Hello Troops,
This is the last night of the first Ultimate Camp of the Summer Season. I came to work Wednesday morning and look forward to leaving Wonderland and the Imaginarium tomorrow late afternoon.
I'm rethinking my exit strategy. Perhaps I'll leave thirty minutes earlier than I normally do to avoid the rush of Imaginarium employees getting off work when we finish a camp. The crowds on the Wonderland Platform were unmanageable last week. I think I'll avoid the unpleasantness by getting away early and catching the mid afternoon express.
I couldn't take the campers swimming yesterday because of gail- force winds and dropping temperatures. White caps were seen on the surface of the swimming pool. No swimming means stinky kids, and that is a problem in close sleeping quarters.
I solved our stinky problem today by organizing a showering expedition for our four day campers at the Pleasant Grove pool. The pool's manager agreed to let our campers use their showers at no charge. What choice did he have? I threatened a sit in in the pool's lobby if my demands were not met. I told him to imagine thirty stinky kids chanting anti administration slogans and preventing anyone from entering the pool. He gulped with understanding.
We left the school for the pool at 3:20 P.M. after our EdVentures Campers went home We got back from showering, shaving and deorderizing at 4:00 P.M. Our clean campers were ready for their next 2.5 hour mission and then their last rotation with the Overnight Campers.
Time for bed.
Mr. W.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June's Surprises
Hello Troops,
They say we are in the midst of global warming? If our weather is any indication that our planet is heating up then the scientists are sorely mistaken. The strong northerly winds and dropping temperatures forced me to cancel our camp swimming at the outdoor Pleasant Grove Swimming Pool this evening. That's two weeks in a row cool temperatures forced a change in plans. Last week I had enough warning to arrange a bus and organize a trip to the indoor Orem Rec. Center. This week I relied on the weather report saying it would be 75 degrees today. I don't recall reading about strong winds and the early arrival of a cold front. And that is what I get for rely on the weather forecast and not my own gut instinct. My gut told me to arrange a bus just in case - but I ignored it. My gut told me to call Orem Rec. and make arrangements - but I ignored it.
Other plans had to be imagined and implemented. Thankfully Megan Warner and Jon Parker were on hand, along with other great staff and volunteers, to take the burden off my shoulders. They organized outdoor and indoor games to fill the time void created by canceling our swimming. It went perfectly. Megan has some of the kids outside playing a game she learned while serving an LDS mission to South Korea. Jon had the rest in them in the gym playing dodgeball and similar games.
Our schedule returned to normal after the games. The campers retired to the cafeteria for videos. Now they are tucked into their beds and drifting off to Dreamland.
There are two more days of camps. I get to go home Saturday night. I'm hoping for no more surprises. I long for routine, blessed routine.
Simply,
Mr. Williamson
They say we are in the midst of global warming? If our weather is any indication that our planet is heating up then the scientists are sorely mistaken. The strong northerly winds and dropping temperatures forced me to cancel our camp swimming at the outdoor Pleasant Grove Swimming Pool this evening. That's two weeks in a row cool temperatures forced a change in plans. Last week I had enough warning to arrange a bus and organize a trip to the indoor Orem Rec. Center. This week I relied on the weather report saying it would be 75 degrees today. I don't recall reading about strong winds and the early arrival of a cold front. And that is what I get for rely on the weather forecast and not my own gut instinct. My gut told me to arrange a bus just in case - but I ignored it. My gut told me to call Orem Rec. and make arrangements - but I ignored it.
Other plans had to be imagined and implemented. Thankfully Megan Warner and Jon Parker were on hand, along with other great staff and volunteers, to take the burden off my shoulders. They organized outdoor and indoor games to fill the time void created by canceling our swimming. It went perfectly. Megan has some of the kids outside playing a game she learned while serving an LDS mission to South Korea. Jon had the rest in them in the gym playing dodgeball and similar games.
Our schedule returned to normal after the games. The campers retired to the cafeteria for videos. Now they are tucked into their beds and drifting off to Dreamland.
There are two more days of camps. I get to go home Saturday night. I'm hoping for no more surprises. I long for routine, blessed routine.
Simply,
Mr. Williamson
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Settling Down for the Night
Hello Troops,
It's 12:03 A.M.
Midnight was the start of the second day of our EdVenture and Ultimate Camp. The campers arrived at 7:00 P.M. The EdVenture Campers go home Friday afternoon. The Ultimate Campers go home Saturday morning.
We've spent the last hour working with a young camper struggling with home sickness and a fear of aliens. His mother says he was fine with sci fi and aliens until he and his younger brother watched the movie Signs ten days ago. Since then he's had nightmares and has developed a fear of space and aliens.
He started crying before the first rotation started. I talked him into staying and let him watch the Magellan mission from the Control Room. I knew our real struggle would come at bedtime.
I've got to hand it to the boy. He is a real trooper. He called his mother and consented to stay one night. He starts to cry then pulls himself out of it and settles down. He has never slept away from family before so this is a big step for a ten year old.
Right now I've got him settled on the Voyager Bridge. Jon and Adam will keep an eye on him. If there are problem they'll come and get me.
We've got a great bunch of excited campers this week. I'm expecting great things.
The one drawback to our camp and this weekend's private missions will be Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days. This camp ends at 10:00 A.M. Saturday which is the same time the parade will be moving through town. The streets around the school will be closed. Our camper's families will have a tough time finding their way to the school to pick up their kids. I'm expected many frustrated phone calls.
Time for bed.
Mr. W.
It's 12:03 A.M.
Midnight was the start of the second day of our EdVenture and Ultimate Camp. The campers arrived at 7:00 P.M. The EdVenture Campers go home Friday afternoon. The Ultimate Campers go home Saturday morning.
We've spent the last hour working with a young camper struggling with home sickness and a fear of aliens. His mother says he was fine with sci fi and aliens until he and his younger brother watched the movie Signs ten days ago. Since then he's had nightmares and has developed a fear of space and aliens.
He started crying before the first rotation started. I talked him into staying and let him watch the Magellan mission from the Control Room. I knew our real struggle would come at bedtime.
I've got to hand it to the boy. He is a real trooper. He called his mother and consented to stay one night. He starts to cry then pulls himself out of it and settles down. He has never slept away from family before so this is a big step for a ten year old.
Right now I've got him settled on the Voyager Bridge. Jon and Adam will keep an eye on him. If there are problem they'll come and get me.
We've got a great bunch of excited campers this week. I'm expecting great things.
The one drawback to our camp and this weekend's private missions will be Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days. This camp ends at 10:00 A.M. Saturday which is the same time the parade will be moving through town. The streets around the school will be closed. Our camper's families will have a tough time finding their way to the school to pick up their kids. I'm expected many frustrated phone calls.
Time for bed.
Mr. W.
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