Tuesday, June 18, 2013

week 1

Week 1 2013

It was crazy week one.  New staff new campers and a rocking start.  The week started out long as usual.  Just trying to get the hang of things and find a rhythm.  After weeks of training the campers our new friends are finally here.

This week I had the luxury of going canoeing.  I dont get to go on many trips since I am the ropes director and spend most of my days on the ropes course.  My canoe crew definitely rocked the boat but we managed to paddle the whole lake without tipping.  My friend who came with; she was lovely.  Laughed and giggled and slept through some of it.  I guess the motion of the the boat and a nice paddle would make me sleepy too.  While we waited for the rest of the boats I splashed water with one of my friends in another boat.  It was great to see her smile.

Our friends who come to camp have varying abilities.  Communication is hard to do sometimes. Even if someone is non verbal a smile is contagious.  She smiled and I smiled we all smiled.  The trip was lovely and relaxing.

The van we road there stopped working.  Ive been around long enough to learn quite a bit about our vehicles at camp.  We use awesome busses that have lifts in them and one flip of a switch the whole thing wont work.  Since im alright with cars and stuff.  I know enough to fix the small things.  I hopped out of the boat to help with the van.  Turns out one of the bolts got unlatched and the lift buttons got unplugged.

Wednesday night we take our campers camping.    Unfortunately it rained, and rain, and rained some more.  So we had a movie night.  The unit leaders cooked us dinner and delivered the food to us so we didnt have to travel through the rain.

Every Thursday we have a dance.  Its a great way to end the week and one last hurrah before we send our campers home.  I have a friend who comes every year and all week she would give me crap for not being a girly girl.  She told me to stop living in the woods and move in with her and her grandma.  They were gonna turn me into a girly girl.  She is a lovely young lady and when I arrived to the dance she picked out a dress for me to wear and a crown.  I was crowned the prom queen.  For some reason the staff was shocked to see me in a dress and it was a photo frenzy.  Im not sure if they were more shocked i didnt have a hat on or the fact i was wearing a dress.  The night was a blast and we all said our good nights.
 

When does an angel get their wings?


When does an angel get their wings? It takes special people to work at easter seals wisconsin camps. Over the years I have witnessed numerous moments where what most say couldnt happen did happen.  Everyday something amazing happens here.  From the smallest achievements to the biggest.  My favorite place in the world is right here in this small tourist town.  Set off in the middle of the woods.  A place of no judgment and total freedom.  A place where I can be me.  

We laugh until we cry and we cry until we laugh knowing that what we do changes lives.  It may be the hardest job we will ever have in our life time but its the best job we will ever have.  

There are good days and there are bad days but were only human.  When friday comes we wave goodbye and get ready for the next group to come in. Its sad to see our friends go away but seeing the smile on our campers face makes it worth getting up everyday.