Mandarin Camp Day 1

The trip to camp went smoothly, and we had everyone settled into their tents by about 10:30 am. We started the day with a round of name games and ice breakers so that everyone could get to know each other. The campers seem to be interacting well, and we are looking forward to a fun week.

This is the first time most of you have had children at Camp Taiwan, so I will give you a brief introduction to the day. We divide the day into four 90-minute activity periods, plus a rest time after lunch and an evening program. Mandarin Camp is a smaller group than our summer camps, so there are just two teams, divided roughly by age. They will rotate through the activities as a team. Most of the activities are the same, but a few are selected or modified to suit the campers' age group.

We finished our ice breakers just in time for lunch. The campers then had their first rest time. They don't need to sleep, but they do need to engage in low-key activities with their tent groups. This is where the bonding happens that makes Camp friendships so memorable.

After the rest period, the Brown Team, the older campers, started with archery and then moved on to the slackline. This is a great activity for building balance and coordination, as well as trust and teamwork. They started with some trust-building activities. Then participants had to walk along a narrow strap, similar to a cargo strap, suspended between two pillars. Their teammates spotted them as they walked to help prevent falls. They finished with some team challenges.

The Purple Team, the younger campers, went river tracing in the afternoon. There is a small river that runs through camp, and the campers put on protective gear, including a life jacket, helmet, and river tracing shoes. They then followed the river for several hundred meters. Along the way, there are various small pools and waterfalls where they can play group games. For their second afternoon period, they tried their hand at archery.

The campers have had a chance to shower and are just finishing dinner now. In a little while, we will begin our evening program. Tonight, we will have our opening campfire. The counselors have arranged some simple songs, games, and skits. We will finish the evening by roasting marshmallows for s'mores.

The night will end around 9:00, and the campers will head down to their tents. After getting ready for bed, they will have a little free time to chat with their tent groups and debrief with their counselor before lights out.

Below is a Dropbox link to photos from the day. You will only have access to this blog for a short time, so please download any pictures you wish to keep.

That is all for today. Have a good evening.

The Camp Taiwan Team

Dropbox link