Camp staff orientation, unlike most job trainings, is full of games. Icebreakers to be more specific. Those forced introductions that pressure even the most mellow individuals to be loud extroverts five minutes at a time. I saw it on the staff orientation schedule and knew it was coming-THE ANNUAL NAME GAME. 150 staff from all corners of the world-U.K., New Zealand, China and Australia-gathered in a hot field to play the name game.
You know how it goes-sit in a circle, say your name and then the names of all those introduced before you. Brad, Zach, Miguel, Barry, Mark...I can't believe I get paid to play games like this one. Eventually the most overachieving icebreaker enthusiast names everyone in the circle.
But the name game isn't the end of icebreaker mania. Next on the schedule is the "Apache Relay" which involves a series of four different icebreakers in small groups. These icebreakers are for points. I don't know why introducing points makes one uber competitive, however I experienced a new allegiance to my team and we fiercely approached each challenge. We play knockout (which I haven't played since middle school gym class), spell words with our bodies, hold hands and move a hula hoop around the circle and dance/freeze on the basketball court. To watch grown men partake in these icebreakers with such conviction is truly a treat.
More mandatory team sports follow with special leagues for competitive tug of war, ultimate frisbee, kickball and soccer. Vicious battles over the rules for kickball are fought, since, after all, it is camp staff orientation. At this point in training, few staff are aware of their actual duties or job descriptions for the summer, but at least everyone has been exposed to a good kickball game.
The "Counselor Challenge" is the next round of foolery, during which team representatives partake in wholesome contests like jalepeno-eating, chubby bunny, boat races and strength challenges. The jalepeno-eating has the most entertainment value, thanks to the facial expressions that occur when contestants are eating jalepeno pepper number 16.
And when the games are complete there are two final tests to be completed: the swim test and the van test. Most job trainings do not require a group of 150 international strangers to don a bathing suit and jump in a lake together, however, this is camp and we do just that. For a search drill we link arms and walk across the lake in a serpentine. Where is the video camera when you need it? For permission to use the waterfront, we line up on the docks and take turns swimming about 25 meters to the other side. This feels a bit like walking the plank and one overzealous swimmer in his red speedo does a full warm up series during which he lies on the dock and practices a scissor kick.
The van test requires staff to drive a 12-passenger van about 100 yards on the single lane camp road. One of the Maine state troopers administers the test to Americans and Kiwis alike. I am amazed that this simple test is all that is needed to drive a van full of children, especially when most staff are from parts of the world where driving occurs on the left side of the road!
In a couple of days, the camp staff will become the caretakers of 400 kids. Surely the icebreakers will have prepared us for that.
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