

I have familiarized myself with a ton of literature being kept in the summer office of JC.  There are organized binders full of counselor comments, ideas for activities, directions to state parks, information about knot tieing, fire building, tent set-up, and camp safety.  

I took some useful notes on the contents of the binders that will help me when I have to refer back to them.  There were two binders for youth leaders known as CIT's (Counselors in training).  These contained things like: creative planning ideas, session layouts, worksheets for the kids, and directions to the IMA.  Another set of binders I liked was the ACE () off-site and program binders.  These volumes contained things like: budgeting for trips, equipment for camp-outs, ACA (American Camp Association) guidelines, menu planning, brochures for state parks and past places visited in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and a record of past activities.  The additional binders were dedicated to the subgroups of Counselors in training: JC (Jameson Camp) Juniors, ACE 1, ACE 2 and potential youth leaders.  Since we work in the program office, all the binders are kept here.

I've also been introduced to some helpful books. I was assigned to read a book called "How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk."  Much of it was review from social work courses, but I was impressed with the simplification of some skills.  

I can't wait to get a better idea about the events being planned for the return of the youth leaders to camp.