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Camp Journal - SuperCamp
The latest news and photos appear at the top. Come back every day to see what's new here at "Summer Camp Europe" - Village Camps!11 July, 2008
11 July, 2008
We woke up to a slight rain and cowbells on our final morning of camp. After breakfast everyone walked to the main room to take part in a game called The Maze. It is a team game where all members must 
navigate through a set path without speaking, touching or any verbal commands. The activity is a lesson on taking risks, communication and dealing with failure. Many campers realized it is alright to not always be right but also the importance of learning from your mistakes. They have really built some wonderful teams! They also tested their strength of mind by breaking boards, which was a crowd favorite!
After our morning activities a hearty lunch was enjoyed, it was time to pack for our departure tomorrow. Once the rooms had been taken care of, it was off to a shopping day in Leysin. The campers all walked to town to pick up some necessary travel items and purchase a souvenir or two for their parents!
Then after dinner the campers graduated from SuperCamp which was marked by power woosh and certificate. The night was capped off with a disco at The Farm Club. It was an entertaining and emotional day for everyone. It has been an amazing time and the staff thanks all the campers for the enthusiasm and effort. We wish you all the very best!
Photos for 10 July
Photos for 10 July, 2008
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10 July, 2008
10 July, 2008
What a fun and memorable night we had at the Mountain Hut last night. The games and stories were great but who could forget all of those noisy cows and their bells. It is incredible to wake up with scenery as beautiful as this.
We grabbed a quick breakfast and headed down the mountain to town to hurry back for our trip to Rougemont for rafting and canyoning. Half of the campers were scheduled to go rafting while the other half went canyoning. However, there will be the opportunity for everyone to do both at a later date. Some of us were nervous about the adventure ahead but we all were excited at the same time.
Once the groups separated, the fun began. The exhilarating cold water woke everyone’s senses as soon as they set foot in the river. Soon laughter from splashing, falling and watching others wild expressions were unforgettable. The trip back was filled with trading stories but soon silence set in as tired campers fell asleep. After dinner, we ended the day with group and individual reflection.
Friendships and memories are being made each day at camp and it is amazing the things we can do. Tomorrow is our last day together and we want to make the most of it. The topics addressed and activities will be failure leads to success, trust games, graduation and a disco.
One final day…”this is it!”
Photos for 9 July
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9 July, 2008
9 July 2008
What a beautiful morning! The skies are clear with terrific views of the valley and the distant mountain peaks. This was able to lift some of the tired spirits after a long day yesterday. We started the day in the main room to explore more Supercamp activities.
We started the day with the “Morning Boogie” led by one of our courageous campers, Trevor. After increasing our blood flow and alertness, we examined the learning strategies for Math and open our minds to think creatively. The combination of practical strategies allowed every camper to personalize and take ownership of the morning’s lesson.
After lunch, we departed on our trek to the mountain hut for an overnight stay. The afternoon was perfect for a hike with majestic vistas and plenty of good conversation along the way. We even found time to stop at a café near a lake to play some games and have a bit of ice cream.
When we arrived at the hut, campers were hungry for the BBQ that was waiting and some time to relax. We played games and shared life stories. What a wonderful setting for friends to get more acquainted. Tomorrow we are looking forward to a quick hike down so we can prepare for part 2 of rafting and canyoning. Stay tuned, the fun continues!
Photos for 8 July
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8 July, 2008
8 July, 2008
A Visit to the Aigle Pool
The skies are becoming clearer and the temperatures warmer over the past 24 hours. It was a late night and campers were still half asleep this morning, so to start the day, we decided a little game of dodge ball with paper balls. This was what the campers needed to get energized.
The topic of the morning was integrity. When your moral compass and your actions are in alignment this is when integrity is evident. What an important lesson to be aware of and recognize what your values are in order to match your behavior and thoughts. Introspection is a vital element of this key to success.
After lunch, we boarded the train down to Aigle again to take advantage of the fantastic weather at the water park. Slides, diving boards, a rock wall over the pool and sunbathing while talking with friends were the sun filled activities of choice. It was then back up the mountain to Leysin for dinner.
Afterwards, we played a game called “Teach the Gringo”. This contest is to teach your team leaders as much as you can about your various homes and culture. The passion of the campers was extremely fun to watch. It was off to bed with the anticipation of the hike to the overnight mountain stay tomorrow night. Hopefully we have weather like today!!
Photos for 7 July
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7 July, 2008
7 July, 2008
Some good, some bad, that is the weather we have been dealing with here in Leysin. Today we woke to cool temperatures and drizzle. So, we decided to stay inside and work on quantum reading strategies. Campers were amazed at how they were able to improve the number of words read per minute and at the same time comprehend the content better. It is all about being in the right frame of mind and training our eyes to perform the way we want. Several campers were heard saying, “This is going to really help me in school.”
After lunch, we hopped on the train to Aigle to check out the High Ropes course. This was a hit! Campers were able to explore the tree tops by walking, sliding and jumping from tree to tree. Smiles and laughing were the highlights of the afternoon. Many were also amazed they were able to overcome some of their fears and build self-confidence.
In the evening, we reflected on the day and examined the labels and masks we decide to share to the world. Tomorrow in the morning we discuss integrity then go to Aigle again for time at the pool. What a great day today and we are looking forward to another one tomorrow.
Photos for 6 July
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6 July, 2008
6 July 2008
Many campers enjoyed the sleep in today. Comments of being refreshed after our long but fun day yesterday were heard over breakfast. However, the weather has drastically changed from yesterday and the rain has returned. Luckily this did not affect the campers’ attitudes. After breakfast, the campers were off to the Main Room have a talk and activities surrounding the topic of balance. Campers examined the ideas of priorities and how to set them for yourself. The realization of there isn’t enough time to do everything and isolating oneself on one activity isn’t a healthy life choice. Searching and finding a happy medium and acquiring a diverse knowledge and ability list are a means to maximize your potential. After lunch, campers had the choice of ice skating, dodgeball, basketball or swimming. All of the choices appeared to be a hit as many campers participated in more than one. Another day in the sun with physical activity had tired campers out by dinner time. In the evening, we explored the topic of rejection. Criticism is inevitable and judgments take place frequently but it is our choice to accept or reject them. Campers learned strategies of how to cognitively and socially deal with rejection in a positive way. This was a very powerful activity that made the students truly analyze their own life and futures. Another busy day awaits tomorrow with Quantum Reading in the morning and the high ropes course in Aigle in the afternoon. What a great way to start the second week of LTC!
Photos for 5 July
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5 July, 2008
5 July, 2008
What a perfect day for an excursion! There is not a cloud in the sky and the sun is already quite warm at 8:00. After our usual breakfast at the hotel, we depart on our coach bus headed to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. We start our tour by learning about the history of the Olympic Games then disperse to explore the exhibits. The highlight of the many exhibits was the Beijing Summer games 2008. The museum was fully decorated and not only did we learn about the past and future events at the games but we were able to learn about the Chinese culture as well. Very interesting!! We then gathered outside for lunch and to start our walk along the boardwalk to the Ouchy Pool. Beautiful 
boats, flowers and architecture surround us during our walk. At the pool, we have choices of swimming in Lake Geneva, a pool with a high dive or simply relaxing with our new friends. Our sun baked bodies then left for the Montreux Jazz Festival to take in some Swiss culture. Great music, food and shopping were the highlights of the night. Concluding the night we were able to watch an amazing sun set over the lake. Today was a truly relaxing yet exciting day spent with new friends. Tomorrow we have a lesson on the importance of balance in your life in the morning then off to the local sports facilities to exercise our bodies as well as our brains. Hopefully the good weather continues!
Photos for 4 July
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4 July, 2008
4 July 2008
The clouds and the rain have passed. Hopefully we will not see them again for awhile. There were stories from last night’s autobios and the Chateau still being heard at breakfast this morning. After breakfast, we headed to the academic room for an examination of Quantum Writing strategies. Campers were quite in awe at how easy this technique and glad to have a practical tool when organizing thoughts, research and developing a cohesive essay.
Half of the campers were scheduled to go rafting while the other half went canyoning. However, there will be the opportunity for everyone to do both at a later date. Some of us were nervous about the adventure ahead but we all were excited at the same time. Once the groups separated, the fun began. The exhilarating cold water woke everyone’s senses as soon as they set foot in the river. Soon laughter from splashing, falling and watching others wild expressions were unforgettable.
The trip back was filled with trading stories but soon silence set in as tired campers fell asleep. After dinner, we ended the day with group and individual reflection. Friendships and memories are being made each day at camp and it is amazing the things we can do. Tomorrow we have a fun trip to the Olympic Museum, Ouchy Beach and the famous Montreux Jazz Festival. Camp is busy but so much fun!
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