Month: May 2018

•   What the heck is “devotions?”

Devotions are simply activities that you plan for your cabin each night to help them wind down before going to bed. They can be very deep and filled with a lot of meaning, or something fun yet quiet that can get your bunkies’ calm before getting in their bunks!

•   Why do we do devotions?

We do devotions so that each girl can talk about her day and be heard by their counselor and fellow bunkies. Each cabin has a different dynamic, and every camper has a different personality, so it is really easy for certain girls to be overlooked during their classes. If someone has a quiet voice and is easy-going, they might not get the chance to talk about their highs and lows of the day like someone who is outgoing and loud.

•   How do I get the kids to calm down so I can do devotions?

It really depends on the age group, because younger girls are going to be more tired after a long day of activities than older girls, but I always make every girl sit in a circle and we wait for everyone to get quiet. There is always one girl who will notice me waiting for everyone to get quiet while holding paper and markers, a beach ball, or whatever we need for the devotion that night. If they don’t quiet down, I usually tell them that we won’t have enough time before lights out if they don’t listen, and that will usually make them calm down.

•   Where do we gather together, how do we all be a part of it?

I like to have every girl sitting in a circle on the ground because that way you can see everyone and listen to everyone without skipping over anyone. They can bring pillows, blankets, whatever they want as long as it won’t be a distraction! If you go in a circle when having the girls answer, everyone gets a fair chance to speak, instead of the talkative ones taking over.

•   What’s a good routine to set up?

I always love to start with highs and lows. Whether the girls are 10 or 15, I think that everyone should think about their day and what they liked and didn’t like. My rule is that you don’t always have to have a low, but you always have to have a high, even if it’s a favorite meal or something little like that. Once everyone (including yourself) has had a turn, you explain the devotion and start! Also make the rule from the beginning of camp that Devotions will be starting at second “blinks” NO EXCEPTIONS. You have to start at second blinks every night so they know to get back from brushing their teeth or else they will miss out.

•   What are some problems you run into?

The biggest problem is probably getting your bunkies back to the cabin by second blinks because there isn’t a lot of time for them to get ready, but that’s when you have to be the facilitator. As a counselor you can always get ready for bed once lights are out, but it might be better to take a trip to Egypt as a cabin if it means that your girls will get their business done in a timely manner.

Another problem is getting them calmed down with enough time to actually do the devotion. There have been times when I might have to finish a devotion in two nights because the girls didn’t settle down with enough time before Taps came around. It’s a little bit disappointing to both you and your bunkies, but it teaches them that it’s important to make times for devotions and that it’s a special time that won’t be rushed.

Nighttime is bedtime, but it’s also time to get homesick. I had a bunkie who was so homesick every night that it was exhausting to try and get her into the circle, let alone get her to participate in the devotion for the night. That’s when you have to go into true counselor mode and advocate for the rest of your cabin. You have to give every bunkie equal attention, and even if someone is homesick you can’t give her a pass on devotions for a night because it will make devotions seem optional, which they are not.

•   What if I don’t have anything planned? Do I need to plan?

YES you need a plan! It doesn’t take a long time to plan a devotion, but if you have them planned out for each week early in the summer, it will save you a lot of stress over last minute planning and sloppy devotions. ALWAYS ask experienced counselors for ideas because we have a million of them! After a long evening entertainment when everyone is charging Egypt to brush their teeth is already stressful as a counselor, so don’t add to that stress by trying to plan a devotion at the same time.

• What are some good devotion ideas? For younger girls? For older girls?

A lot of devotions work for every age, like the “toilet paper” devotion. You have a roll of TP and have every girl take as many pieces as they want (usually with a maximum of 10). After everyone has the sheets of toilet paper, they have to say a fact about themselves for every sheet they have. You can also change what they have to say, like what they like about their cabin, what goals they have for camp (big or small), or whatever you think will be fun for them!

For younger girls, it’s harder to get them to think deeper because they haven’t had to think that deeply in their lives, so the more surface level devotions are easier and more enjoyable for them. Reading a book of poems will always intrigue and satisfy them while getting them ready for sleep. Older girls also love reading books or poems, but when your bunkies have had a long day, reading to them will make them feel at home.

One of my favorite devotions as an older camper was the “color” devotion. You get different colored pieces of construction paper (one color for each girl in your cabin) and you ask what POSTIVE personality traits go with each color. Every girl gets to answer for each color, and you write the traits on each color. After you’ve matched the traits with the colors, you then look at the traits and match them to each person in your cabin. Not only will this make each bunkie feel unique and appreciated, but you can also use this for bunkie gifts! One of my counselors made us each a clipboard with our color, traits, and name on it and it was an awesome and personalized gift! I did this last year with one cabin and made them a cardboard letter (their first initial) painted their color with all of the traits written on the back.

 There are SO MANY other devotions, so don’t be afraid to ask experienced counselors!
Also, group devotions and devotions with an older counselor are always fun for you and your bunkies!

When it comes to bonding with your cabin, just being in the cabin during downtime goes a long way. If you’re in on their inside jokes, it makes it a lot easier to develop friendships with them. Sometimes it might be easier to go to the CB and clear your head when you have an extra 20 minutes in the day, but your bunkies will definitely miss you if you spend all of your time there. Also it makes a difference to ask each girl individually about what she has been enjoying or not enjoying about camp and then follow up on it. Talk to the other counselors; ask them what they see in their classes, let them know if Susie Camper wants to do well in that class. Make time to talk to each girl as an individual so they can trust you as their counselor and friend.

Rest Hour Etiquette
By Catherine McPhillips
** How to manage your campers during the most important hour of the day. **

It’s true. Rest Hour will become your most indispensable asset at Nakanawa. During this hour, you can read, sleep, catch up on letters, prepare for your activities, and most importantly, recharge your energy and spirit for the rest of the day. Camp is a very communal experience, and Rest Hour is that one sacred time each day that is all your own. No one can expect you to work on anything, discuss or plan, or be anywhere except on your very own bed.

By the end of the first week, you will come to regard Rest Hour as one of the very best features of Camp Nakanawa! This time is just as important for your campers. Whether they believe it or not, they NEED this time to rest and regroup before their afternoon activities. Here are a few simple ways to make sure you and your bunkies enjoy maximum benefit from this hour:

On the first night, when you are laying out the ground rules and goals for the cabin, Rest Hour should be at the top of your list.

MY RECOMMENDED REST HOUR RULES:

1. Rest Hour bell: Everyone has to be in the cabin before the bell. After lunch is not the time for hanging out in other cabins, at Egypt, etc. Stragglers will make it very hard for you and the other girls to start your rest hour properly.
2. All girls MUST go to Egypt (the bath house) before the rest hour bell rings. Tell your bunkies to go straight from the Dining Hall to Egypt, and verify that they have in fact done that. (This is extremely important in Junior Camp, as those little bladders do not hold as much.)
3. Stay on your bed: Even if the girls want to share markers or paper or headphones it is important to stay firm to this. Let them know that they can divide up supplies before the bell rings, or borrow something of your to tide them over. No bed sharing, no walking around the cabin.
4. No talking: If you are not firm on this from the beginning, it will be very easy for Rest Hour to turn into “cabin hang-out.” We have PLENTY of time to bond as a cabin, but Rest Hour has a different purpose. So, keep the girls quiet from the start, and they will quickly respect and appreciate the environment you have created.

These seem like very simple rules, and they are. However, letting one girl sit on another’s bed, or one whispering conversation persist in a corner will soon turn your Rest Hour into an after-lunch circus. It is also unfair to the other cabins to disturb their Rest Hour. Be firm on these rules and reassure the girls’ time and again that this is for their health and well being, as well as yours!

Steve Baskin ACA video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4rI3olRHxP4

Hi, Counselors!

This is a very important topic that will impact campers AND counselors:  Going Unplugged!  Camp Nakanawa is one of the few (and proud) camps that provide an unplugged environment for all campers.  The feedback from parents has been so supportive and thankful.  Parents want their daughters to have a natural camping experience, free from texting, phones and the internet.  So we plan to offer that pristine, unplugged environment. Please read this training module carefully, as it also impacts the way you as a counselor interact with technology.

1. From the camper’s perspective:  This might be a tough “withdrawal” process for your campers.  So just be sensitive to that.  Because of all of the time spent in texting, Facebooking, surfing, kids are loosing many of the communication and collaboration skills.  That’s where we come in:  We help them re-focus and re-learn how to communicate with each other and work together in a collaborative way.
2. What are the rules for campers?  Pretty straight-forward.  A camper may not have any type of gizmo (phone, laptop, iPad, iPod, etc., etc.) that can access the internet.  Even those that can be turned off:  Not allowed.  Cabin counselors will collect these on the opening day of camp and return them to their campers on the last day of camp.
3. Technology rules for counselors.  This is pretty straightforward, too.  You have the same rules as the campers while in the general camp and cabin area. You may not use any gizmo (phone, laptop, iPad, IPod) in your cabin area or any area for that matter, other than the CB (your counselor bunk).  You may keep your “gizmos” in there.  You may use them during your time off or after your campers are asleep in bed. And you may only use them in the CB.  (There are a few exceptions that we will explain during our orientation together.)
   But back to counselor technology….I would use your time at camp to be a time that you, too, take a break from the crazy world of texting, Facebook, YouTube, Skyping, surfing the web, etc.  You will have access to the Camp Nakanawa wifi, but you will find it has less and less of a draw as the camp days go by.  Try to take as much of a break as you can.  Go out on the lake with a counselor friend after your campers are in bed (instead of sitting alone on your computer inside).  You won’t believe the stars!  Enjoy your time talking with your new-found counselor friends.  You won’t regret it.
4. Counselors’ Social Networking Policy.  Nakanawa’s policy follows the policies of most schools.  Here goes:
   1. 1. Online presence:  As a camp employee, it is your responsibility to deliver our Nakanawa mission. This includes all dealings both inside and outside the workplace; both on and off duty.
      2. Content: You are responsible for the content of all text, audio, or images that are placed or sent over the Internet.  Do not use the name Nakanawa anywhere at any time.  (Use the word “camp” instead.) Use of abusive, profane, harassing or obscene messages will put you at risk for termination of your job. Do not share the names of any campers.  It is our duty to protect them and their identity.
      3. Profiles:  Make all profiles private, please.
      4. “Friending” people: If a camper is under the age of 18 and is not a staff member, Nakanawa prohibits employees from “friending,” “following,” “liking” or have a private association with them.  If you are already a friend of a camper (because you were once a camper, too), please set them as a “limited profile.”  Remember, your Head Counselors and Ann are on Facebook….and see all! Also remember, your employers (including Nakanawa) use Facebook as a screening tool.

One of the comments we hear from brand new counselors is that they wish they had brought some additional items (that are not on the official camp list.)  Luckily, Martha (pictured at left) remembered her handy dandy wild woman bone.  lol!  Just kidding.  (Have we really scared off all of the new counselors now?!)  Martha had the “honor” of being the Wild Woman for the circus.  Who knows what you might have the honor of doing this summer?

So, just to help you know some of the “extra” stuff that we might bring, here’s the start of a list:

Extras that you might want to bring to camp:

1. Construction paper for note cards (to write notes to your bunkies) – one of those multi-color “pads” is perfect.
2. Markers (for the construction paper notes), and/or paint pens (which can be used to decorate anything from a plastic cup to a flip flop.)
3. A book for yourself, and one to read to your cabin at devotion time.
4. Ipod speakers (battery-operated) so you can all listen to music as you clean up.
5. Crazy hats
6. 4th of July colors (shirt, hat, etc.), if you are here during 4-week.
7. A crazy costume if you have one….never know when you might need it!
8. Musical instrument if you play, to sing your bunkies to sleep (no pipe organs, please).
9. Extra non-uniform clothes for running, free day, days off, “after TAPS” (see your counselor notebook), and pre-camp.
10. A pair of sneakers or water shoes that you don’t mind getting totally soaked.
11. A small spiral notebook that you can record info about your campers. This is used in writing letters home to the parents (called “Mama Letters.”)
12. A sweatshirt, as it can get chilly at night, and last but not least,
13. A great sense of humor and fun-loving spirit!

But please know that you don’t HAVE to bring any of these extras, and there will be plenty of all of these around camp.

Start your packing…..Camp will be here before you know it!

Hello There!

Congratulations! You might not know it yet, but you have just changed your life in a great way by becoming a Nakanawa counselor. I should know, because I did the same thing four summers ago. I’d never heard of Nakanawa before, never known anyone who went there, and certainly had no idea how to pronounce it. (I called it ‘Nak awa nana’.)

At first, I was nervous that I would not fit in with the women and girls that have been coming to Nakanawa for generations. I had never worked a summer camp before and had no idea what to expect out of a camp that called their bathhouse ‘Egypt’ and woke us up with a bell. The first time I sensed that Nakanawa might be a wonderful place was when I received a reply from Ann Perron, the owner/director of camp, about an email I had sent a few hours earlier. The email I had sent had a long list of too many questions about things that I felt like I needed to know for camp. I was amazed that she replied so quickly and answered all my questions in detail. She even encouraged me to email or call her if I had more questions. I was impressed with the personal interest she took in helping me feel comfortable coming to a new place for the summer.

The most frightening minutes of my summer were those last few of the drive to camp. What would it be like? Would I make friends? What have I committed myself to for the next 6 weeks? However, as soon as I drove into camp there were people already greeting me and waving hello. As soon as I wandered up to the office porch to get my cabin assignment, a few fellow counselors offered to help me move in. These were women I had never met and yet they were so friendly. After moving in, it was time for lifeguard training. Being from the city, I did not have experience swimming in a lake. When I was told to jump in the lake and start swimming, I froze. The other counselors encouraged me and I took the leap into Lake Aloaloa. From then on, I knew the summer would be great!

Make no mistake, Nakanawa is centered upon the girls, and by that I mean every female from 6-80 on that campus. You’ll find quickly that being at Nakanawa teaches you personally far more than you will ever teach a child about tennis or canoeing. There are so many women that keep coming back to camp summer after summer because they love the place so much, and are eager to teach everyone the things that they have learned. You won’t be alone, I promise.

The one thing I wish that someone would have told me while I was getting ready to come to camp is this: be ready for some intense traditions. The first day in the dining hall is going to be a mind boggling experience, “You expect me to eat my bacon with a fork? Fourth the bread? What does that even mean?” You’re not going to get it all immediately, but it will become second nature soon. Just go with the flow, mouth the words to the songs, and slowly you will understand that these things that seem so foreign at first are part of what makes Nakanawa such a special place.

Surprisingly, it all gets so much easier when the bunkies come. You think you’ll never get through the first day, but then suddenly when all of the cars are gone, when what was previously a clean, empty cabin is now a dusty disaster zone and all the girls are in bed you realize: I can totally do this. Because after that, it’s the easiest job in the world. Sure you’ll work hard and be exhausted, but you will soon understand that it doesn’t matter if you teach them all how to shoot a bullseye from 100 feet. Your job, quite simply, is to love the girls. You love them, you accept them for who they are, you rejoice in their triumphs, and console them in their failures. That’s what being a camp counselor is all about, and why it’s different from being just a teacher. If you’re prepared to do these things, to work hard and to love, everything is going to be just fine. You are not alone. Everyone is working together for the benefit of these little girls, to teach them and help them become the best women they can be. If, in the process, we learn how to be our best self, then the magic of Nakanawa has worked.

I hope you now understand what I said in the introduction to this letter. The magic of Nakanawa will change you and touch your soul; embrace it, and I know you will find, like I did, that a little slice of heaven is located by a lake in Tennessee.

Best of luck! You are going to have a great summer!

Hi everyone,

My name is Tiny McPhillips.   That’s me with my camp friend of old, Holly, at one of camp’s Service Weekend events.  (I’m the “huggy” one on the right!)

When I was 8 years old my mother shipped me off to Nakanawa for 8 weeks! I had been begging to go since I was 4! You see, my mother and all of my sisters had been Nakanawa campers, so, naturally, I thought being a “Nakanawa Girl” was the greatest thing in the world! That was back in 1965, and I will be approaching my 37th summer at camp. You may wonder what kept me coming back all these years, and all I can say is that Nakanawa has become my home in many ways. Even with a husband and 4 children, I have continually felt the “pull” of the “Spirit of Nakanawa” every summer!

Now that my children are grown, and I have grandchildren of my own, I am blessed to continue to enjoy the presence of children in my life. During the year, as an assistant teacher, and in the summer, with the Junior campers. These days, with our “plugged-in” lifestyles of electronics and cell phones, Ipods, computers, etc.,it is very rewarding to witness the “unplugging” of the girls as they get settled in at Nakanawa. They are free to be little girls again- to be silly and play and enjoy nature and friendships that they will cherish for a lifetime, as I have.

As far as advice goes-people that know me will testify that I am “full of it” where camp is concerned! So here goes-

CABIN LIFE

Do you want a happy, congenial, caring, and thoughtful cabin? Do you want to love being in your cabin and hanging out with your bunkies?

Well, let me share the wisdom of one of my mentors, Casey Fisher, from my 1^st year as a cabin counselor. She told us that our first week needed to be spent earning the girls’ respect and obedience. Make sure they know who is in charge at cabin clean-up time, rest hour, and bedtime. Once you establish a consistent routine, THEN you can show them your “softer” side! I promise you, this is the best way to manage your bunkies-I guarantee this approach will work and free you to have a fabulous summer full of magical moments with your bunkies, instead of maddening moments arguing about what is expected of them!!

Another trick to cabin cleanliness is to straighten up at night before they go to bed. This is a great way to keep up with everything and not be so overwhelmed every morning. Who wants to wake up to a mess every day? Then after lunch, right before rest hour, have another short straightening up time. Cleaning in small intervals helps!!!

Keep in mind though, that all of this takes TIME-time spent IN THE CABIN…not in the Counselor’s Bunk (CB). The old saying, “you only get out of something what you put into it” applies especially to being a cabin counselor.

These little girls will love you immediately-give them your time and attention and you will make lasting relationships. Also, please know that the non-cabin counselors are there for anything you need-call on us! We are (or try to be) a wealth of information, patience, and experience!

Another point to bring up is our unity as a staff concerning cabin life. The campers need to know that we are all dedicated to giving them the best summer of their lives. Their parents are paying mega bucks to send them to camp-it is our job and our responsibility to make sure that their daughter is given enough attention, is well cared for, and is happy. I overheard a group of parents commenting about the condition of the cabin when they visited Nakanawa. One said the cabin looked like a bomb had gone off!!! One said that her daughter had lost many articles of clothing and no wonder when she saw how chaotic and messy the cabin was! It left these families with a bad impression of camp, and of the counselor. Moms and dads really want their daughters to learn cleanliness and personal responsibility at camp, and the condition of the cabin is a true indicator of how well their counselor has done in this area!

Your success as a counselor corresponds totally with the happiness of your bunkies. If your campers are well cared for and attended to, you will have done the job you have been hired to do!!

This is an awesome responsibility! I can’t wait to meet each of you, and congratulations on landing the best summer job ever! Please feel free to ask for my help anytime!

Sincerely,

Tiny

Every so often, a grandmother comes up to us and says the most amazing thing:  “Camp is just the same as when I was a young girl.  It hasn’t changed a bit.”  In this hustle bustle world, that isexactly the phrase that we cherish the most.  The values, the spirit, the emotion of camp linger and continue through the years.

We thought it would be nice, in this 90th decade of Nakanawa, to give you a little snippet of Nakanawa and its traditions.  Most of this is taken from the book, Nakanawa, The First Fifty Years by Margaret Hawkins Matens.  (You may purchase this item at camp.  The campers love to hear the stories of old, directly from this book.)