We have an amazing program that the Twin Cities YMCA started called the Sioux Initiative. This is a program throughout the summer where groups of three come out to the Rez for two weeks each and spend the days out in the communities running day camp kinds of programs for the kids. Group two was the first group that I really spent time with and they were amazing. Cole, Alana and Lauren are amazing. Two of my camp staff and I spend a couple hours with them out in Cherry Creek with the kids and it was great. We also went to Deadwood with them and have spent lots of time hanging out. It's going to be sad when they leave.
Starting this job and trying to figure out how camp was going to work and run was overwhelming, but now that I've been here for almost five months, things are exactly how I would like them to be. We have been getting a lot of rain which means I haven't been able to get down to camp nearly as much as I would have liked and we still need to get our dock in, cabins out to camp, second fire pit dug and made, buildings cleaned and tipis up, but I'm not stressed about it. I know it will get done. Our first week of camp starts June 23rd. We have our kids from Dupree for our first group so it will be a nice "test" run. haha.
For the starting of staff training, I feel like I'm pretty calm. The first night picking everyone up from the airport, we stayed in Deadwood which is a sweet place (new favorite spot in SoDak). It was a LONG day having to wake up at 4:30am to be to Rapid by 8am for the Run or Dye 5k. The race was a lot of fun and I am able to check that off my bucket list. Now on to a 10k! woot woot! After picking the staff up from the airport and getting to Deadwood, I was super stressed. I think I was just overly tired and worried about having my staff here finally and trying to make sure everyone was comfortable and good to go. My Blue was shining bright for those of you who know True Colors. I finally calmed down and mellowed out. Even on our way to lifeguard training, I was driving our truck and the front driver's side tire blew out. Thank God I was able to just laugh it off. The start to camp training!
I'm really excited to get Scout and Atlas out to camp and hope that goes alright. Everyone I've talked to out here for the most part have told me that the Rattle Snakes aren't that bad. But there are a few who freaked me out. We are getting a couple cats from one of our board members to help with the mice problem out at camp (why the rattle snakes hang around) so hopefully that will help.
I'm not sure when I will be able to make another post with camp going on, but tune in because I'm sure I'm going to have some amazing stories... Good and Bad.
With love from the Rez,
Court
