Session 7, Day 5 — Zipline Highway, Free Choice Friday!

There is a link to the Dropbox folder containing pictures from today's activities at the bottom of this post. 本篇文章下方有附上 Dropbox 資料夾連結，裡面有當天活動的照片。

Party Night was a blast! The campers were super into the games, and the counselors really played it up in their silly outfits. Later, we broke into the dance party, where campers showed off their fancy moves.

Today was Free Choice Friday! During the first four days of camp, everyone follows a pre-scheduled activity rotation and tries all the same core activities. On Friday, we change things up and let campers choose the activities they prefer. Many kids return to their favorite activity for another round, and almost everyone chooses to try something that was not part of their regular schedule. They also get to participate in activities with campers from other color teams, so when you are looking through today's photos, be sure to check all of the different activity folders to find pictures of your child.

Besides familiar activities like Climbing, Archery, and Crafts, the three new choices for today were the ever-popular Zipline ride, an assortment of refreshing Pond Play games, and the ecologically exciting Shrimping hunt.

Here is a breakdown of all six activities, of which campers were able to participate in three:

Zipline: This challenging experience is always one of the most requested choices. For many campers, it is one of the highlights of the whole week. However, it does have a height requirement, and some campers decide that it is a little beyond their comfort level, so there are always plenty of other choices available.

Pond Play: We have a small cement-lined pond at camp that is just the right size for a variety of water games. It is a great way to cool off, and once they have had enough time in the pond, the fun continues on our large slip-n-slide.

Shrimping: Camp is surrounded by small streams and pools that are full of tiny shrimp, crabs, fish, frogs, and other creatures. Campers get to explore these areas and see what they can find.

Climbing: This challenging activity is a test of both strength and courage. Not many campers chose to take a second try at the climbing wall, but those who did today really impressed us with their awesome climbing skills. Climbers were able to demonstrate their knowledge and ability to receive a Level 1 or Level 2 climbing sticker.

Archery: Campers who wanted another chance at the archery range could choose a second session. This time, they had the opportunity to work on their skills and test for a Level 1 or Level 2 archery sticker.

Crafts: This remains a favorite for many campers. Today, they worked on woven water bottle holders that they could use around camp and take home.

Tonight, we will finish the week with our closing campfire. We begin with a candlelight ceremony that gives campers a chance to slow down and reflect on their experiences and memories from the week. After that, each team will perform a skit, song, or dance for the rest of camp. There is always plenty of creativity and laughter, and the winning group will earn the highly sought-after Oscar sticker.

There are a couple of things to note for tomorrow:

1. We will post a link for the photos for the entire week tomorrow, so you can review and download any you missed. There will also be a slideshow and video of the week's highlights. We suggest you watch it with your child so that they can tell you about their favorite parts of camp.

2. We will arrive at the Taipei Gymnasium around 3 pm for camper drop-off. If you are driving, please park in one of the nearby parking garages and leave the yellow line clear for our buses. Also, please let the counselors move the campers and their luggage away from the bus before checking out your children with their bus counselor. The counselors must see and document who is taking each child, so please don't take your child without checking out.

What a week it's been! A heartfelt thanks to you all for sharing Camp Taiwan with us — we'll see you tomorrow at pickup.

See the link below for today's photos.

Dropbox Photo Link: Session 7 Day 5 (Friday)