Another Midnight Post from the Trenches.

Hello Troops,

It's 11:56 P.M. Bracken is leaving after spending some time talking to the boys in the loft. I'm at my desk once again writing this post to our faithful readers. We are in the thick of the summer's fifth, one night Overnight Camp. Tonight we have 42 campers with us (12 girls and 30 boys). The girls are sleeping in a classroom on the other side of the school.

Bracken just asked if I was doing another late night post. "Why don't you get just three hours of sleep," he said while gathering up his things and walking out the Briefing Room door. It was nice of him to comment on the continuation of the "Enemy From the Dark" story. He has an issue with being written as the Master of the Obvious.

"I'm tossing you a bone," I said in so many words without actually saying it that way.

The school's front door just latched shut. He's gone and I'm left with the light from my desk lamp and the computer screen. The loft is creaking again. I don't like to sleep boys in the loft because of the creaking of the platform they sleep on. Every time they move I hear the sound. Tonight we had no choice with 30 boys. We are wall to wall bodies. It would be nice to have a few more girls on the camp to even out the numbers. Mind you, Lorrine is perfectly happy to have fewer girls to tend on her end of the school.

Tonight we have Emily telling "Canada" in the Voyager; Rachel telling "No More Secrets" in the Galileo; Adam telling "Can't Remember" in the Odyssey; Bracken telling "Murphy's Law" in the Phoenix; and Brittney telling "The Guardian" in the Magellan.

One of the boys has climbed down the ladder from the Loft. "I've got to go to the bathroom," he said.

"We had our last bathroom break thirty minutes ago," I reminded him. I don't know why I took the time to say that. It was a waste of his time listening, and my time stating what he already knew. Reminding him that we had a bathroom break thirty minutes ago won't change the fact that he has to go to the bathroom right now. So.... saying "We had our last bathroom break thirty minutes ago," was just my way of saying "I'm annoyed that you're asking to go to the bathroom now after I gave everyone a bathroom break thirty minutes ago!"

"Go," I said.

He's back. He and his friends are making strange animal noises from the loft. I'm getting annoyed.

"Who ever I sleep in the loft has to be tired and ready to go straight to sleep," I said to the boys as I parceled them out to the sleeping areas earlier.

"We want the loft," one of the boys said.

"You're tired and ready to go straight to sleep?" I asked. He nodded his head. I took them at their word. I may live to regret that decision before this night is through.

I'm going to talk to them. They're getting louder. Time to get out my 'I'm not a happy camper' mannerisms and talk sternly using just enough threat to get them to cooperate without forcing me to move one of them to the staff sleeping area. I'll bid all of you a very goodnight. I'll go deal with hyper boys and an upset stomach.

Mr. Williamson

And So Ends Another Day.....

Hello Troops,

It's 11:24 P.M. on the second night of our fifth EdVenture Camp. Its all quiet on the Voyager. Once again, just the sound of the air conditioner. I think the crew must be downstairs with Jon and Zac listening to camp stories.

I've got five of the younger campers in the Odyssey to my left and staff in the Phoenix behind me. They tolerate the light from my lamp. The younglings in the Odyssey are talking, or I should say - one of them seems to be doing all the talking and the others insert a word here and there when he stops to breath. I'm hoping I'll be spare the constant interruption suffered last night. I've structured the camp in such a way the campers should be completely exhausted by now and should sleep soundly so we can all do the same. The kids were kept busy from 7:15 A.M. until 11:10 P.M. with missions, classes, eating, playing, swimming and a video.

I'm trusting the Sandman will not pass Central School as he does his rounds through Pleasant Grove tonight.

Nothing eventful to report, except to say my stock of Trafalgar Ludicrous Passes crew today after negotiating a trade of passes for missions with the management of Trafalgar and 7 Peaks. I picked up the passes this afternoon at 7 Peaks Resort. Volunteers and staff can redeem points from their volunteer cards for these passes. If interested, let me know.

It was cold at the pool this evening. The temperatures dipped into the low 70's accompanied by a moderate wind. We had the pool until 9:15 P.M. but most of the campers were out of the water by 9:00 P.M. I told the manager on duty to blow the whistle. We exited almost ten minutes early. It was all good, that gave us more time for bed.

One of the boys is telling a joke.

"Do you guys what to hear a joke?" he said. "Woman's Rights!"

There was polite laughter. I wonder where that boy got that joke? OK they're off on a joke telling bonanza.

I'm going to bed. The Sandman is here.

Its Pleasant Dreams in Pleasant Grove,

Mr. W.

Yet Another Late Night Post.......

Hello Troops,

Another late night post. It seems like these 11:32 P.M. posts are the best I can do this summer.

I just returned from the school's roof. After spending four camps freezing to death on the floor in front of my desk (the room's air conditioner is set to 68 degrees to ensure the Phoenix and Odyssey are properly cooled) I decided to climb the ladder in the custodian's closet to access the roof and manually switch off the air conditioner. You're wondering why I don't use the thermostat? The thermostat was disconnected when the air conditioner was put on the net and controlled from the District Maintenance Office.

Last week's camp made all the difference. I got five hour sleep and the room stayed at 70 degrees the whole night. What really made the difference was the lack of moving air. A wind always makes things colder and that rooftop unit was built to move air!

There are so many boys on this camp I'm forced to sleep five in the Odyssey. They are all going into the 5th grade this year and get along well. It's a good thing to make new friends at camp. The only drawback to making new friends is all the extra talking late at night that a new friendship produces. After all, these boys have ten years of stories to tell each other as they find their place in their new Space Center Tribe. I can hear at least three of them right now through the closed door. I'll tell them to whisper when I go to bed.

The staff are a bit spread out as well. Three of them are sleeping in the Phoenix near me and the others are in Discovery.

This is our fifth EdVenture Camp. We've two more to go and one Leadership Camp and the season will draw to a close. Over all its been a good summer and I continue to hope for the blessing of routine and uneventfulness (if there is such a word). That is a camp director's dream - a camp with .....

I was just interrupted by one of the Odyssey boys needing to use the restroom. You give them all a chance to use the restroom before going to bed and discover later that some didn't take the opportunity when offered and instead choose to go one hour later. My experience tells me that some of the younger boys are a bit embarrassed to go to the bathroom when the bathroom is crowded with other boys. They wait until the room is empty and then ask. All is OK.

He just returned. "I got lost coming back," he said.

"I'm glad you found the way. If you were any later I'd have to send out the Mounties," I replied. He didn't get it. Again, All is OK.

Funny, One boy is talking about a dream he had about the Space Center. "Last night I had a dream that they put me in the wrong age group for the simulations." He didn't get a response. I think the other boys are fast asleep because he's not finishing the story.

Everyone is settled for the night. It's 11:50 P.M. and my eyes are trying to convince me to let them sleep.

Goodnight Troops. Remember us as you lay in your nice comfy beds, enjoying the peace of quiet of your home tucked away in some quiet neighborhood. Wouldn't you rather be here, surrounded by 44 kids and a staff of 25?

I've got 57 people I'm responsible for right now. No wonder I can't sleep some nights. I lay on my pad and listen for the slightest sound of someone attempting an escape from the simulator. I'm paranoid. It comes with the job, believe me.

Simply,

Mr. Williamson

P.S. Update

It is 9:54 A.M. It was a restless sleep last night. The young man that asked to use the restroom wasn't finished with me. He woke me up three more times to use the restroom after I'd gone to bed. Later he woke me up again asking for the Happy Bucket (used for vomit). Later still he woke me up again asking to go to the gym to get his book. He was having a hard time falling asleep. The first thing he said when he met me in the gym before the breakfast call was, "I didn't get any sleep at all last night. I was too excited!"

"You and me both," I replied.

So, I'm working on a few hours of sleep today so...... I guess that's it. It's all in a Day's Work at the Space Center.