Camp Tannadoonah Journal

What are the qualifications of the counselors? Do you perform background/criminal checks?

All of the staff are screened very carefully. After I receive their applications, I interview each of them personally. Then I call and get three references for each person. Finally, each of them is interviewed a second time by our executive director of Camp Fire. And finally, their contracts are all contingent on background checks.

18 of our 22 counselors are over 18 years old, and the other 4 are “junior counselors”, which means that they are either 16 or 17. We have a week-long staff training, during which time we go over all of the policies & procedures, safety stuff, etc.

Who is in charge at camp?

As far as the leadership - I am the camp director, and this is my 3rd year as director. I’ve been involved with Tannadoonah as a camper / counselor / board member / director since 1985. I have a doctorate in developmental psychology, with a specialty in middle childhood and early adolescence (basically ages 6-15). My assistant director, Sue Canarecci Felix, has also been involved with camp for years as a camper / counselor, and in fact was one of my counselors when I was a kid. She is a 3rd grade teacher for the Elkhart Community Schools. We also have a nurse on site for every week, and all of the staff are trained in first aid and CPR.

What is the daily schedule like? What activities do they do?

We have four activity periods per day, and the kids get to choose their activities each day. They can sign up for swimming lessons, boating (canoeing, kayaking, sailing, & rowing), photography, tennis lessons, jewelery making, a mini-triathlon, dance, and a team-building activity. During free periods they can choose from nature, sports & games, drama, crafts, and archery.

What about the younger campers?

All of the campers who are going into 3rd grade and younger are part of a group we call “Bluebirds.” Basically the Bluebirds have a counselor with them all day, and they help them get to activities and make sure that they know where to go at what time.

What does Mini Week mean?

It’s really a “sampler” week - we basically do all the same things that the kids get in a full week, but condensed into just 3 days. So on Sunday night we do check - in, swim test, and an all camp-evening activity. Monday & Tuesday we have our regular day-time schedule. Monday night we cook out and have “cabin night” - each cabin plans an activity with just their kids. And then Tuesday night we have our “closing Council Fire” and give out awards and such.

How many to a cabin? Is there a cabin leader/counselor with them? Same sex?

There are 3 (or more) counselors in every cabin, and at least two of them must be over age 18. The cabins range from 8 campers to 22 campers, depending on the size of the building. They are all definitely same-sex cabins - we have 3 boys’ cabins and 5 girls’ cabins, and they are in separate areas of camp.

It’s Survivor Week at Camp Tannadoonah! It’s our first week of the 2008 camp season, and it has been an amazing week so far. We have a total of 85 campers attending this week, and everyone is having a fantastic time.

Sunday night after we all checked in, the campers went down to the waterfront for the swim test. We were very happy that the thunderstorms all held off until we had all finished swimming and were back upstairs for dinner.

Given the crazy weather around the country this past year or so, I’ve been receiving a lot of questions about our safety procedures at camp. During staff training, we spend a lot of time discussing procedures and what to do in different situations. This is particularly relevant this year, as just last week 4 Boy Scouts were killed in a tragic accident when a tornado hit their camp.

Miss Sue (my assistant director) and I each carry walkie talkies with built-in weather radios. Whenever there is a storm watch, we alert all of the counselors in camp (by walkie-talkie), just to make sure they stay aware of what’s going on. We have several different signals for severe weather, so if a counselor doesn’t hear the message over the radio, we also blare the air horn and ring the big bell outside Main Lodge to signal an emergency.

If a tornado warning is issued, we immediately bring all of the campers to two central locations: The Dining Hall and Morris Lodge. Both of these buildings have basements, so they are the safest places in camp to bring the kids. During the time we’re waiting out the storm, we sing camp songs and play games to keep the kids calm. We monitor the weather radar and radios, and if it gets bad, we move the campers to the basements. We do periodic drills with the counselors to make sure they stay sharp and remember all of the proper procedures for various emergency situations.

Anyway… back to Survivor Week! On Monday night we had cookout and cabin night. We at hot dogs & s’mores cooked over the fire, and then each cabin planned an activity together. On Tuesday night we had a crazy game of Capture the Flag. Tonight was our Talent Show, which I’ll write about more later (and post pictures!).

We’re all having a great time, and I just know this summer is going to be the best one yet!

~Ms. Amber