Things my campers say. Vol 2. Issue 3.

Camp is over now, and I'll cherish the memories from the past 7 weeks forever! I had a blast with my campers and the things they did and said to make us laugh will be remembered forever!

J.R: Did you know jellyfish are from jars of jelly dumped into the ocean?

Beth: What happens when you get a green (swim bracelet)?

All of 5X: YOUR CAN SWIM!!!

M.S.B: Tamar! Tamar! You threw out my kippah!! 

J.P: A.F. I got a yellow bracelet before you did, but don't feel bad! 

 J.R: There's a cup behind me....TADA!
A.M-U: You did magic!! How did you do that!!

M.B: That song on the CD keeps saying butterflies. We're Spidermen, not butterflies!

J.P: My shirt says All Star!! I'm ready for the 6B All Stars!!

J.G: (pointing to a tall 6 year old girl) Is she a 6 year old teenager?

 M.B: (he had written a bunch of letters in chalk) What's this mean?
Sydney: Hka blap vas
M.B: What's it mean?
Sydney: Nothing, it's just letters.
M.B: Is it French?

J.R: No peacocks in the pool!! Because they may use it as a bathroom and that's nasty!

J.G: (While putting his ear in the pool learning side breathing) What's that fishy? I didn't hear you, you weren't clear.

M.H: (getting upset) I want my hat!
Me: You left it at home today, sorry kiddo.
W.H: You need to stop steaming M.

Me: (While playing 20 questions) Sometimes it's called football.
M.S.B: Chess! Oh, wait that's not right.

J.R: It's Dark Vader. His name is Dark because he's all black.

A.F: (on our imaginary trip to Israel) Are we going to the kibbutz to milk utters?

Kim: N.S. pick a number.
N.S: 8
Kim: Someone else already chose 8, choose again.
N.S: I chose 8, and that's that.

M.B: My favorite nursery rhyme is Bla Bla Black Sheep

A.M-U: I got a new dog. It's name is funny. It's not Alexander and it's not Alexandra. Oh, right is Aidan.

J.P: Mommy got me a new towel at Costco!
M.B: But you can't eat towels, and you buy food at Costco.

In music we blindfold a kid and thy guess who is singing to them. M.S.B was singing and after Z.R guessed who it was he remarked: How did you know it was me!?!

On truck day, trucks come and the kids learn all about them. While at this claw truck:
A.M-U: The clawwww, the clawww (thing aliens from Toy Story.)

And since the summer is over and 7:55 Monday morning staff meetings are no longer, a quote from our camp director:
Julie: You have a life, well not much of one since I occupy much of it.

I couldn't have asked for a better summer!

I think the universe is trying to tell me something

Each week at camp there is a guess how many contest for the staff.  This year it was jelly beans, pretzels, snow caps, gummies, a container with a gift card in it, and such.  The last weeks was a tub of hershey kisses.  People were guessing numbers in the 100s and I figured go big or go home.  Well I came home with a lot of kisses. 351 to be exact. 

Between this win and winning the peanut m&ms last summer. I think the universe is telling me to be a chocoholic.  

Hershey kiss anyone?

And if you're in the mood for goodies - read the post below for a chance to win a box of gluten free goodies! And if you know people who are GF send them to the post!! 

Things my campers say. Vol 2. Issue 2.

Z.R: Tamar, what are you doing after camp?

Me: I'm going to the gym and the dentist.

Z.R: You're very busy!

After our routine of thanking Alex and Floyd for cooking out lunch:

N.S: Why do we always say that?!

Z.A: I ate oatmeal for breakfast, that's why the bugs are biting me, they like oatmeal too!

In the midst of giving a small talk on listening and respecting our fellow campers one my campers suddenly says:

A.M-U: Aarg, I'm a pirate. - nothing like a little comedic relief! 

 A.M-U: I thought you get a lollipop after going to the doctors. I just went to the doctor (nurse) and I didn't get a lollipop!

M.B: Why do the twins always wear the same bathing suit, because I can't tell them a part when they do!

M.B: Tamar, why are you walking backwards?  It's freaking me out!

Kenny (our music guy): Should we keep on keeping on?
Z.R: No.

J.G: My knees are tired.
Me: Of what?
J.G: Of walking.

Jason: What's the largest state in America?
J.P: Scarsdale?
Jason: What's the tallest mountain in the world?
M.H: Mt. Skyscraper?
N.S: The Empire State Building?

J.P: I can't use broken cheese (while making sandwiches for a soup kitchen), because poor people don't like eating broken cheese either!

Z.A: My parents stayed up late watching Harry Potter, so I am tired today.
Me: Did you stay up with them?
Z.A: No, but I am tired from listening to them talk about it!

Z.A: I don't like watermelon, it's too spicy for me!

J.P: (After realizing he put his shoes on the wrong feet) Jesus Christ!

J.P: Try something new day is my favorite day at camp!

Things my campers say. Volume 2.

W.H: "I'm a Yankees fan"

A.M-U: "What?! You're wearing a Mets hat!"

M.H: "My favorite team is the Yankees!"

A.M-U: "Oh no not again!!"

Z.R: "I don't eat oreos because I have a guinea pig named oreo"

M.H.B: (while playing freeze the counselors in the pool) "Oh man, you're (talking to me) over the rope, and now we can't freeze you!"

 J.G: "I'd like pudding please."
Me: "That's desert, you need to eat lunch first, so what would you like?"
J.G: "Nothing."
Me: "You need to eat some lunch to get pudding"
J.G: "But, I don't want lunch so can I go right to having pudding?"

Z.A: (wearing a shirt with a shark on it) "Laura, are you scared of my shirt?"

While playing animal charades:
M.H: "neigh neigh"
J.R: "Goat! A goat! Goats neigh!"
M.H: "No, no they don't! They definitely don't neigh!"

 Me: Okay, let's go wash our hands before lunch!
J.R: "Oh yay! Oh, wait, wash are hands? I take that oh yay back then...."

J.R: "Did you know? My girl friend is the name of the helper in cooking!"
Us: "Lucy?"
J.R: "Yup! We met in nursery school."

A.M-U: "It's bbq for lunch because it's America's birthday!!"

In music, Kenny, the music-guy-extraordinaire sings a bunch of songs with rhyming. Usually, we the counselors egg the kids into saying orange or silver. This time he asked J.P for a  color and without being egged on he shouts: ORANGE! We were all laughing so hard, it was great.

A.M-U: "This part of my brain is fighting with the other part of my brain over who controls my body."

We were playing duck duck goose and the kids were getting so original with what they were saying. A.F had several great ones: "Spider, spider, web" "Hulk, hulk, robot" and "insect, insect, bug"

We're off to a great summer!

Happy 4th!

We had a really nice weekend.  We were lazy on Saturday, I dragged myself from bed to go to synagogue, then I relaxed around the pool for a bit.  Sunday it was really rainy (read pouring most of the day) and we were pretty nervous our annual tradition of going to the Kensico Dam for fireworks would be rained out. But, the sun will come out tomorrow by nightfall. So we were off to the dam! 

The dam is right off the center of the county. They built the 9/11 memorial on the exact center of the county and it's always nice to walk around it each year and remember those who died on 9/11. And to remember the freedoms that we are so privileged to enjoy in this country. Not to mention the memorial is simply stunning. 

 What I love each year about fireworks at the dam is that you see people of every race, ethnicity, and religions. And it makes you realize, that on July 4th, we forget color and beliefs and political party and all celebrate the birth of our country. It's what America is all about. Celebrating that we live here in this country because we have the freedom to make choices, and celebrate as we wish, and be who we are free from persecution.

 Then, after night falls, they launch fireworks in front of the dam.  The dam wall acts as an amplifier and you really hear and feel the fireworks.  This year's show was AWESOME! It had to be over 20 minutes and they had some amazing fireworks.  There were some really new and interesting ones and they had a nice mix of low ones and high up ones.  The whole crowd was ooh-ing and ahh-ing!

My camp was open on the 4th. And I actually didn't mind all that much.  Only 3 of my campers came, and then one left around noon, so we spent the rest of the day with 2 campers (counselors outnumbered campers 4:2!). We spent close to two hours in the pool in the afternoon, first swimming and then for counselor pool olympics.

I competed in the relay races. First jumping in and swimming to the shallow end and back, then swimming a lap with noodles at our feet and arms (harder than it sounds), and then while wearing a sopping wet t-shirt (insanely hard!). It was a fun way to spend the day and a really great way to stay cool.

Then we decided to be lazy and stay in and get front row seats to two amazing firework shows, the one in NY and the one in Boston. Next year I am hoping for watching the Boston show in person!

Camp days

Camp is off to a roaring success.  My group of guys is fantastic and the summer will be awesome.  They are really adorable little guys and have kept us laughing day in and day out (and there have only been 2 days so far)!

We've enjoyed lots of time in the pool, music, playground fun, nature, delicious lunches, and sports. The rest of the week has a jammed packed schedule too - and the last two nights I have been vegged out on the couch by 8:30 and sound asleep a little after 10!

They also say the cutest things!

I asked M.B to swim to me yesterday and he replied: "I'd be delighted to!"

My back was a bit red (an inability to tan - I blame genetics) and J.G asked me: "Tamar, why is your back red like a tomato?"

A.M was telling me all about the Titanic and how it sank and they didn't have enough lifeboats and how icebergs need to be avoided - so adorable coming from an almost 5 year old!

There is a set of twins in my group, they aren't identical but look similar, especially when wearing identical bathing suits - M.B was sitting between them during lunch and he was clearing confused and probably thought he was seeing double.  He'd look at M.H then over at W.H and then back to M.H and was clearly confused but couldn't figure out why!

So far so good - 2011 summer at Beth El Day Camp is going great and I can't wait for the next 33 days!

And for now - time to crash: come 8:40 tomorrow am there will be 12 5X spidermen ready for a fun day at camp!

Not a failure, just more informed.

I just wrapped up my last class of Summer A and now am officially on summer vacation (once I mail in my last [finished] assignments).

The last class I had this session was Behavior and Classroom Management. I was super excited for this class and knew I would learn so much that I would be able to use in the classroom.

And the class really was informative, I learned so much.  I also realized so much. I kept having flashbacks to camp last summer.  I had a wonderful bunk, but a few of my campers had some behavior issues and at times I was at my whits end managing their behavior.

I had so many "aha" moments during this class. Realizing how I should have handled situations or how I could have worked through a hard situation.

Then at times I felt down on myself. I felt bad about how I had handled situations, I felt guilty for yelling when I should have been directive and calm.

But then I realized, I did the best I could, heck I did a pretty darn good job with the knowledge I had in my pocket and the support I had from the director. And my campers had a great summer, no one got hurt, no one got lost, and the memories from that summer are forever etched in my mind.

And this summer, I am more informed, more knowledgeable, and I know we will have an even better summer!

Dairy Turkey

I heard this story from the sports director at camp.

Somehow the subject of school birthdays came up. He remembered being in first or second grade and a classmate had a Thanksgiving birthday. The kid celebrated his birthday in class with an ice cream cake shaped like a turkey. Zach then remembers bursting into tears. When his teacher asked him why he was so upset, he told her that he was not allowed to eat the "turkey" because he only ate kosher meat!

He then told us that in retrospect he could also have an "issue" with mixing milk and meat!

Oh, the life of Jewish children!

Things My Campers Say 3

It's the last week of camp, I'm really going to miss these little fellas.

A few days ago we were changing in our room (a rare occurrence) and one of my campers, E, decided he did not like the shirt his mom had packed in his bag that day. He was getting upset and Alex tried to calm him down:

Alex: E, what's wrong?

E: I don't like this shirt.

Alex: Well, why don't you wear the shirt in your emergency clothes bag.

E: Emergency clothes?

Alex: Yea, the clothes your mom brought in case of an emergency.

E: Do I need to call 911 to wear them?

Some of our campers are a bit slow in the changing after swim department. J, who works at his own pace was eager to get done quickly so he could help get afternoon snack. So eager in fact that we all witnessed this happening. He quickly takes off his bathing suit, puts on one sock and one shoe, than the other sock and shoe. He stands up, packs his bag up, and shouts "I'm done first!!!" We sorta stifled our laughs and pointed out he forgot three key items. He then smacked his head and went "Oh, I'm so silly!"

This isn't funny per say, but I want to remember it. A few weeks ago the "purple" bracelets (sorta kinda can swim) were put in the middle section of the pool (2.5 feet to 3.5 feet). D was very nervous to be in that section and was clinking to me for dear life. He was so freaked out at one point, even where he could touch the bottom that he started to scream "I DON'T WANT TO DIE." He went through this several times until we realized he wasn't crying, but laughing hysterically.

Another one I want to remember is that this same little guy, D, had to get a palette expander. The first day we had it he was eating pickles at our BBQ lunch. The poor kid, he got the pickle stuck on top of the expander. After three attempts at fishing it out the nurse took a tweezer and pulled it out. D, so in love with pickles he took it from her, and managed to eat it! Talk about determination!

S.W loves karate. His favorite part? The "magic" cereal they receive at the end of the 1/2 hour. When we asked him how it was magical he responds, "oh, it's really just fruit loops, but Sensei says it's magic so I play along!"

A few days ago I mentioned how much I love karate, even though the counselors don't go into karate, ie we love the 1/2 hour break! T hearing me say this goes, "how can you love karate? You don't get to watch me!"

J's birthday is right after camp ends and he is beyond excited! He was jumping up and down about turning 5 today and he and S had a cute little exchange.

J: I'm going to be 5!!!

S: I'm older than you, I'm already 5!

J: I know! BUT, when I turn 5 we'll be the SAME AGE!!! (there is no way to show how excited he was about this!)

Every time we leave a special I get the boys to do a big "THANK YOU" to the specialist. A few days ago their thank you was weak.

Me: Oh, boys that thank you was weak.

C: What's weak?

Me: It's when something is not strong, this was weak because your thank you was not very loud.

C: Oh! That's not weak, its not strong!

I know there are more, I wish I could remember them all!

Things My Campers Say 2

They honestly keep getting cuter...

S: J! There is a famous guy, named Jake!

J: Ok, so?

T: Why are all my counselors' moms and dads in their 50s?

Me: Because we're old.

T: You're not old, you're young!

(LOVE this kid!)

E.F: I have no more smiles left for pictures...

Alec: Does that mean you're not happy?

E.F: Of course I'm happy!

One of our little guys can test limits with listening to directions, but this shows he hears me loud and clear!

E.K: (while organizing a duck, duck, goose game) I only choose quiet boys! (which we say to them all the time!)

W: Know I'm really in love I have a read heart bead!

um, melt my heat!

Alec: E.K and W are under the table together... okay, that sounded really wrong.

J calls the ABCs the ABCDs.

Erica (the Asst. Director describing how counselors should look when carrying banners on banner day) You know those people who work at Disney World? You know how they have their eyes glued open and act like they are on crack? Act like that. Yes, I said crack.

T: (when in music and telling the music specialist how many strings are on the ukulele) *shouts* 4! (he is showing 5 fingers though!)

One adorable little guy learned how the sign language for the song Shalom Chaverim in nursery school. Whenever he hears it in music he immediately begins doing the signs, it melts my heart!

D: I cannot find my bathing suit, I cannot find my bathing suit!

Me: D, you're holding it.

D: Oh.

E.K: I need to tell you something!

Me: Yes, E.K.

E.K: When is lunch?

Me: E.K, that's a question.

E.K: Oh, I have to ask you something!

One little guy tends to get so absorbed in our avtivities he forgets his name. One day I called him over and he didn't move he instead shouted: "S.W, Tamar wants you!!!" Yes sweetheart, that's you!

Cannot believe how their minds work!

Things my campers say

Camp is off and running, fast! It has been a great first two days! We have beaten the record heat and humidity setting days and are having a blast!

My group is an adorable group of 13 little 4 1/2 and 5 year olds. I have all their names down and I haven't lost anyone yet!

So, so far I have heard these adorable/funny things coming from my boys!

T: Tamar, how old are you?

Me: I'm 22.

T: Oh that makes you 20 years younger than my mom. She's 42.

Me: That's right.

T: And you're 18 years younger than my dad. He's 40.

*I could not do math like that when I was 5!!*

C: Tamar why don't you sound like you normally do? (I have an awful case of laryngitis, fun right)

Me: I got a cold and my voice got sick.

C: Oh, I hope it comes back soon, this voice sounds funny.

E: (after a mini wrestling match during soccer): Well, the real soccer players wrestle on the field!

Me: Yes, but even they are not supposed to do that. And they get in trouble when they do.

E: Does this mean I have to get a yellow card?

I'm also having fun seeing other kids that went to my mom's nursery school, they have been a little surprised to see me somewhere else.

J: But, how can you be here?

Z: Hi Idie!! (My mom)

Me: Zoey, I'm not Idie!

Z: I know, but you look like her!

That's it for now! There are 33 more days for them to say adorable things!