Specific Activities

When the CITs first got to the camp we played names games and role-playing games to help them feel comfortable around each other.  Our hope was that the CITs had an out of the ordinary common experience with one another so they start to build shared common experiences.

Most of the next few weeks are meetings and we practice with the “learning groups” or lesson plans.  This gives the CITs an opportunity to learn the material more and more and they have an opportunity to develop their own teaching style.

Throughout the summer we talk about and do service projects for the camp and how important it is to give back to those who have given so much to you.

End of Summer Reflections

One of the Calumet alumni told me once about his CIT summer, “Coming to Calumet that summer was the best thing in my life.  I know that if it was not for that summer I would of eventually ended up in jail.”  One of the trainees of the summer of 2000 said to me “thanks for the best summer of my life.  I don’t know where I would be without that summer. I learned so much about my faith in God and myself.  I will always use what you taught me that summer.”

The CIT program is a great program and it will continue to serve thousands of youth.  One of the best aspects of the program and one of the most important parts of the program is  building relationships with the kids.

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For more insight check out:

The Career Counselor's Handbook

The Sugar Camp Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #7)

It has been a great few days. Only if Katie and Logan were with then it would be perfect. But alas, I am having a great time with my daughter. It still feels weird to say daughter, I am getting use to that. But on the other hand it is great to say it too.

I have met some wonderful people on my trip and I am getting to know old friends again. I wanted to talk about some of the people I have come across along the way.

First there is Wiley — Wiley actually goes to the Y that I go too. On Thursday last week I met Wiley – he never told me his name but he did have his name in big capitol letters WILEY. Anyway, I got done swimming and Wiley was there. He asked if I had good time and I said yes. Our lockers were next to one another so it is not uncommon to have uncomfortable small talk in the locker room following a locker encounter. But Wiley did not want to stop, he was asking what I was doing in the pool and then we continued to talk. He did the most talking at first. He was telling me about him coming to America from the Czech Republic as a little boy and how he always yerned to go back, but he is not sure he can since he is so old now (he looked in his 80’s). Then he changed the subject and he asked what I do for a living. Now I don’t always delvuge that information at first because of people’s reactions. I honestly try and not mention it until I get a good read on a person. Well I could not get a read on Wiley and I was not going to lie so I told him I am in seminary studying to be a minister. Wiley then started to say “praise God, oh thank you jesus” — he did this for about 2-3 min and he said may you be blessed in your ministry. That is the best thing you can ever do with your life. I said thank you and I turned it on him, and I asked what he did and he said “I don’t work anymore but I did work for the Government and I can’t say anymore.” What?!? What did he do? Why coudlent he tell me? by this time Wiley was done getting dressed and he ended the conversation quickley and left. Maybe Iwill see Wiley again and get to learn more about his secret Govenment job.

The Ruso Family–
Needing dinner on our way up to Vermont, Addy and I stoped at a Chili’s. We grabbed our seats and I fed Addyson her dinner of mushed carrots, rice stuff and Children’s Vita-Lea. About half way through dinner the people next to us started talking with me. It was a family with three girls ages ranging from 6 years to 12 years. They seemed nice and they thought Addy and I were on a “date” but I told them we were on a trip from Vermont. They told me about themselves and that they were coming back from a vacation from North Carolina. Very nice family and the girls loved Addyson.

The people at Camp —

I have loved being back here at Camp and I have realized more and more how I have missed it and how much I want to spend more time here. There are people who I have not seen in 4 or 5 years and I love remaking those connections. I have seen kids where the last time I saw them they were 3-6 years old and now they are 8-11 years old and it is crazy how much they have changed. The funny thing is that they still remember me and they still want to see how I am doing. I love that feeling and it makes me feel like my 10 summers here and three years on the year round staff was good ministry even though I was not “seminary trained” and I realize that I was making a difference in the world. I never thought that I was going to never do outdoor ministry again but I realize now that I am going to try and make a more concious effort to get back here more often. Some friends and I were talking about picking a week as “Vacation” together. I love that idea and I would love to perhaps be a chaplain once I come back to New England.

I think one of the great things about my future occupation is that I am going to be paid to talk with people about life and about faith. I am going to be able to be there for them in their high times and low times. I thhink that is one of my favorite things about being in the position that I am going to be in and I thank God for that.

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Sitting here early this morning on Jackman’s ridge I feel at peace.  All of my worries and cares are not with me right now.  They are forgotten because of the wonderous beauty that lies in front of me.  I hope to come up here early many mornings.  B said that she was going to come up too.  If I had someone to share this with — to share your love with me that will make me happy.

I f things work out today I will be able to go and clean Arts and crats and then leave for a baseball game tonight.  I do hope everything is good!

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“It is not Circumstances that need altering first, but yourselves, and then the conditions will naturally alter.”  God Calling

I have been up since 4am this morning.  To my surprise I am not tired!  I am gald I have some quiet time before the day starts. I need to figure things out in my life.  J came the other day and I have not gotten a chance to catch up with her het. I need to do that.  I have not made an effort to catch up and I feel bad about that.

The more that people come up the wierd camp seems.  I just want my friends up here and everyone else can leave. I really don’t mean that but I like the quietness of camp.  I don’t think God leaves camp with over 200 staff but I can feel God’s presence more with fewer people.  I also am afraid that I will feel out of place once more people come. Since I was not on main camp I missed out on getting to know alot of people. This year I hope to make up for that.  I have already gotten to know E and she seems really cool.

I have been feeling stressed lately and my stomach is acting up.  I think I am going to try that medicine that my doctor gave me and see if that helps. I know I am going to get more and more stressed throughout the sumemr and I can’t have this happen.

I hope that I hear from people from school soon.  I would love to keep in touch with alot of people.  I have to make sure I write letters back. I have been bretty good so far.  I just need to keep it up.

I am going to get some breakfast and start my day out right.

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I have reached one of my goals this summer. I have written something in this journal every day.  My EE kids came today and I am already tired.  I will write about my first day later.  now I need my rest.

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