camp combe the crier UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday Aug 25 So Long to Summer Thrilling Thursday Friday August 19 Family/Movie Night See Page 3 Himalayan Village Huddle WEEK 8 AUGUST 15-AUGUST 19 Director’s Corner One of Camp Combe’s unique traditions, which permeates all facets of camp life, is the Bead Necklace. With humble beginnings of being a positive reinforcement and recognition tool, campers’ bead necklaces now include beads for participation and achievement beyond the original red, blue, green, and yellow beads. Primary beads of red (caring), blue (honesty), yellow (respect), Davey Hennessey and green (responsibility) are awarded each day as Counselors “catch” campers exhibiting one of the Y values. Your camper might also tell you about beads for shooting a bullseye in archery, earning camper of the day, participating in Nature activities or the Minecraft camp, and so on. Campers have even started to bring in their own beads to recognize their friends. Continued on Page 2 Like us on Facebook: Camp Combe YMCA Continued from Page 1 Once a camper earns 10 values beads (red, yellow, blue, green), they can be traded in for a Mega bead! This larger bead is more practical as it allows for more beads on a necklace, and it is also a point of pride for the child. This summer also saw an interesting idea that had the Leadership Staff talking: Mega Mega beads. These massive-sized beads were to represent 10 Mega beads of a certain color. Our conversation about Mega Mega beads first addressed if children could achieve them. I also asked, “What would happen if they earned several Mega Mega beads? Where would it stop?” I was kindly reminded that by that time, the children would have grown up to become counselors who awarded beads instead of receiving them. And while counselors still receive M.I.C.E beads (Moments In Counselor Excellence), they blossom into maturity where it becomes more rewarding to be the one giving recognition. This week, I have witnessed countless occasions where counselors are positively glowing with pride as they award beads to their campers. About a dozen children lose their bead necklace at the pool each week and, to each child, it is a tragedy. It is amazing how simple plastic beads take on such meaning and how all campers and staff wear their bead necklaces with pride. So to every parent that has been asked by their child to come to camp to look for their bead necklace: thank you. Thanks for helping your child find this artifact, this small token of summer that they will cherish for a long time. Thank you for understanding that these pieces of leather lace bind together memories and friendships. Week 9 Thrilling Thursday - So Long to Summer ! Our traditional farewell to summer. We take our favorite activities from all the Thrilling Thursdays and do a “best of” reel. Everyone comes wearing school colors to celebrate, not just the end of camp, but the beginning of an exciting new school year! GRAND FAMILY/MOVIE NIGHT THIS FRIDAY AUGUST 19TH Due to unforeseen circumstances we are rescheduling Grand Family night to Friday, August 19th , and combining it with our Movie Night. ! Come for Assembly, zip line, swimming and much more starting at 6:30pm. The family-friendly movie, which has not yet been chosen, will start at 7:30pm in the Camp Combe Amphitheater. Not in the mood for a movie, that’s ok, all our attractions will remain open until 8pm. ! No pre-registration needed. This event open to all camp families, even if you are not attending camp Week 8. ! Hope to see you all there. Week 8 Highlights Click here to see camp photos Camp Combe Photos! Guide to the Value Beads Caring Respect Responsibility Honesty
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