2014: Summer of Change

(I meant to post this a while back but never did, so here it is.)

 

The Rusch's have been a positive influence in my life for the last two years; they and the rest of the camp family helped me gain self-confidence, develop strong leadership skills, and feel like I truly belong. Their love, appreciation & acknowledgment of my budding strengths and individuality have been invaluable. They have given so much love, time, and devotion to making Camp Dudley a magical place that we all consider our second home. This summer will be a year of change, but who said change is bad?

Change is new, and camp is about trying new things, pushing our comfort zones, and growing because of it.

The camp staff has always had a gift for adapting, and this year we will come together as team and a camp family. I am so excited to be a part of a new, exciting chapter of Dudley history <3

Cabin Unity/Counselor Gift/Craft Idea

For this craft, buy a puzzle with relatively large pieces and paint it all white. Each camper will get to paint a piece to make a village (or camp wide) puzzle. It would make a great counselor gift, caring for campers award, or a great object lesson for chapel. (Talk about how every piece is an important part of the puzzle, just like every camper is important in the cabin.)

Craft Shack Clean-Up Idea!

I think this would be a fun, effective way to get campers involved with craft shack clean-up. Each ball will have a small, simple task like clean paint brushes, wipe a table, empty garbage, pick 20 beads up off the floor, etc.) and every camper can pick one ball from a bag.

XTreme Week- Paint Balloon Mural Competition

   

Admit it, you've wanted to do this since you watched Princess Diaries. Here's how it'll go down:

 

XTreme week 2014.

Village competition.

Cabin-colored paint balloons.

XTreme points.

 

Every camper will be given three chances to pop the paint balloons that are on a poster board with darts. They will try to hit their cabin color, but if they accidently shoot the wrong one, too bad!

After everyone has a chance to go, whichever XTreme color appears more on the piece of art will win XTreme points.

 

*Use a funnel to put one TBS of paint in each water balloon, then blow it up with lots of air (the more pressure, the more splattering fun!). Hang them to the poster board by string or with thumbtacks and lay a plastic tablecloth down to catch the extra paint.*

 

(Here's another way to fill the balloons with paint.)

 

Arts & Crafts- BIG & NEW -Craft Ball

I'm sure you've all played this game: everyone sits in a circle and races to rip prizes from the nearly-impossible-to-open packaging tape/saran wrap ball. (The way I've played it, you viciously try to rip it open while the person to your left rolls two dice and continues until rolling doubles, at which point you must pass the ball to the right and begin rolling the dice.)

What makes my idea different? Instead of putting candy and prizes in it, I will put a wide array of arts and crafts supplies in it (glue, bottle of glitter, paint brushes, crayons, friendship bracelet string, etc.) and when we're done, campers will only be able to use the arts & crafts supplies they opened (and their wild imaginations) to make crafts. (However, keep in mind that sharing is caring, and caring is cool, and caring is what Camp Dudley's about.) I also think it might be fun to change locations for this activity so the craft shack isn't immediately available. Maybe go down to the Leap of Faith by the lake? Oh the possibilities!