Our summer staff arrived a little over a week ago, and that truly signals the start of the best season here in the Plymouth Valley. Staff travelled from far and wide (South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Texas, Arkansas, the West Coast, and of course lots of folks from the typical F&W strongholds around New England), and have spent the last week getting settled and beginning their training.
After a few days spent getting settled at their own camps (getting to know each other, doing a little community building, learning some of our routines), staff begin their "Skills Week" trainings, where they learn the specifics of their activity or responsibility areas (e.g., Barns and Gardens, Work Projects, Outdoor Living Skills). The days are full and staff from across all of the F&W camps get to work together. Part of our training includes each staff member learning how to lesson plan and work with campers in their activity areas.
Our Creative Arts folks made some very cool masks out of natural materials, seen above. Our OLS staff worked on building fires, including with a bow drill; how to safely use axes; and map and compass skills (and they successfully made it back from their "Get Lost Hike").
Staff from a variety of activity areas participated in the Conservation skills week session with FWC’s Conservation Coordinator Elisabeth. Folks obtained a greater sense of place in the landscape, sharpened their observation skills, and brainstormed activities to help campers develop a strong connection with the natural world. Highlights included invasive plant management techniques, stream ecology, soil science, forestry, and tree identification.
We also take this time to focus on safety training and certifications, and we have added 5 new Water Safety Instructors, 21 new lifeguards and will have over 100 new Wilderness First Aid trained staff after this week.
During this time everyone has been eating together at Tamarack Farm. Just as staff in activity areas have been in sessions in their area, cooks have also been doing their own specific cooks training. They have been meeting with health inspectors, setting up kitchens, and practicing their skills, alongside preparing each camp’s individual kitchen.
On Sunday night, (after a much deserved day off for all staff!), everyone ate their first meal at their own camps, as we head into the next portion of staff training with lots of focus around how to work with kids, and building community at our individual camps.