Session 3 Day 4: Water Games

It has been a hot summer day here at camp. However, even at its hottest, it is nothing like the heat in Taipei. Still, we have been making a point of keeping the kids cool and hydrated.

We finished up our last two sessions of our regular rotation activities this morning. The campers had the following schedule today:

• Pink/Red Team: Table-top games, Cooperative Games

• Blue Team: Cooperative Games, climbing

• Green Team: Climbing, archery

• Orange Team: Archery. Pond Play

  
  

Now that we have finished our regular rotation, we have several periods of “free choice” activities. The campers are given a choice of five activities, and they can choose the three that they want to do. The choices were zipline, archery, climbing, crafts, and frisbee golf. For climbing and archery, they also learn a few new things—such as knots for climbing and how to string and unstring a bow for archery. They can then take a test and pass level one or level two.

The teens had another big day with their Big River Tracing trip. This is a step up from regular river tracing, designed especially for our teen campers. The course follows a larger stream with deeper sections, including a few pools where campers can actually swim short distances. Everyone wears life jackets and helmets at all times, and the activity is carefully supervised, so even though it’s more challenging, it remains completely safe. It takes a little longer than two periods, so the teens get back for a late lunch, and then they have an extra rest period.

For our final period, we had a Water Wide Game, which youth and teen campers alike joined in. The water wide game is a series of relay races, games, and challenges that all involve water. There is lots of splashing and spraying. It is good‑natured fun and the perfect way to end a hot summer day.

This evening, we will have our Party Night celebration. The counselors dress up and act as carnival workers running a variety of games similar to those found at an American carnival or a Taiwanese night market. Campers are given tokens to spend on the games. Toward the end of the evening, the lights are turned down and the music turned up, creating a big dance party. This is a popular event, often talked about by returning campers.

A quick note on the pictures. Now that we have free choice activities, the teams will be all mixed up. You can find photos of your children in the color team folders for the morning activities, but you will have to look through the activity folders to find the pictures of your children for the afternoon activities and for activities tomorrow.

Please check out the pictures for Day 4 here.