Post Camp Processing

So, we've been away for a week or so travelling around the country. I've had a lot of down time to process and reflect upon what went down this year at camp. I didn't actually use a lot of the time thinking about the camp as I preferred to use my down time reading or running, but I'm 3/4 of the way through the last book that I brought with me on this trip and with a couple of hot nights and a long day of travel ahead I'd like to make the book last. As well, my joints could use a break from running. So I've mentally returned to the camp for a bit.  Here goes.

I think this year was much improved over our first effort two summers ago. We had almost twice as many campers and, although, that presented some management issues, especially with some of the campers who were more interested in boys than in cacao, overall the brain energy was much greater, enabling us to have more interesting conversations. I think also that the diversity of activities we did this year (cacao, botanical gardens, engomado, etc.) made for a more enriching experience for the campers. So, there´s that.

Before the camp began this summer, remember I wrote that post wondering about the benefits of this camp? I'm sure you're wondering what my thoughts are on that front now that camp is wrapped up for the summer, right? Well, as much as I would like to report that my thoughts on this matters have sorted themselves out in my head, I don't really think that would be accurate. As people responded earlier, the effect we teachers have on our students can't really be measured right away. We have to wait and see how our students develop and hope that someday they will realize how they benefitted from us. I think that's where I stand with our campers. I hope that deep down inside of them we ignited a spark of creativity, of social conscience, or responsibility, of environment concern that will someday grow into a fogon (bonfire). Maybe someday they will find themselves with the opportunity to be creative in school (or out of school, I suppose) and will recall all the art activities we did this summer. Or maybe some day they will look at their streets filled with garbage and actually see the garbage and will then be able to do something about it.

Or maybe they will simply fondly recall some nice, well-intentioned Gringos who, for a couple of weeks, took a few hours out of their hectic lives to spend with them. And if these Gringos cared enough about them to do so, maybe they will care enough about themselves to make themselves great, or something like that.(I think Elon replied to my earlier misgivings with that thought and I think he's right.)

To close, I would take you back to the beginning of this adventure. Two years ago, Tanya and I looked for a camp to send our kids for a couple of weeks while we were here visiting her parents. The idea was for them to maybe make some Dominican friends, get immersed in the culture, and learn some more Spanish along the way. When we couldn't find such a camp, we decided to create one of our own. That was the origin of Campamento Las Margaritas. I don't really think we've been all that successful with our own kids as they haven't integrated with the other campers nearly as much as we would've liked. However, the learning atmosphere we created I think ended up being of benefit to the local community. The message I take out of this is that often when you set out to do one thing, you often end up doing something completely different, but, perhaps much more valuable. That's the real meaning behind "best laid plans of mice and men" as I take it even if Mr. Steinbeck had something completely different in mind.

Out of juice, so I better post now. Plus I don´t have anything left to say.