Special days to remember: sports and arts events.Campers love horseback riding horseback riding: see equestrianism. , waterskiing, sailing, and archery archery, sport of shooting with bow and arrow, an important military and hunting skill before the introduction of gunpowder. England's Charles II fostered archery as sport, establishing in 1673 the world's oldest continuous archery tournament, the Ancient Scorton . But after several days, they can become bored with even those activities. To help break up your regular program, schedule some special days or afternoons. Special events don't need elaborate props, tools, or costumes. With the proper planning, you can create a day that campers will remember. A successful special event includes three key elements: * Staff participation. If staff play an active role in planning the event and are given a choice as to what they would like to do, they are much more likely to be emotionally and physically involved. The event will then run more smoothly. Also, staff will often vary the game slightly and come up with something even better! * Clear instructions for the event and a couple of days of advance notice for all staff members involved. Make sure staff members know what their role will be and that they have the proper information to complete their part in the event. Also, make sure staff know when the special event is scheduled. * Hype! Get everyone at camp excited about the event. An amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. evening program can become mediocre due to lack of hype and enthusiasm. While with the proper promotion, a twenty-four hour continuous singing of the camp song could become extremely popular. Guinness Book of Records Event Begin the event by deciding where the activities will be held and what type of activities campers will do. Tap your staff for more ideas and read the actual Guinness Book of World Records. Draw a map of the area where the events will be held. The map can then be copied on the back of a page listing activities and instructions. A larger version of the map and a schedule can be posted for the campers to refer to during the event. Counselors should run the activities. As campers perform an activity, counselors should keep a record of each participant's score, level, or count. When all campers have completed the events, campers and staff should gather together and the records should be announced. Prizes can be awarded for the record holders if so desired. Hype During a camp meeting, have a few counselors start throwing a water balloon A water balloon, or water bomb is a simple small latex rubber balloon filled with water. The user may then throw the water filled balloon at a desired target. They are commonly used by children in carrying out practical jokes or water balloon fights. back and forth over the camper audience. For a couple of days before the event, counselors should randomly try and set some record (the activity doesn't have to be one that will be offered). When a camper or staff member asks what the counselor is doing, he should just respond, "Oh, I just want to see how many times I can do this." Record-breaking events Hula hoop Hula Hoop Noun trademark a plastic hoop swung round the body by wiggling the hips duration contest Find a stopwatch and a hula hoop. Have campers see how many times they can do the hula hoop. Watermelon watermelon, plant (Citrullus vulgaris) of the family Curcurbitaceae (gourd family) native to Africa and introduced to America by Africans transported as slaves. Watermelons are now extensively cultivated in the United States and are popular also in S Russia. seed spitting You will need clean watermelon seeds and a measuring tape or yardstick to measure the distances. Ask campers to see how far they can spit the watermelon seeds. Water balloon toss Gather some water balloons and have campers work in groups of two to see which team can get the farthest apart without dropping the balloon. Counselors pace off the distance between the team members. Playing card stack All you need are several decks of cards and a flat, level surface. Campers compete to see who can build the tallest card house. Tin can stack Campers attempt to build the highest aluminum can pyramid. Make sure you have enough clean cans for two to three campers to do this activity at one time. Inner-ear gyroscopic gy·ro·scope n. A device consisting of a spinning mass, typically a disk or wheel, mounted on a base so that its axis can turn freely in one or more directions and thereby maintain its orientation regardless of any movement of the base. endurance You will need an open area free of rocks and other materials and a rope. Make a circle on the ground with the rope. Campers spin in circles within the rope circle as many times as possible. Counselors record the number of 360 degree turns for each camper. Campers must turn at least five times in ten seconds or they are disqualified dis·qual·i·fy tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. . If a camper falls outside of the rope circle, their count is stopped. Arrow toss for distance Gather bows, arrows with blunt ends blunt end the end of a DNA molecule in which both strands are of the same length. blunt end ligation the joining of nucleotides at the end of two duplex DNA molecules. , and an open field. Campers shoot the arrows into the field. Counselors pace off the distance the arrow traveled and place a marker with the camper's name at the spot. Juggling You will need a watch and tennis balls or other juggling balls Juggling balls, or simply balls, are a popular prop used by jugglers, either on their own—usually in sets of three or more—or in combination with other props such as clubs or rings. A juggling ball refers to a juggling object that is roughly spherical in nature. . Campers attempt to juggle for as long as possible. Frisbee throw Find some Frisbees and a measuring tape or yardstick. Campers attempt to see how far they can throw a Frisbee. Consecutive free throws Campers compete to see who can shoot the most consecutive free throws. Soccer ball juggling Campers compete to see who has the most consecutive body hits with the ball. All you need are soccer balls and an open area. Tennis ball bounce Campers see how many times they can bounce a tennis ball on the racket. Arts Fest Special days or afternoons tend to focus on sports. An arts fest is a change of pace and an effort to balance the program. The events and activities are set up like the Guinness Book of Records Event. The campers go to different activities as they might at a carnival. Two or three hours tends to be about the right amount of time depending on the size of the camp and the number of activities. An arts fest can also be done in a rotation manner over a longer period of time with fewer activities. Another twist is to have a show and tell at the end, where campers show what they have created. If there are too many campers for this, then the leader of each event can pick a few items to display. Tap the talents of your staff for this event! For crisis control, have a few people move around the events to fill in if anyone needs assistance. If any one activity is mobbed, campers need to be encouraged to try another activity and then come back later. Hype Spread rumors that famous artists are coming to camp. Construct some monstrous sculpture and during a camp meeting have staff make comments about it, admiring it. Staff go can do this as a full skit or just background action. On the day of the event, staff should wear tie-dyed shirts. At a camp meeting, have a staff member become possessed, interrupt the speaker, and start telling a poem about some aspect of camp. Artistic Events Batik batik (bətēk`), method of decorating fabrics practiced for centuries by the natives of Indonesia. It consists of applying a design to the surface of the cloth by using melted wax. Run this activity as a collaborative project where campers just stay for a short time. A camper is assigned a square and works on that section. Foil sculpture You will need an industrial-size roll of aluminum foil Noun 1. aluminum foil - foil made of aluminum aluminium foil, tin foil foil - a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil" . Campers can craft small animals or figures from the foil. Beads, pipe cleaners pipe cleaner, n a small, brushlike device used to clean the spaces between the teeth (used also for other purposes). It should not be inserted all the way between the teeth, but rather just far enough to massage the tissue and remove any plaque. , pieces of cloth, and paper can be added to make more elaborate sculptures. Fruit printing Paper, a stamp pad, some fruit, and some carving tools are all you need. Be careful that campers are not injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. when working with sharp tools. Bubbles Make your own bubble solution and have various items available to blow small and gigantic bubbles. Grass sculpture Use dead limbs, hay, and rope to make life-sized figures - dragons, bugs, sheep, hippos, or whatever your imagination can devise! The finished products make great camp decorations. They can also be used as "fire spirits." Campers place written wishes (that can't be for personal gain) in them and the fire spirit is set alight at night to carry away the wishes. Nature weaving Find two trees that grow close together and construct a loom-like lattice work lattice work n → enrejado between them with heavy twine twine: see cordage. . Only items available from nature may be placed in this loom loom, frame or machine used for weaving; there is evidence that the loom has been in use since 4400 B.C. Modern looms are of two types, those with a shuttle (the part that carries the weft through the shed) and those without; the latter draw the weft from a . The finished product is often breathtaking. Toothpick toothpick, n a wood sliver used to cleanse the interdental space. toothpick, balsa wood, n a triangular wedge of balsa wood used to clean the teeth interproximally and stimulate the interdental gingival tissues. art Campers see what they can create from toothpicks, Popsicle sticks, and glue. Musical saw You will need a violin bow and a saw with a wooden handle. Run the bow between the teeth of the saw. Bend the saw for variety in the sound. It's not as difficult as you might think. Puppet show You will need pipe cleaners, fabric scraps, glue, Styrofoam balls, other craft supplies, and wooden dowel dowel /dow·el/ (dou´'l) a peg or pin for fastening an artificial crown or core to a natural tooth root, or affixing a die to a working model for construction of a crown, inlay, or partial denture. rods cut into various lengths for the handle, main stick, and limbs. Once the puppets are finished, put on a puppet show. Poetry, songwriting, and storytelling Storytelling Aesop semi-legendary fabulist of ancient Greece. [Gk. Lit.: Harvey, 10] Münchäusen Baron traveler grossly embellishes his experiences. [Ger. Lit. Find a member of your staff whose hobby is one of these topics and have him lead campers in writing and reciting poems or songs or in telling the best story. Jug band Gather jars, pans, glasses, spoons, and other items from the kitchen and you're ready to play a tune. Photo shoot Do you have a costume room or extra clothes that you use for skits? Let campers dress up in wacky outfits and then take their pictures. Give them a copy and save one for the yearbook or brochure! Totem poles totem pole Carved and painted vertical log, constructed by many Northwest Coast Indian peoples. The poles display mythological images, usually animal spirits, whose significance is their association with the lineage. Each figure represents a type of family crest. Create the pole by inserting six wood dowels into a wood base and covering it with cardboard and heavy duty paper. Gather a few art supplies and let campers add their artistic touch. Water glass symphony Fill a variety of wine glasses and other glasses with water, grab some spoons, and make some noise! Randall Grayson, M.A., is a Ph.D. candidate in the social and organizational psychology department at Claremont University. |
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