Day one - Friday
Friday is the first day of our weekend camp. To start off, campers begin to arrive at camp around 2pm and the volunteers, who
are standing by to greet them, help them unload their luggage, wheel chairs,
etc., and direct them to the registration table. There they sign in, fill out
any necessary paper work, get their name badges and the weekend’s schedule of
events, and get their room assignments.
A volunteer will be standing by to carry their luggage, etc. and help them to their room and to get settled in, if necessary.
The first activity on the agenda, after everyone is
accounted for, is the get acquainted drum circle – a favorite of everyone. A
trained music therapist conducts the drum circle and everyone is given a
percussion instrument of their choice for this session. It is very difficult to
explain in words how a drum circle works but suffice it to say the music
therapist makes sure everyone gets a chance to use their percussion instrument,
has a lot of fun, and many good laughs. This is something you have to
experience yourself as it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Following the drum circle is dinner where grace is said, great food is
served, usually cafeteria style, songs get sung, everyone is introduced, and a funny skit is performed by the volunteers. Sometimes these are audience participation skits and are so much fun.
Friday is the first day of our weekend camp. To start off, campers begin to arrive at camp around 2pm and the volunteers, who
are standing by to greet them, help them unload their luggage, wheel chairs,
etc., and direct them to the registration table. There they sign in, fill out
any necessary paper work, get their name badges and the weekend’s schedule of
events, and get their room assignments.
A volunteer will be standing by to carry their luggage, etc. and help them to their room and to get settled in, if necessary.
The first activity on the agenda, after everyone is
accounted for, is the get acquainted drum circle – a favorite of everyone. A
trained music therapist conducts the drum circle and everyone is given a
percussion instrument of their choice for this session. It is very difficult to
explain in words how a drum circle works but suffice it to say the music
therapist makes sure everyone gets a chance to use their percussion instrument,
has a lot of fun, and many good laughs. This is something you have to
experience yourself as it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Following the drum circle is dinner where grace is said, great food is
served, usually cafeteria style, songs get sung, everyone is introduced, and a funny skit is performed by the volunteers. Sometimes these are audience participation skits and are so much fun.
A word about meals: Meals are catered and are usually served cafeteria style. Here is where caregivers get a little break. Volunteers assist the survivors with getting their meals and getting them back to the table so you don't have to worry about that. You just take care of yourself and we'll take care of the rest. Well, we'll take care of you caregivers, too, because that's why we're here.
Following
dinner
there is some free time to do whatever you want followed by an hour or
so discussion group where the survivors meet together in one room while
at the same time
the caregivers meet together in another. Each person, caregiver and
survivor,
to the best of their ability, is given time to introduce themselves to
their group and share their situation, experiences and progress. These
sessions are moderated by an experienced
volunteer to make sure everyone has a chance to tell their story. This
is the time caregivers find they are not
alone in their experiences plus they get a chance to see others
struggling with
the same problems they have and get to see how others handle theirs. It
also gives
the survivors a chance to feel comfortable by being with others
like them, to identify with other survivors, to see they are not alone
in their experiences and to see, through
them, that progress is possible. A similar discussion group is attended
on Saturday.
After these sessions, and for those facilities that are capable, we may gather around the camp fire to listen to the music therapist sing a few songs, everyone sings a few songs, and roasts s'mores over the open camp fire. You all know what s'mores are. If not, we’ll show you. After the camp fire, is another free time where campers and volunteers may do a craft, play games, socialize, or just go to their rooms and retire for the night.
Camp quiet time begins at 10pm.
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