Katy's Post - It's Tuesday already???

I can't believe it's already Tuesday!  People are already starting to talk about camp ending and I just don't want that to happen! I've made such good friends and experienced so much joy - I want to stay all summer!

The girls in my cottage have really started to connect.  It's so wonderful that despite having a language barrier, they still find ways to communicate and have a great time together.  I want to bottle up the laughter I've heard and keep it forever!  They have been teaching eachother about the different cultures which is fabulous. We've practice Flamenco dancing and Irish step dancing. We've sang songs in English and Spanish. We've listened to popular music from the different countries and talked about our favorite foods that come from our cultures.

Something that I've noticed here, is that everyone is very inclusive of eachother.  When playing games and doing activities, the cara's and the campers find a way for everyone to be involved.  For example,  one cottage has been doing a well known clapping chant that uses both hands and cups passed around the table. Another cottage wanted to do the same, but one of the girls has only one arm. So, in order to include everyone, they made up a new chant with cups that everyone could do with just one arm. To see everyone participating, and working together to make sure the entire cottage was part of the chant, was inspirational.

 Another example, is on high ropes.  There are a number of different high ropes elements - climbing telephone poles, jumping off very high ladders, jumping off high platforms to reach a trapezee - these are just a few. Some children are quite nervous about participating in this activity. If they don't want to do it themselves, they have extra large stuffed animals that the children get to put on a harness, a helmet and hoist the animal up with ropes to the top of the platforms.   Similarly at high ropes, there was a boy who really wanted to go to the top platform, but he couldn't climb up the pole because he has only one leg. So, they have a special rope lift to bring him to the top so he can still jump.  Making sure everyone is included is one of the most important things at this camp.  All of this has me thinking about including everyone in school - from morning meeting, to centers, during recess, etc. 

Although it's a rainy day here in Ireland (finally!), spirits are high, laughter is abundant, and love is all around. So grateful to be here!

Hope all is well in the U.S.A.

Math Challenge - Tonight is Cabaret night. Each cottage goes up on stage to perform for 5 minutes. Some do dances, sing, play guitar, perform skits, etc. Again, everyone is included!  If they don't want to go on stage, they can choose the job of photographer, costume designer or curtin opener.  If there are 12 cottages, and each performs for the full 5 minutes, how long will Cabaret night take?