Camp Mendocino

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For our second to last week of training the entire Blue Unit went up to a summer camp near the Redwood Forrests run by the Boys and Girls Club for team building and practice for projects. It was very much like the camp in New York where I work, except the trees were ten times taller! It was FREEZING! I'm sure those of you reading this from the east coast don't have much sympathy for me out here in California- but I bet all of you have been sleeping in buildings with heat and actual doors on them... I had about five layers on all week and double that when I slept!

Our first full day was all about team building, which reminded me a lot of my camp! It was weird to be on the other side and not leading the activities. Both of the facilitators were AmeriCorps alum, although neither did NCCC. Both of their projects were education related. I never really considered any other program besides NCCC but after hearing their stories that might not be a terrible idea for next year.

The camp had a high ropes course which we got to use. I wasn't excited about it but I thought I would be ok with it, I guess I didn't realize the extent to which I am still afraid of heights... I only got about 2/3 of the way to the top before I got scared and wanted to come down! They talked me out of it and I was eventually able to get to the top and then walk across the first three wires from tree to tree, but I was shaking and panicked the whole time. There were a few other elements that I was too scared to do- if I didn't like walking across a rope to the other platform no way was I going to swing across! My team was REALLY supportive and encouraging, but I was pretty embarrassed because no one else was as nervous as I was.

The next day was our work day. The camp is situated along a long dirt road, so we were digging out trenches for water to drain. This wouldn't have been terrible- if it wasn't pouring rain!! We were soaked! Probably the worst part was going inside for lunch, getting almost warm and dry, and then having to put all our wet gear back on and go back out to keep digging for the rest of the afternoon!!

It did make me REALLY appreciate my team; we passed a few other groups who weren't working very hard at all or who just redug areas that had already been done. No one on my team was like that and we got quite a lot accomplished and finished with relatively high morale considering the circumstances.

This project was pretty good practice for our first one which will also be at a camp. Were crossing our fingers for less rain and warmer cabins!!

Leaving for Yosemite on Thursday....

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Comments

[Sarah]

Your pictures
are amazing. Must be a huge change to be in a camp environment in fall weather. Glad to hear you're having fun!