Session 1 Day 1: Getting started

The pickup went very smoothly this morning. Thank you to all the parents for being on time and well-prepared—it really makes things easier for us. The trip to camp was uneventful, and everyone arrived happy, full of energy, and already starting to get to know their fellow campers.

We spent a bit of time settling in and unpacking. The rest of the morning was dedicated to name games and icebreakers within the color teams. For those new to Camp Taiwan, we divide campers into groups of 8 to 12, generally by age. These groups will eat meals together and move through camp activities as a team. Each group also has 2 or 3 counselors assigned to them for the week, so it’s important that everyone begins to feel comfortable with one another during these first few hours.

After lunch, campers had a rest period. They don’t have to sleep, but it’s a time to relax quietly in or around their tents. Some choose to read, but most end up playing low-key games with their tentmates. This break serves two purposes: it keeps the campers out of the sun during the hottest part of the day and gives them a chance to bond in a smaller setting. Camp is about more than just scheduled activities—it’s also about forming friendships and learning to live and play alongside others.

We kicked off our first round of regular activities in the afternoon. Each activity block is 90 minutes long, and campers will rotate through two sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon. For example, while the Red Team is climbing, the Green Team might be doing archery. Later, they’ll switch. Here’s how this afternoon’s schedule looked:

• Red Team: Climbing and Sports

• Pink Team: Sports and Crafts

• Blue Team: Crafts and River Tracing

• Green Team: River Tracing and Cooperative Games

• Orange Team: Cooperative Games and Climbing

• Teen Camp (Gray Team): Cooperative Games and Climbing (separate from the Orange Team)

If you’d like to know more about these activities, you can find descriptions here: Camp Taiwan Activities

After the final activity period, campers had time to rest and shower before dinner. They’ve just finished eating and are now spending some time writing in their journals.

In a little while, we’ll begin our night program. Tonight’s activity is a game called Survival. Campers will be divided into herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores, each group given a different number of lives. The herbivores must complete missions while avoiding being caught by the omnivores and carnivores.

That is all for tonight. Below, you will find a link to pictures of the day's events. Hopefully, you remember which team your child is on from the pickup this morning. If not, you can start by checking out the tent pictures.

Dropbox link