The Official Guide to Being Nature Counselor (and Loving It!)

The campers are coming! The campers are coming!

Welcome to CYO Camp, new counselors! I am so excited to see what magical experiences come to you all as you start your journey. I will be joining you in July after I finish my summer classes, and I can not wait to meet everyone!

I wanted to type up a little something (a guide, kind of), specifically on being Nature Area counselor, how to love it, and how to make the kiddos love it too. I loved every day I spent at camp last summer, but something about being the Nature Guru was one of my favorites.

Yep, those are antlers. Oh yeah. 

So, if it's your first time at Nature Area, you may be a little nervous, and I know I was. So let's get to some activities and tips you might love to use during your time as Neeeture Counselor:

Activities

For All Groups

1. "ORT Goals/ Worm Bin" 

This is one that I did with every group, despite gender or age. You know that ORT and compost are a major part of camp, but you'll also find that a lot of campers don't completely understand the "why" behind it. Why is ORT bad? Why is compost good? How does awareness of both make us Stewards of the Earth? 

• So with this activity, I first set out a red and a green bucket on the floor of the Nature Center. I let the campers come in and sit in a circle around the buckets. This is a good time for introductions and maybe some nature-related puns. (You have to be silly, because the campers aren't always so pumped at first when they arrive)

• Next I ask if anyone can explain why we collect ORT and compost. What are some things we eat that would go in the red bucket? And the green? Where does ORT go after we throw it away? What does CYO camp do with the compost? I'll then explain to them what landfills are, and why putting less in them makes us Stewards of the Earth.

• Then I take out a piece of paper, and write down their group name and number on it. I say "Are you guys ready for the ULTIMATE CHALLENGE?" (You know, be dramatic. They laugh). Then say you think that this week at camp is going to have the least amount of ORT EVER RECORDED IN THE HISTORY OF CYO CAMP, but only with their help! You have them talk about how much ORT they have had on average at meals, and how they can have less. 

• Now we ask them to make a goal. Example: "today at lunch your group will have half as much ORT as usual, and at dinner we will have NO Ort." Let them decide what meal will be easiest to have No ORT.  Then write down their goal on the paper and have the counselor keep it. The kids will love announcing at meals that they reached their ORT goal. 

Now, this activity actually works. We really did see a big decrease in ORT when we had the campers start setting goals. So go for it! They all enjoy it. Make sure you give the campers a chance to play with the worms in the worm bin after explaining to them what compost is and why the worms like it. This is a huge highlight for them. 

2. "Nature Hike/ Un-Nature Hike"

Every group I did this with loved it, especially if it was a beautiful day outside. First I'll explain the Nature Hike:

• First have the campers make a little journal out of a paper bag and ribbon, or paper, or whatever supplies you have handy:

• Then have them write their name and group number on the front, and decorate it however they like.
• Next, explain what kind of wildlife and nature we have at CYO camp. Maybe tell them a story about a time you saw a fox or caught lightening bugs at camp. 
• Now, we take them on a walk to the Darn and back, from the Nature Center. Let them stop along the way and draw things they find (a turtle, a bird, a pretty wildflower). Let them take their time exploring and finding. 
• I always make sure to show the kids the bird boxes along the way, and stop at the Raptor Box before the Darn. Explain to them what birds of prey are. The boys love that part.
• Once we get to the Darn, I let them stay for a while, drawing what they find in the area and just mostly enjoying the sunshine. 
• Then we walk back and I tell a riddle or some puns on the way, and that's it!

Now, the un-nature hike. This one is fun too, but a little different:

• Before the group arrives, set up a bunch of trash and things you don't find in nature between the Nature Center and the Darn. When they get there, talk about things you would and wouldn't find in nature. Have them explain. Then explain to the kiddos that you're going for a walk, 
• Along the way to the Darn, ask them if they see anything that we talked about that doesn't belong in nature. Have them collect it and give it to you (you can carry a bag). 
• There are ways to vary this and make it exciting. Have them get into pairs and reward cool points to the pairs as they turn in trash. Be creative! 

Again, all ages and genders really like these activities, because they get to go on a walk to the Darn and back, and it's fun to just be outside. 

For Girls Ages 11-15

1. "pop tab bracelet" 

You will need help from your Area Manager getting supplies for this one, but if you can get the supplies, it's worth it. 

• If you can learn how to make these (they are super easy. You can find a tutorial on YouTube to learn before teaching it), it is so much fun. Girls love this, and it makes a great "sustainability" lesson. Teach them about what it means to "re-use" something, and how it makes them "Stewards of the Earth"

2. "Magazine bracelets"

This one is usually made with Starburst wrappers, but at camp you would have to just cut a bunch of magazine pieces up for this activity. Again, totally worth it!

• Same thing, just teach sustainability with this one. Why is it important to reuse wrappers or magazine paper? :)
• You should pre-cut the paper, to save time.

3. "The River Runs Through"

There are instructions for this one in the Nature binder at camp, but I'll explain how I did it a little differently. 

• Have each girl draw a river on a paper bag. Her river can be anywhere. A city, a backyard, CYO camp, an imaginary place, whatever she likes. 
• Then connect all the rivers on the ground or picnic tables, and make it into one long river. Point at each river and say "who drew this one? Can you tell us about it? Where is it?" 
• Then ask "what kind of waste do you think might get into your river?" 
• As you go down the line, tell it like a story. "The waste from this river accidentally flowed into this backyard river, etc." Show how waste from one person's picture travels all the way down the whole connected river.
• Then I like to take out all the trash and have the kids guess how long it takes each item to decompose. They will be so surprised! 

Boys Groups 

Okay, this is the toughie. Boys have the hardest time at nature. But it IS possible for them to have a blast.

•  I like to start boys out with a run-around game like Sedimentary Blob. Let them get some energy out from the start.
• Boys also really enjoy nature hikes to the Darn. 
• The "Bat" activity and run-around game is always fun for boys. 
• Whatever you do, don't make them sit still for too long!
• Worms are a hit. Always. 
• The "mining for chocolate" activity in the binder is really fun, but warning: ONLY the more "tame" groups can handle it. If you have a really rambunctious group, they won't play the cookie game right, they'll just eat the cookies. Oops. 

Okay, I think I've hit on all the major fun activities for Nature! Here are some closing tips:

1. If a camper brings you a bug, or a turtle, or any kind of wildlife, be gracious! Make a little habitat for it in the nature center, and keep it there for a little while before setting it free. Campers love to feel appreciated, and you should always encourage them if they are being excited about nature and wildlife.
2. Don't let the campers hurt your feelings. Sometimes they will say "I HATE NATURE AREA!" and this isn't your fault! Just do your best to make it as fun as possible, but remember that you aren't Horses or High Ropes. The kids can be a little honest sometimes. 
3. Whatever you do, make sure when you are recording the ORT on the dry-erase board, that you are using Dry-Erase markers....Don't get in a hurry and use a sharpie on accident....Oops. Haha..

Well that's just about everything I wanted to say! Best of luck to all of you counselors out there, returning AND new! I can't wait to join you in July!

Love Always,

 Hannah Banana

The "Act of Kindness Project"--Who Could You Become?

A new question is at hand: What could you become by implementing random kindness into your life?

I have decided to attempt a project. This project is widely known, but rarely seen, and so I have decided to try the project and show you what could happen.

The project works in three easy steps:

1. Pick one person every day. Pick anyone you want. It could be a friend or a stranger or a mentor. When you are ready, you may even choose an enemy.

2. Take five minutes to ponder that person. What do they like? Dislike? What is going on in their life that you are particularly aware of?

(If you choose a stranger, think of that person as being a version of yourself. What would YOU like or dislike?)

3.Pick a random act of kindness to give to them at some point in that day, relating to what you thought about in number two. 

Rule: It must be implemented THAT DAY. One person=one act of kindness. Each day is a new person and new act. 

Why do this?

Being a camp counselor taught me that the secret to joy in this life is putting others before yourself. In this life, what you receive from others mirrors exactly what you give of yourself. So, how much growth could happen to one person's joy if they allowed themselves to give randomly to a new person every single day? Hmm...:)

Remember: This is not about bragging rights.

This isn't something you talk about. Okay, I might be talking about it but I'm speaking of it strictly for blogging purposes. 

But this isn't about saying "Oh yeah, I totally payed for your coffee today" or "I'm gonna do the dishes now because I'm trying to be nicer". 

We're not trying to get attention or glory. We are trying to experiment on how being kind to others makes us feel about ourselves. 

"Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy."

I will keep you updated on my experience with this project. <3

Get out there and try!

Love always, Hannah

Why Changing Your Major Is Actually Something to Brag About

Okay...I have an announcement (cue summer camp announcement song).

For those of you I know in person, please don't kill me for not telling you this already. It was a big BIG change and I wanted to be sure it was the right decision before I made it official.

Well I'm making it official. Officially official. Blog-ficial.

*drum roll*

I have changed my major to Pre-Nursing, and am only a couple semesters away from applying for the (official) College of Nursing.

Yeah, okay, obviously this is a huge shift from Elementary Education but that's what I am about to explain so... Read on!

Here's the thing about picking a major in high school: It's actually, typically a blind shot in the dark. 

Around the 10th grade, I started telling myself I would never make it in the medical field (even though that's been my dream for as long as I can remember).

I started believing the classes would be too hard, and that I wasn't smart enough to get through it (I know, right, can you say "pity party"?)

So I chose a major I was completely comfortable with. I knew I had it in me to be an excellent elementary teacher someday. (And I still believe that a teacher is one of the best things a person can become.)

But then I actually GOT to college, and realized that hard classes are nothing more than hard classes. You study, you push, you cry a little, and then there it is. A beautiful, glimmering A in the class. The math...the science...it's all just a challenge, but not a reason to settle.

So I started thinking:

Why am I letting a few classes stand between me and what I really want in life?

What I REALLY want is to become a nurse. It's my dream.. And the moment I realized that I have been selling myself short out of fear, I made the appointment to meet the Nursing adviser right away.

And I'm proud for changing my major. Why? Because...

Changing Your Major is Something To Brag About!

It may seem embarrassing to change your major. You may feel like people will judge you for "not having your life together" 

NEWS FLASH: no one really has their life together in college. 

It is so much worse to settle for a life path that you hate just because you feel like it's too late to change your major. Change it now while you are still in college. Change it now while you still have the choice to dream big. 

Be proud. No one is going to judge you when you are happy in your career (even if it took a little longer to get through college). 

My mom used to tell me something when I was a little girl. Maybe I forgot it a little along the way, but I sure remember it now:

"Dream big, and God will dream bigger."

God walks before us ALWAYS. He blazes the trail. I am not afraid...in fact I've never been so sure of anything in my life. 

Good luck to anyone who is ready to change their major. Do it and BRAG about it.

You got this. 

Love Always, Hannah <3

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From the Journal of a Camp Counselor

I'm back, everyone!

As some of you may know, I spent the past nine weeks at CYO Camp Rancho Framasa in Brown County, IN (please look it up because it is basically the best place on Earth), working as a camp counselor for the whole summer.

...I am practically spilling over with songs, riddles, jokes and stories to share with everyone! (Thank God for blogging, right?)

I learned more in my summer as a counselor than I'm sure I've learned anywhere else in my life. ..

(I now know how to make a connection with someone based off of only their shirt.
I now know how to soothe three girls that are very homesick at one time in the middle of the night.
I now know how to build a heck of a fire, rain OR shine.
I now know the difference between a One Cup of Coffee kind of day, and a most-definite Two Cup kind of day..)

(And of course, the more tired you feel, the bigger you smile.)

I learned that children are profound and create some of the most beautiful thoughts without even trying.
I learned that kids love, need, and thrive on purpose and feeling important.


Of course I could write pages and pages on what I learned, but I wanted to share with you one of my journal entries, because being a counselor was beautiful in an unconventional, raw kind of way...in a way I don't know how to share other than in writing from the exact place and time. (Journaling is like time travel...)

So here is an entry from one of the best moments of the summer...

"Today was a major turn around (FINALLY! I knew God could turn even this week around..) The rain actually stopped (again...finally) and I even got to take all the girls' wet, muddy socks to the health center to be washed and dried. You would be surprised how a pair of dry socks could change the morale around here. I'm so tired, honestly. I stayed up pretty late with (a camper) because, even though her homesickness IS amazingly better today, she woke me up crying last night. We talked for a longgg while and she is seriously so smart. This girl is inspiring to me. I mean how many 10 year old's can name ANY Greek god and also tell, in detail, the story behind that god? Not to mention her extensive knowledge of the Harry Potter series...Love it! But what made today amazing wasn't just the lessening of the rain or the dry socks. It was this...moment I had. We were walking out of the stables from horseback riding and I was asking (the camper that is homesick) if horseback riding was her favorite activity this week (since she loves horses) and what she said next changed my entire day.

"I liked my horse a lot. But my favorite thing about camp is my new friends. I've never made friends at camp before. I didn't think I could."

THAT is why I am a camp counselor. Because at the end of the day, this girl now believes she can make friends...something she never thought she could do. Knowing that I played a hand in getting these girls to connect...it's something I'll never EVER forget. I better (finally) get some sleep. Goodnight!"

It was one of my favorite moments. I hope that I can carry the skills I learned at camp with me for the rest of my life.

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