Camp started at 8:02 sharp! This camp we had a focus on the Junior Branch (JB) group (14+ year olds) into running as much of the camp as possible. This started with JBs running introduction name games starting with a game to string along names together to remember each name & another staple camp game called Bang! You have to say someone’s name before the other person says your name. You really have to learn the names quickly to stay in the game.
This camp we tried laminated placemats so a reminder of camp could be taken home. Ask about these and stick it on your fridge! The parent helpers joined in with the group’s lullabies and then the Junior group (9-12 year olds) went to bed and the Junior Junior Group (JJB – 13 year olds) and JBs went on to do another night activity.
None of the juniors who went to bed talked after lights out, honest!
Saturday dawned cool. The early risers started with a conversation on the deck about ducks & then we moved on to a fast game of indoor soccer (with Hamish’s great kicks) before waking everyone else up for breakfast. It’s surprising how noisy they were willing to be to wake up the rest of the camp.
Morning activity 1 started with running games. Heba’s running games (who planned an activity even though she wasn’t there!). There was a game where everyone circles a large bucket holding hands. The aim of the game is to get others to touch the bucket and not touch it yourself. If anyone touches the bucket or let go, they are out. Lots of pushing, pulling and challenge. Clair was the real champ. Great game!
Then Human Tic Tac Toe. A fast game of listening, speed and action! Fast & furious actions and laughs and spills.
For activity 2, The JB, JJB and younger CISVers were all together for activity two! Hamish and Fritz started us off with the famous gasoline energiser!
The focus of activity two was to learn a bit about Te Ao (the world of) Māori. We got into groups and brainstormed what we know about this year’s CISV theme – sustainability. We learnt about how sustainability is also about sustaining cultures, which led us to our next activity of learning about pepeha (a way of introducing yourself in Māori). We worked on our own pepeha which was quite challenging and interesting.
After this, the younger group worked together to help make a korowai cloak. We learnt a little about the history and use of korowai, then decorated paper feathers with what we value in CISV and started making the cloak together.
If there are any Māori whānau in our community who want to korero about this activity please get in touch. Feedback is most welcome.
Lunch was bread rolls with salad and egg, tuna or ham. With cheese. And lots of noisy conversation!
Activity 3 the JJB & JB went off to an activity and the junior group were divided into groups. Each group had 3 cups and a large bucket. The group had to complete challenges and the prize for each completed challenge was a cup of water. Their challenge was to get the most water to fill your bucket. Unfortunately lots of water was spilled during the game and was wasted. We had a conversation about this, how we could make the most use of water and how could we not waste it. Slow down, don’t fill your cup to the brim and so waste it, share more and case more. And be really careful when you are pouring!
At afternoon time, instructions were given for the Juniors and JJB to put on clothes that they could get wet in. We then played a game where team work really helps but mostly you just get wet. The game involves 1 team as catchers in a field and the others as runners. The runners get a cup of water and wait on the edge of the field. The leader (who isn’t supposed to get wet!) then says something like, “everyone with black shoes”, and then everyone with black shoes runs. If the runner is tagged by a catcher they do paper, scissors, rock (runner wins ties). If the runner wins, they keep going to the other side of the field and put their cup full of water into a bucket at the other end of the field. If they lose paper, scissors, rock, the catcher takes the cup full of water, and tips it on the runner’s head. After a few rounds, we swapped over and the catchers became the runners. And just to be clear, the leader wasn’t supposed to get wet!!!
After this activity we had free time and showers. This camp we had 3 main activities during free time; Tracey on the confidence course, Jess making flowers out of flax (beautiful roses) and David found the water slide. Water, bubbles and a mattress to slide down on. Even David had a go down the slide (even if involuntarily). Also this was the time for a warm shower too. After 2 wet activities, this was really needed.
Dinner was honey soy chicken and pasta, and pavlova, ice cream and fruit salad for dessert.
The JB organised skits this camp (as they usually do). The camp was split into groups and each group was given an environmental challenge, a famous person and an item. There was acid water, zombie apocalypse (poor baby!), radioactive waves & giant bugs, and food not growing. Some were funny, some were scary, but all were good.
Supper, lullabies and bed for the juniors and JJB and time to reflect on camp so far for the leaders. The JB went off for their own night activity.
Sunday started cool and even a bit wet, but this cleared up and after more soccer and wake up noise we got down to breakfast and then camp clean up. The JBs then ran an activity where everyone was split into 8 groups and every group had to make a challenge and then, after morning tea, all the groups rotated though the challenges. Rebekah said, “it was good as you got to experience lots of different things” like, guessing a song with only been told 1 phrase/line for it, or passing 1 person along the whole group without moving your feet.
Finally it was time to say goodbye for another camp. Phone numbers were exchanged between new friends and promises of see you next camp could be heard.
Thanks so much for entrusting your kids to us leaders and to the JBs for leading so well this camp. Thanks to all the parent helpers, we really couldn’t do camp without you all!
Thank you
The Leaders
(Jess, Carol, Tracey, Noah, David)
CISV New Zealand 