It’s one of the most important weeks for Camp Counselors…
After months of planning and waiting, the time has come, summer 2019 is finally here! Over the last month, hundreds of staff, old and new were welcomed home at Camp IHC to start their summer adventure.
Staff Orientation is such an important time for us, it’s the time to make friendships, step yourself outside your comfort zone, learn about camp and be 100% prepared before the campers arrive. We are ready, we’re so excited the the campers to arrive tomorrow!
Here’s some of our favorite highlights from Staff Orientation.
Group Leader’s Harry Potter Breakout
“Commancheeeeee! Where dwell the brave at heart!”
Introducing… The Wizards and Witches of IHC! In this magical event, the Camp IHC Sorting Hat (by which we mean a traffic cone) divided the Group Leaders into their divisions for the summer. The group leaders did a hilarious reenactment of this famous Harry Potter scene with had the whole camp laughing. Maybe we’ll have to add quidditch to camp this summer.
10 points to group leaders for this creative skit!
Camp Ice-Breakers
“Bob The Weasel, Keep It Going, Keep It Going!”
It isn’t Staff Orientation without some classic camp team building and ice breaker games. We acted like big kids again and played some of the classic games like Ninja, Splat, and Bob the Weasel. (The best games of course!)
We loved walking around camp and seeing sessions kicking off with the scream of, ‘3, 2, 1… NINJA!’
Wobble Dance
“Wobble baby, wobble baby, wobble baby, wobble”
Knowing the Wobble Dance is an essential at Camp IHC. When returners hear the beginning of this song, you know what’s coming next… everyone joins in and has some fun. We wobbled in the sports complex, we wobbled in the lodge, at the flagpole, in the pool. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
KKB
“Let me here that SPIRIT!”
KKB was one of the biggest events of staff orientation. We bring everyone, and we mean EVERYONE into the sports complex, from kitchen staff to OPT, for a series of whacky, wonderful challenges. The staff are split into colors and play against each other to win the champion title of KKB. It was pandemonium everywhere you looked! Conga lines, dance-offs, lip-syncing, cartwheels, juggling, skipping, burping the alphabet… the challenges go on and on! The spirit was amazing and after it was all said and done… Joey -the greatest showman — program, decided that everybody was a winner!
Secret shout-out to the pink team for bringing it!
The Connections Made
“One Camp, One Community, One Family”
One of the main reasons why so many of our staff return year after year is the friendships you make at camp. Over the last few weeks we’ve seen people really build connections and that’s what our community is all about. Strangers high five each other, people always say hello and it’s been amazing to see. Orientation brings people together and we all know that your camp friends will be your best friends for life.
Let’s Play Camp
“I believe that we will win!”
The sun came out to play and everyone had some fun! The courts were busy with the sound of bouncing, the pool was busy with the sound of splashing, the ropes course was busy with the sound of zipping, the arts & crafts center was busy with the sound of paint splatting. (We were making bunk signs for the campers). Camp was busy with the sound of shouting.
Time to fill it with hundreds more campers tomorrow!
The First Timers Trip to Walmart
“Everything is like super-sized!”
On our second day at camp, we visited the world famous Walmart. This might sound weird for any Americans reading this but it’s a built up experience for a lot of first time international staff! Americans love bragging about it, they will happily describe to any international staff member the size of the gatorade.
Shout out to everyone that came back with 2 new jumpers, a gigantic bottle of sunscreen, camp organizers, new hat, 24 pairs of fruit of the loom ankle socks, Haines underwear, a stars and stripes bum bag, spare pjs, a random hula hoop, 4th of July outfits, a funky beach towel, a Casio watch, soft toilet paper and a headlight…
Campfire
“Old Macdonald had a funny farm”
With so much going on during Orientation it can be hard to get everyone together on camp. The first campfire of summer 2019 as always, was beautiful. The campfire was kicked off by Alan singing his classic “Everywhere you go!”, the CIT counselors gave their traditional speech, Dave sang, camp sang, everyone danced.
Wacky Water Day
“Ready, steady… GO!”
Next up, Wacky Water Day. Divisions were split into colored teams, staff raced around camp trying to bag as many points as possible to win. They were faced with challenges like no other with counselors being asked to complete obstacle courses and smashing a big triathlon around the back of the boys side logs ending in the lake. There’s no better way to end Staff Orientation. Well done team!
