I’m writing this on our second-last night in Muskrat Dam. The internet is currently down, so I’m unsure of when I’ll post it, but I figured it was time for an update.
Our last week was a bit hectic (particularly in the morning), but really good. We had a couple scuffles between morning campers, so had to ask a few parents to keep their children home for a day, but after that it mostly cleared up, although a few of the previously quiet girls got a bit catty with some of the boys gone and more attention on them! In the afternoons we had all girls for the lat few days, and only five or six campers most days, but it was a lot of fun! On our last days we did face painting, had a three-round Walk Off competition in a classroom-turned-catwalk, and did an egg drop challenge, which ended with Ryan kicking the egg compartments at a brick wall. None survived. One of our afternoon girls also got the rest of the group to make thank you cards for us semi-secretly, and then gave them to us at the end of the day! They’re so sweet!
One of the other highlights of the week for me was responding to penpal letters from Kingfisher. Lauren sent us a pack of letters from there, and it was really nice to read things from the campers I haven’t seen or heard from in a year, and Lauren sent me a really nice letter as well. The best part was that both the afternoon campers and a number of the older morning campers decided to write responses to the letters. I was really impressed with some of our 7 and 8 year old campers who we worked with, and actually constructed decent letters! It was really impressive how well some of them have picked up on some simple phonetic and grammatical patterns. Up until then I had questioned the benefit of some literacy activities at the camp, but I really think having something to bridge the gap in the school year for them is definitely beneficial.
Evenings this week were another opportunity for us to engage with the community on another level. I had talked to one woman at Family Day, and she arranged a boating trip for us with her husband and one of his friends. Lizzy and I went out in one boat and Ryan in another, and we went for a four hour boat ride after camp. Despite on-and-off rain storms, we had a great time. The rain might have meant damp underwear by the end of the trip, but we were also privileged to see some amazing storm clouds and rainbows! The dampness did mean, however, that our attempts at fishing were cut short. Apparently having your rod in for about five minutes in two different locations isn’t a good recipe for catching dinner.
Today (Saturday) we ran a barbecue for our campers, parents, and other community members. We had about 30 people come out, and were able to get some good feedback about the camps, provide burgers and Smokies (sausages), and play some games! At the end, our community liaison and a few other community members said a prayer for us, and presented Ryan, Lizzy and I with a pair of moccasins each! They fit like a dream and are incredibly warm. I feel so lucky that we were accepted into the community so well, and that they gave us so much of their support. I will definitely be sad to leave on Monday morning!
After the barbecue we returned home to do some paperwork and finish up some final things in our house when we had a knock at our door, and two campers announced that they had pudding for us. Lizzy glanced out the window and quickly realised that “pudding” meant water balloons. While the adults next door looked on, laughing, we launched our attack, with Lizzy and Ryan running out the back door with cups and bowls full of water, while I created a diversion by keeping them talking through the front door. We exchanged water balloons with water bottles and lard containers full of water for about 15 minutes before we called it off, and retreated back inside (with doors locked) to dry off and finish paperwork. I felt it was an appropriate end to the day.
Now it’s time to finish off so I can get some sleep and be ready to win some cribbage tomorrow. I taught Lizzy and Ryan, and they managed to beat me today on my makeshift board (I drew one out, and we used playdough, pen caps, and pills as pegs). I’ll get them in the next game! But for that, I must be well rested.
One full day left, then Sachigo! Thanks to everyone who has been keeping in touch – it’s great to hear from you! Please forgive any poor correspondence on my part, as our internet has played up quite a bit, and we don’t have a phone in the house. Whenever I know what we have available in Sachigo, I will pass along the news.
Keep well!
-V
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The last week in Muskrat Dam begins...
Last week was amazing. Simply amazing. Yes, we had a few behaviour issues at camp, such as a five year old whipping markers around the room to the point of us needing to send him home to stop him from blinding someone, but with these few exceptions, it was phenomenal. We were not able to use the gym, and the rain kept us indoors most of the time, but this was a blessing in disguise! It allowed us to do some cool projects, such as making Play-dough, which then became volcanoes, was then painted, and exploded! This took a series of days, and gave a bit of continuity to the camp. We also played some fun literacy versions of Musical Chairs, and have been having around an hour a day of reading and alphabet practice with our younger campers. They only learn syllabics until the end of grade one in school before being introduced to English letters, so we are working hard too help them with their spelling and phonics.
This week we're expecting a drop in numbers, as some families are leaving town, a few older campers are going to a Junior Rangers camp, and one or two more are starting jobs. However, some of these campers expressed that they don't want to leave, and that they want to stay at our camp instead! Win!
This past week we have been able to integrate really well into the community. We had a band counsellor/deputy chief come into the morning camp and play guitar, and a parent come into the afternoon camp and bake bannock with the campers! We also got out into the community during a treasure hunt in the morning (which we're repeating Monday for the older campers), and we cancelled Friday afternoon to go to Family Day events at the baseball field instead.
For "Friday's Family Day: Part One" there was a feast, with lots of hamburgers and smokies, and a number of competitions, such as egg toss and piggy backs - women carrying men! During all this we were painting faces, and Ryan and Lizzy ran some games (I was still painting!) After the feast we were asked to judge cakes in a baking contest, and so got to try some of each and award about $400 in prize money! The top cakes were a fruit and yogurt pizza, a chocolate cake with strawberries around it, a lemon meringue cake, and a cake designed to look like a hamburger! Later on that night we also went into the forest behind the church to look for envelopes that were hidden and contained descriptions of prizes ranging from "Sorry, try again next time" to a laptop! Unfortunately, it was 11pm, very dark, and our flashlights, eyes and detective skills didn't allow us to find anything; it was a lot of fun though!!
"Family Day: Part Two" was Saturday. We didn't take part in the fishing derby, as we lack both rods and a boat, but we took this time to plan camp and bake chocolate drop cookies! We went up for more games, and this time brought some books, boggle, beads and a ball (lots of B items apparently) for the kids to use. Between this and throwing around a football, Ryan and I managed to win $90, and Lizzy took the lead with beading with a number of kids. Ryan was on the winning teams for both a relay race and leap frog race, which won him $20 total, and I won $20 for being the first to cross the finish line while balancing a marble on a plastic spoon - in my mouth! Ryan and I each won a backpack race, for the men and women respectively, where you had to run in a race against time while carrying a heavy backpack. He traded the 1st place fishing rod for the second place prize of $50, and I decided to donate the set of pots that I won to the school, to stock up their kitchen a bit more. (It's not as altruistic as it sounds - I wanted to be able to use them to cook for camp this week too!)
While at the event we go to know a number of the adults better, and they are all very welcoming! One woman has given us a ride to the field a couple times, and she has offered to arrange for us to go boating on Wednesday night with her husband, and is also trying to make sure that a Bingo night runs before we leave; Ryan and I need something to spend our money on besides sweets at Louie's shop! Also, I was trusted enough to drive someone's truck down to our house to take the cookies up to the feast. It was very kind of him, and amazing to be back behind the wheel after months in England on busses!
I don't know how it will be possible to top last week, but I have faith that between this community and our ideas for this week's camp, we'll do it somehow! On that note, I'm off to bed. One of the most important things I've found for running a successful camp is to sleep enough! So I best sign off so that I can be up in time for a morning jog and setting up another treasure hunt. Hope all is well in the lives of anyone reading this! Have a wonderful summer.
-V. :-)
This week we're expecting a drop in numbers, as some families are leaving town, a few older campers are going to a Junior Rangers camp, and one or two more are starting jobs. However, some of these campers expressed that they don't want to leave, and that they want to stay at our camp instead! Win!
This past week we have been able to integrate really well into the community. We had a band counsellor/deputy chief come into the morning camp and play guitar, and a parent come into the afternoon camp and bake bannock with the campers! We also got out into the community during a treasure hunt in the morning (which we're repeating Monday for the older campers), and we cancelled Friday afternoon to go to Family Day events at the baseball field instead.
For "Friday's Family Day: Part One" there was a feast, with lots of hamburgers and smokies, and a number of competitions, such as egg toss and piggy backs - women carrying men! During all this we were painting faces, and Ryan and Lizzy ran some games (I was still painting!) After the feast we were asked to judge cakes in a baking contest, and so got to try some of each and award about $400 in prize money! The top cakes were a fruit and yogurt pizza, a chocolate cake with strawberries around it, a lemon meringue cake, and a cake designed to look like a hamburger! Later on that night we also went into the forest behind the church to look for envelopes that were hidden and contained descriptions of prizes ranging from "Sorry, try again next time" to a laptop! Unfortunately, it was 11pm, very dark, and our flashlights, eyes and detective skills didn't allow us to find anything; it was a lot of fun though!!
"Family Day: Part Two" was Saturday. We didn't take part in the fishing derby, as we lack both rods and a boat, but we took this time to plan camp and bake chocolate drop cookies! We went up for more games, and this time brought some books, boggle, beads and a ball (lots of B items apparently) for the kids to use. Between this and throwing around a football, Ryan and I managed to win $90, and Lizzy took the lead with beading with a number of kids. Ryan was on the winning teams for both a relay race and leap frog race, which won him $20 total, and I won $20 for being the first to cross the finish line while balancing a marble on a plastic spoon - in my mouth! Ryan and I each won a backpack race, for the men and women respectively, where you had to run in a race against time while carrying a heavy backpack. He traded the 1st place fishing rod for the second place prize of $50, and I decided to donate the set of pots that I won to the school, to stock up their kitchen a bit more. (It's not as altruistic as it sounds - I wanted to be able to use them to cook for camp this week too!)
While at the event we go to know a number of the adults better, and they are all very welcoming! One woman has given us a ride to the field a couple times, and she has offered to arrange for us to go boating on Wednesday night with her husband, and is also trying to make sure that a Bingo night runs before we leave; Ryan and I need something to spend our money on besides sweets at Louie's shop! Also, I was trusted enough to drive someone's truck down to our house to take the cookies up to the feast. It was very kind of him, and amazing to be back behind the wheel after months in England on busses!
I don't know how it will be possible to top last week, but I have faith that between this community and our ideas for this week's camp, we'll do it somehow! On that note, I'm off to bed. One of the most important things I've found for running a successful camp is to sleep enough! So I best sign off so that I can be up in time for a morning jog and setting up another treasure hunt. Hope all is well in the lives of anyone reading this! Have a wonderful summer.
-V. :-)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Muskrat Dam Week 3
Third week in Muskrat Dam and second week of camp. So far we've had really good numbers - around 30 a day, with both morning and afternoon combined. We've been doing group reading and smaller letter recognition activities with the younger campers. We are supposed to have ages 6+, but we have a lot of 5 year olds at the camp, and since they don't learn English letters until the end of grade one (they're taught syllabics until then, which are First Nations letters), we can't really do writing activities. Small steps!! The older campers, aged 10-13, who come in the afternoon, are also really into a lot of the activities, and we've done a couple other projects with them. We worked on a community book last week, and this week they are doing their own personal timelines! The younger campers also did a community alphabet book, only on a smaller scale.
The community has been really welcoming so far. Last weekend we went to an anniversary party at the ball diamond, where there was a lot of food, and then we ran a baseball game with the kids afterward. Yesterday (Sunday) we went to a double birthday party, that again had loads of food, and we were able to secure some guests to come into camp this week! One of the counsellors will be coming in to play guitar tomorrow morning, and Thursday a parents is coming in to bake bannock with the afternoon group! Between that, the great food, and a break in the weather, Sunday was fabulous!
The past week we've been keeping vegetarian (except for at the community dinners - there is no way I'm turning down venisson!), and it's definitely easier on the wallet than last year was. Lizzy, Ryan and I have been spending our time cooking lots of bean and lentil dishes, playing on websites made for 12 year olds, and playing card games! I taught them 9-5-2 and have won the past nine games, so I think Lizzy might have us switch back to Rummy, or we may learn three person Euchre! Also, Ryan and I have also been running a few kilometres every other day (well, he runs daily, but I only join him on odd-numbered days!), and tomorrow the three of us are going to Aerobics! I hope it's actually on! We've gone to a couple things up on the other side of town - "Uptown" - and either arrived late or found out that there was a location change. Fingers crossed that tomorrow won't be like that!
Anyway, I must sign off now, or else I will be having a tired day at camp tomorrow! Good night!!
-V
The community has been really welcoming so far. Last weekend we went to an anniversary party at the ball diamond, where there was a lot of food, and then we ran a baseball game with the kids afterward. Yesterday (Sunday) we went to a double birthday party, that again had loads of food, and we were able to secure some guests to come into camp this week! One of the counsellors will be coming in to play guitar tomorrow morning, and Thursday a parents is coming in to bake bannock with the afternoon group! Between that, the great food, and a break in the weather, Sunday was fabulous!
The past week we've been keeping vegetarian (except for at the community dinners - there is no way I'm turning down venisson!), and it's definitely easier on the wallet than last year was. Lizzy, Ryan and I have been spending our time cooking lots of bean and lentil dishes, playing on websites made for 12 year olds, and playing card games! I taught them 9-5-2 and have won the past nine games, so I think Lizzy might have us switch back to Rummy, or we may learn three person Euchre! Also, Ryan and I have also been running a few kilometres every other day (well, he runs daily, but I only join him on odd-numbered days!), and tomorrow the three of us are going to Aerobics! I hope it's actually on! We've gone to a couple things up on the other side of town - "Uptown" - and either arrived late or found out that there was a location change. Fingers crossed that tomorrow won't be like that!
Anyway, I must sign off now, or else I will be having a tired day at camp tomorrow! Good night!!
-V
Sunday, July 5, 2009
After final performances, goodbye parties, nights of very little sleep, a lot of travel, seeing my parents in Toronto, a beach day, and training...
For the month of July 2009 I will be mostly in Muskrat Dam, Ontario. It's the furthest north I've ever been in Ontario, and the third Aboriginal Community I've lived in (if you can count 3-4 weeks somewhere as living there!). I am again with Frontier College for their Summer Reading Camps, the same program as I did last year.
A bit about Muskrat Dam. The community has just over 200 people, and is not far from the Manitoba border - by plane of course. It is only reachable by plane or ice road, but scheduled flights come in about every other day (and so mail is delivered this often). The community is incredibly friendly, especially the kids; the black flies and mosquitoes, on the other hand, are not as kind. It's been fairly cool here, and the couple morning I've gone running with my teammate Ryan have been quite brisk. And the briskness is referring to the temperature, not our pace, haha.
My teammates are both pretty awesome people. Ryan and Lizzy are both from Dalhousie university, and are friends with Orion, my teammate from last year. As of today we've moved in, done registration while running some games, planned our first week of camp, attended an anniversary feast, played evening games with some of the older kids, and been visited and watched by a group of 11-12 year old girls about 3 nights in a row. We usually give in and go out to chat or play tag with them, but right now we decided just to open the curtains and inside door, and they're standing outside the windows watching us read and type on the computer. I can hardly imagine how exciting that must be.
In unfortunate news, my computer decided to die. It is showing what some Mac used call "The grey screen of death", and can be fixed by reinstalling the start-up CD. I, however, did not bring said CD to Muskrat Dam, and so am using Lizzy's computer. I am uber-thankful that we had two here in the first place.
Anyway, I think I'll wrap this up here and get some more administrative work done. If anyone wants to send any mail (and that will make me love you more), you can do so by writing:
Victoria Weaver
Literacy Camp
Muskrat Dam, Ontario
Canada
P0V 3B0
Cheers! ;)
Victoria
A bit about Muskrat Dam. The community has just over 200 people, and is not far from the Manitoba border - by plane of course. It is only reachable by plane or ice road, but scheduled flights come in about every other day (and so mail is delivered this often). The community is incredibly friendly, especially the kids; the black flies and mosquitoes, on the other hand, are not as kind. It's been fairly cool here, and the couple morning I've gone running with my teammate Ryan have been quite brisk. And the briskness is referring to the temperature, not our pace, haha.
My teammates are both pretty awesome people. Ryan and Lizzy are both from Dalhousie university, and are friends with Orion, my teammate from last year. As of today we've moved in, done registration while running some games, planned our first week of camp, attended an anniversary feast, played evening games with some of the older kids, and been visited and watched by a group of 11-12 year old girls about 3 nights in a row. We usually give in and go out to chat or play tag with them, but right now we decided just to open the curtains and inside door, and they're standing outside the windows watching us read and type on the computer. I can hardly imagine how exciting that must be.
In unfortunate news, my computer decided to die. It is showing what some Mac used call "The grey screen of death", and can be fixed by reinstalling the start-up CD. I, however, did not bring said CD to Muskrat Dam, and so am using Lizzy's computer. I am uber-thankful that we had two here in the first place.
Anyway, I think I'll wrap this up here and get some more administrative work done. If anyone wants to send any mail (and that will make me love you more), you can do so by writing:
Victoria Weaver
Literacy Camp
Muskrat Dam, Ontario
Canada
P0V 3B0
Cheers! ;)
Victoria
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