blast-off (waterfront Camp Career)

I think the biggest thing to make sure the kids enjoy it here is for them to have fun. It's supposed to be fun! We want them to come back and be excited to do all of the things again. That's why we have all of the extra things that aren't just Games stuff. Arts and crafts. Capture the flag. Music. First aid. Cooking. The waterfront. Those types of things give the kids an experience that allows bonding! Add in the few adults that are there, it could easily turn the experience into something that all ages can enjoy. Who am I to deny myself of that experience personally?

Today was hotter than usual, and even our air-conditioned luxury director housing wasn't giving any sort of relief from it, so it was time to whip out the tanning lotion and the trunks. After changing and applying sunscreen (wear your sunscreen, kids!) it was time to hit the beach. I was going with one of the other head directors, and we laid our items down on the sand. The other director was taking it as a day to read, I was taking it as a day to bully have fun with the campers. This is what I've wanted anyway, an excuse to do all of the things I wish I could've done as a young boy.

In the middle of the lake we had all of these inflatables. A zipline, a slide, some swing thing, a big platform that you can shove each other off of, and then this big pillow-like inflatable. A ladder leads to one end, where someone is supposed to jump and land on said side. There ideally is someone waiting on the other side of the pillow who gets shot up into the air to then meet the water with a hard smack. The person who got blasted off goes to the end and gets blasted off themself. I think it's just a brilliant way to cause children to get hurt, but it's their fault for signing up for it! Don't worry though. The pain wears off eventually; soon enough they're climbing up the staircase to go again.

Of course, this was my only game plan. Send kids to the moon. Or the moon in terms of how far I'll blast them off this thing. Grabbing a life vest (everyone is required to have one on the lake; safety rules), I swim out to the ladder and climb up. Taking the breeze in as I stand at the top, I know whatever sad soul at the end of this inflatable water cannon is in for the airtime of their life. "Hope you're ready!" I call out to the person below and get ready to jump. "Because you're about to fly." They'll land safely.

I hope.