Today is Monday and it’s raining…again. This summer’s weather reminds me of the times my brother and I spent in Miami Beach visiting my grandparents.
One moment, Miami was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk and the next moment there was a surprise, fifteen minute summer rainstorm that sent us scurrying for cover. In southern Florida, I can understand why the weather patterns are a bit like the rainforest. Has that kind of weather come here?
This morning, the rain during camp hours kept us indoors 90% of the time. Fortunately, we were prepared with a lot of options for indoor activities. A fellow counselor leant us her wood blocks and something called Marble Run. Of course we had instruments and singing games, snacks and good talks, too.
Expecting that we were going to have a lot of high energy (3 girls, 8 boys) this session, Beth and I created a plan that could move us very quickly between activities if the kids got bored. We also made a little time for “rules” which the kids co-created with us to build in some boundaries.
My favorite part of the day was a new “check-in” when everyone told us their names, hometown, favorite snack and, importantly, how they were feeling right now. It was clear to all of us, then, what kind of energy was in the room. Most of the children reported that they were happy, but nervousness and sadness made an appearance, too.
What I like about this camp experience-like all of our programs created over 30+ years – is the mix of silliness, creativity, connection, and flexibility. We have fun and we pay attention to thoughts and feelings. We also pay attention when something or someone is wonderful or when someone is hurting, too. All of these happen in a room full of 5 and 6 year olds!
I guess you could say that we are very present for one another- regardless of the weather.