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We sure have had a full week here at the Ararat Center!! On Tuesday, the staff arrived in full force ready for the 2005 camp season. This included Yn. Arpi, (of course!!) as well as St. Vartan Camp veterans and newbie’s. We began the training with some ice breakers to help us get to know each other. In partnered groups we found out about each other then introduced our new friends to the group. We found out some interesting facts, the most interesting being that one of our staff members actually has a bullet lodged in his hand (don’t worry it was just a childhood accident!) We ended the night with a “staff only” campfire, which consisted of s’mores, and singing.
Wednesday, we, the staff started our first full day of training. After breakfast, we had bible study with Jason Demerjian where we dissected the Hayr Mer. We sustained the day with more training and trying to understand what a GREAT staff member is. After dinner we had “exhibitions” of the electives the campers will be able to choose from (which is a new feature this year at St. Vartan Camp) to see what the campers will be experiencing. It was also a good practice for the instructors to work out kinks! First we were able to experience what the campers would be doing during sports. But seeing as it was raining on and off all day, we had indoor sports, which consisted of sports charades. Afterwards, we experienced Arts & Crafts, where we made posters of positive messages that we hung up around the Rec. Hall so that the campers will be able to see them everyday and maybe will inspire them. The last class was dance. All the staff members had trouble in the beginning, but after a while we all got the hang of it.
Thursday began with breakfast, of course, then bible study with Jason which was again very interesting. We discussed the 10 commandments and tried to figure out why they were in the order they were. We continued our day with more training but the afternoon the staff seemed to be dragging. With the permission of the higher up’s we were able to have pool time! This was a well deserved break, after all we had been working hard training and getting ready for days! After we had relaxed it was time to get back to work! We had two more exhibitions of classes. First, was drama, where we were shown a movie then asked how it was related to a passage from the bible afterward we played a fun game of WOOSH. Then, for Armenian performing arts, we were told about a play which performed in Albany at the Egg Theater, and some staff was actually asked to participate in it for a reenactment!
Friday was the last day of staff training before the CIT’s arrive on Saturday. It began with the same routine of breakfast, bible study and training. In the afternoon we spent hours trying to get everything ready for the children, making sure nothing was forgotten. After dinner we went through some more training in which we had to put ourselves in the place of the parents who choose to leave their children with us. It was certainly an enlightening experience. We ended our evening with another “staff only” campfire which was filled with off-key singing of all sorts of songs.
This week has been a great week because it has not only prepared the staff for what is to come for this season at St. Vartan Camp, but it has also united us as one and helped us bond and become a close family. Together we know for sure that we can conquer anything that comes our way, and do it with a smile!
Posted by Jake at June 25, 2005 01:36 PM
