The re-cap. Just like on LOST

So because I normally am running out of time to update I tend to miss a few things. So I thought I would do a re-cap to let you know about any thing that I havn't yet covered.

Maybe I should start with an average camp day at camp....
Well I share a room with 2 other guys, we have our own bathroom. Which I am very thankfull of as there is only 2 showers for up to 40 people up stairs. Downstairs is the same but for more people (if our building is full, which has only happened one camp so far). Our building is seperate from the rest of camp, but to be fair its a very spread out venue. The difference is that the boys building is one big building, where as the girls have 5 or 6 smaller buildings that each have 10-14 people and 1 or 2 showers per building (I think).
So once I wake up (time will depend on schedule but somewhere between 7 and 7.40) I have an hour or so to get ready, and make sure my guys are getting ready to be at flag on time. Once there the flags (U.S and Salvation Army) are raised, a prayer is said for breakfast and we are dismissed group by group to the dinning hall. After which there may be a camp meeting in which we have worship. Then the kids go to a class or activity, I will either go with them or go to where ever I am scheduled. Following that it could be free time, which means campers can pick an activity thats open that they want to do. Which could be archery, pool, climing wall, high or low ropes course etc. I will either be assigned to help facilitate an activity or be able participate and have fun. Flag pole and lunch, then the cycle is repeated give or take. Some times there might be a camp wide activity etc. Dinner and usually (not nessecarily in this order) another activity/ class, worship service, free time, call to cabins, cabin devotions and lights out around 11. Which means if its a good camp I will go to bed shortly after if not I have previously been still up arround 12-1 waiting for every one to go to sleep. or at least quiet down.

Points of interest-
I really like seeing the wild life in the forrest, like squirels, chipmonks, deer, etc. Its just like Bambi. The deer here are comfortable enough to be grazing quite close to humans. We had 2 a week or so ago about 40-50 meters from my room window, unfortunately there is a hunting season in which you can hunt the deer. When I was at my friends dads house last weekend I heard a wood pecker which was quite cool, well maybe would have been had it not been 6am!
I also have seen turtles which were quite cool.

I've gained about 6kg back while being here , so I am going to try and loose that again.

And I dont really feel out of place here, as the outdoors life style is very similar to living in Rotorua or another area where there is lakes. Some times I forget I'm in the U.S. The only thing I occasionally notice is the lack of hills. When we were driving the other weekend I kept on thinking I would see the ocean or a big lake because of the lack of hills. I was assured that there was just plenty more of the same.

The weather is very much like home, I'm not sure what time it gets light but it doesn't really get dark untill about 10pm. This week we were playing soccer untill 9.45 which is pretty sweet.

thats all i can think of right now, but feel free to ask questions. If theres spelling errors, its because I'm out of time!

Im glad I have travel insurance....

This week was Ranger and Girl Guard Camp that just finished. (Ranger is the equivilent of Scouts) So far this was my favorite camp. The organiser had some great ideas (that I havn't seen before) and wasn't afraid to get involved with the fun. Weather it was shaving cream in her hair or being throwen in the pool fully clothed with cell phone by some people that had kidnapped and ransomed her dog! I should point out that the organiser took the role of "Camp Sheriff" and would arrest people for various things, the punishment was always fun and normally resulted in some form of challenge. To the point where it wasn't an uncommon question from a camper to ask 'Will I get a warrent tonight?'. The sheriff would usually do arrests after lights out (so about 11.30). One night 2 of my guys were issued with a warrent for 'being wimps' their punishment- To do a night zipline/ flying fox, which is pitch black!. The other time the other 2 of my guys and I were warrented (im not quite sure for what) but the punishment a midnight pontoon ride out to a spot on the lake for a midnight swim.
That was actually one of my favorite times of that camp, as after that we helped the Camp director escape from a pack of volunteers who he had double crossed. (they were going to get a group with water guns etc, but the director warned the first group who in turn ambushed the ambushers) We (the organiser 2 other staff and 4 campers) approached the ambushers in a van (we were obstructed by tinted windows) they thought they were being picked up in. Untill we piled out with water ballons and ambushed them. However due to their superior water guns we came out worse off.... Untill they decided to form a human chain in front of the camp gate, lets just say when I'm driving it dosen't pay to sit in front of a van. Heavy vechiles will always win. One person had to learn the hard way, although he walked away in the end.

But while were on the topic of vehicles and people, the other funny thing that happened on monday was that I ran out infront of a car. 1 second earlyer it i probably wouldn't be writing this now. Earlier in the day I had stressed to my crew the importance of being at the flag on time. However because I was at the pool prior to flag I thought I was going to be late. So when I saw 2 of my guys standing by the falg pole not knowing where to line up I started running and went a way that is slightly faster, but requires cutting through some trees and onto the camp road. Because of the trees you cant see to the left. So as i stepped out onto the road imagine my surprise when all of a sudden there is a van right there. So I slowed down as much as I could but still hit the side of the bonnet and rolled with the car. Once I regaind my composure I appologised to the driver who now has a small dent in the side panel of her van. She was happy that I was ok. And because of flag I had to leave, walking away with a slight grase on my elbow and a brused shoulder. Im starting to wonder if that is how my life will end, because thats the second time in 3 months that I've almost been seriously injured by a car! - Im glad I have travel insurance!
Once there i found out that 2 of my guys saw it and thought it was hillarious. So I stressed that even though I was hit by a car I still wasn't late to flag!!!

4th of July Celebrations

Music camp and kids camp are now done and dusted. And what a difference in kids!, for the music camp my crew was mid teens and for the kids they were either 10 or 11.

Prior to music camp I was talking to another staff member about weather or not I would prefere young kids or older kids. Well after having both now I have to say that I definatly prefere the older groups they are definately less needy. The younger kids constantly felt the need to bring everything to my attention even the things that I have no control over, like "I lost my shoe"....

The one thing I didn't like about kids camp is how one of the guys decided it would be a good idea to pee in the trash can. I couldn't work out why the room smelled and thought one of the kids had wet the bed, however when I went to empty the trash can I found out the truth the hard way. I was sooooo annoyed. Older campers definately dont have those kind of issues..

During music camp we had a massive storm which was so exciting, because there was a tornado warning. The thunder here is insane, it was s cool untill the power cut. Which at first was fun but when I found out that with out power there was no water (because it turns out water pumps need power) and with no water there were no flushing toilets. The novelty soon wore off especially with over 200 people on site. It wasn't untill the next day that the power was back on and we were back to normal.

Also I should mention - on an unrelated note- that from my room to the dining hall its a good 4 minute walk. So hopefully that might give you an indication of how big camp is.

Yesterday was the 4th of July, because we had a 3 day weekend I went with a friend to his dads house a little further north. Because we (his dad) had an invitation to a party. But for me the conection was...my friends dads girlfriends sons wifes parents (truth not cliched) were the host of the party. And what a party, this guys house was massive. He had an attached gagrage just for his rock star/tour bus on one side of the house and a 4 car garage on the other side. Which had a Dodge Viper parked in one of the spots. Apparently he invited 250 people but there definatlely wern't that many people at any one time. And no one knows how many people came between 2 and 10 that it was going for. He had to inflateable attractions, a normal buncey castle and a slide. Not to mention the slushy machines and a cotton cany machine. Along with the generous amount of dinner at 7.30 20 pizzas turned up! And who knows how much soda and alcohol there was. But the pinacle of the party was the 25 minute long fire works display. Which now I'm dissapointed I didn't take my camera, because with a full moon behind the fire works there would have been some majic shots!

But now I am back at camp ready to face another bunch of campers tomorrow, but for now once agian it is kurfew time so I had better go.

Love to all, and all to love. (it that Brian Adam?