[Community-service] question for everyone

Wed Feb 12 23:06:18 UTC 2014

Hi Cara,

I went to a camp similar probably to the one you work at.  I don't
know how many girls you have to supervise, but where I was there were
a lot of girls, and I could imagine why the prospect of working with
so many is intimidating.  Can you do introductory activities with them
to get to know their voices?  Also, it may help to ask them to give
you their names when they want to ask you a question or get your
attention.  Some of them will not do this, but many of them will try.

You may already do this, but learning what the activities are ahead of
time might help when figuring out alternative techniques.  That way
you can bring whatever is necessary for making crafts or learning
outdoor survival skills.
I agree that deligating is important if you need to do so, but at the
same time, I agree that you shouldn't limit yourself because of your
vision.  If you want to do something but don't quite know how to do it
as a blind person, I imagine someone either on this list or somewhere
else has encountered it before.  I always found camp fun, except for
the whole outdoorsy hiking, camping, dirty part.  Lol Ok, not my
favorite thing, but I loved the social aspect of it, and though girls
can be mean, they are also social beings and relate well to others.
An explanation of who you are and how you function might be enough for
most of them to understand and work with you more effectively.

On 2/12/14, Darian <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> I would probably add that if you can't use your vision to do it, don't think
> that you can't do it. If you're looking for alternative techniques to doing
> such supervisory tasks, feel free to ask about those two
>
> This electronic message has been brought to you by my mobile device.
>
>> On Feb 12, 2014, at 11:53 AM, Brooke Evans <brooke6358 at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> Kara,
>>
>> I was a camper in my long ago days of my youth.  Your inquiry has brought
>> a most favorite activity to mind.  This activity kept hands busy, could be
>> done on the bus, in the woods, in your room ....just about anywhere yarn
>> could be attached, like door knobs, tree limbs, the back of a chair or
>> seat.
>>
>> We made very workable weaving looms using Popsicle sticks , lots of yarn.
>> We wove belts, scarfs, table runners....the end could be tied  almost to
>> anything.  We could be involved in other activities not requiring hands,
>> of course!  The more handicrafts we junior high girls made, the more
>> competitive we became among us , the more creative we found ourselves in
>> creating different patterns, items, etc!
>>
>> We made the loom.  Using an awl, holes in each Popsicle sticks, then
>> learning how to thread the loom....all the while learning history and
>> functions of the workings of a loom.
>>
>> Do I have instructions?  I wish I could say YES!  All I have is memories
>> flooding my consciousness of those happy times weaving all over camp all
>> those 60+ years ago!  See? This activity is a good thing!  In 60+ years
>> what video game will have left the same footprint in a kids memory bank as
>> all my weaving does?
>>
>> I agree w another post to you, keep everything you do in manageable size
>> and delegate the rest to anyone in your line of vision, space!
>>
>> Many kids love "doing"for the counselor!  The kid who keeps herself
>> outside gets first dibs when delegating. This helps to keep balance in
>> groups.  Kids will do anything for you.
>>
>> Enjoy it all and leave stress to Him.
>>
>> Kara, thanks for the memories!
>> Brooke Evans
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>> On Feb 12, 2014, at 1:01 PM, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Kara,
>>>  Welcome to the list.
>>>  a few things i notice  that are generally good things to do  are to
>>> continue to have  dialog with your youth  and to  be aware of what the
>>> group generally has to say on outings.
>>>  having dialog with different members of a youth group can give you some
>>> night  into their personalities, what their concerns are about fitting
>>> in, things that are going on at home, or things they like to do.
>>>   in downtime settings you'll hear about things that your  youth might
>>> want  to talk about amunst  their peers but not in larger group settings.
>>> topics that might be good to bring up on the whole or good to know in
>>> general.  you can also tell who's getting left out bullied or  has
>>> trouble fitting in.
>>>
>>>   safety is a big concern  in these  when you are responsible for
>>> charges. many times  when on hikes or trips it is good to have youth
>>> pair-off or to simply every once and a while call out the name of a
>>> student  or youth you haven't heard from during the trip. maybe engage
>>> them in conversation about the hike  or trip. as them about themselves or
>>> something like that.
>>>   Generally the idea of changing activities up is something that is
>>> normal when you have been  at a project for a while. as to figuring out
>>> what one can do, I think it's good to think about what you want to do and
>>> then see about how to  adapt it.
>>>
>>>> On Feb 12, 2014, at 9:31 AM, Kara Campbell <kara64 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>
>>>> My name is Kara, and I just found about about this group a couple of
>>>> months ago. I am excited to become involved.  I am a youth leader in my
>>>> church. One of my responsibilities is to help plan and then to go to
>>>> girls' camp with about 35 girls.  I have done this in the past, but, I
>>>> am looking for ideas as to how I can make this a better experience. In
>>>> the past, the actual camp has been very stressful for me, mostly because
>>>> I don't feel like I am as effective as I could be. I spend most of my
>>>> time just figuring out who is who and trying to find places where I can
>>>> help. I miss cues that could alert me to trouble or a girl who needs a
>>>> little extra help.     Has anyone been in this type of situation? Any
>>>> ideas?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>> Kara
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16