Wow, how fast time flies. I got back on Friday from a science-filled week of outdoor environmental camp. We took 75 kids in all.
Camp isn't really the correct word, more like Camp Med. This is the third year I've gone with my little 6th graders. They learn about science, decay and rocks. I . . . well, I pretty much read my book. I did join a couple groups on their big hikes to the top of the nearby hill.
Worst things about going to camp:
1. squeaky mattresses made of plastic to protect against pee.
2. no alone time
3. missing Survivor
4. dealing with parents who don't understand that they can't all stay in the cabin with their son/daughter if every parent's kid is in the same damn cabin.
5. dealing with one parent in particular who believes the free camp in the summer for kids with life-threatening diseases (AIDS, for one) creates bad energy. She sent the camp an email (full of spelling errors and missing capitalizations) outlining her concerns, of which included sharing the same beds, silverware, and cups as the diseased children from the summer previous. We, of course, found this out the same day she was coming up to be a chaperone. In the cabin. Crazy bitch.
Best things about camp:
1. having each meal cooked - and being really fucking good to boot.
2. having the kids do all the work at meals - setting tables, getting food, and cleaning afterwards.
3. seeing my students in a different setting, one in which I didn't have much reason to scold or be mean. Too bad the bonding we do there happens at the end of the year.
4. not being at school/work. parent chaperones joined the naturalist led lessons and stayed in the cabins with the kids each night. While organinzing it was a nightmare, it was nice to return each night to our teacher cabin.
5. getting an awesome start to my yearly tan. (shut up, the burn turns into tan after a week).
I spent a wonderful weekend recuperating from all that, including a wonderful Saturday. Josh bought me pretty flowers and some cherries. Later he almost paid for barbeque, but I managed to slip in a $10. dumas is nice, you should all say hi!
I'm now preparing to actually grade all the crap that I brought home before I even left for camp. I had forgotten all of what it included.
I'm so glad to see the sun, I can't wait until summer!
Camp isn't really the correct word, more like Camp Med. This is the third year I've gone with my little 6th graders. They learn about science, decay and rocks. I . . . well, I pretty much read my book. I did join a couple groups on their big hikes to the top of the nearby hill.
Worst things about going to camp:
1. squeaky mattresses made of plastic to protect against pee.
2. no alone time
3. missing Survivor
4. dealing with parents who don't understand that they can't all stay in the cabin with their son/daughter if every parent's kid is in the same damn cabin.
5. dealing with one parent in particular who believes the free camp in the summer for kids with life-threatening diseases (AIDS, for one) creates bad energy. She sent the camp an email (full of spelling errors and missing capitalizations) outlining her concerns, of which included sharing the same beds, silverware, and cups as the diseased children from the summer previous. We, of course, found this out the same day she was coming up to be a chaperone. In the cabin. Crazy bitch.
Best things about camp:
1. having each meal cooked - and being really fucking good to boot.
2. having the kids do all the work at meals - setting tables, getting food, and cleaning afterwards.
3. seeing my students in a different setting, one in which I didn't have much reason to scold or be mean. Too bad the bonding we do there happens at the end of the year.
4. not being at school/work. parent chaperones joined the naturalist led lessons and stayed in the cabins with the kids each night. While organinzing it was a nightmare, it was nice to return each night to our teacher cabin.
5. getting an awesome start to my yearly tan. (shut up, the burn turns into tan after a week).
I spent a wonderful weekend recuperating from all that, including a wonderful Saturday. Josh bought me pretty flowers and some cherries. Later he almost paid for barbeque, but I managed to slip in a $10. dumas is nice, you should all say hi!
I'm now preparing to actually grade all the crap that I brought home before I even left for camp. I had forgotten all of what it included.
I'm so glad to see the sun, I can't wait until summer!