Mixing camp and regular life?

[JJ-14A]

Hi everyone! I’m kind of new to this forum

Do you ever mix what you learn in camp (games-songs-activities) into you regular life or job? Let’s say you’re a coach, do you ever teach your players songs or camp games. Have you ever tried to teach your regular friends stuff from camp? If so, did they like it? Or do you keep you regular life and camp life separate?

[Pooka]

I've taught my friends many a camp song and game, and they tolerate it pretty well. Last year a group at school dug a new flower bed in a courtyard. It took hours but we whiled it away playing games and singing repeat songs. The next day, when we were planting flowers, they wanted to play the games again. I think I've taught others 'Zimba,' 'It's Not Hard,' and a few other table games. I tried to teach the Cup Game to people in lunch, but it didn't take.

My gym teachers decided to do a unit on teamwork last year. They were a bit put out when I knew the tricks to the games beforehand-- after all, I'd taught them to campers!

[pinescounselor]

I've played a lot of the mind games (green glass door, magic sticks, black magic, etc.) with my non-camp friends. and I babysit at a church occasionally and have played some camp games with the kids there. other than that, camp and real life are kind of separate. it makes me kind of sad :/

[Melk]

so I was playing the version of "I'm going to the moon" with dubble letters in it while in line for a ride with my boss and some people from work. Well every one had figured out the game execpt for my boss. Then we found out he is dyslexic (sp?). I kinda felt bad after that but we had a good time playing.

[runrachrunn]

I would say that I don't do so many camp activities in my day-to-day job, but programming for kids, and coming up with programs for them certainly comes from camp. I use my "big loud voice" with my kids at work fairly regularly, and I can still play a mean game of broken telephone. I don't think that camping is so isolated from real life - all the basic tennets of being at camp - communication, leadership, friendship, delegation, childishness, love - these are all things that are a part of my working (and personal) life.

[Melk]

I just had to teach my bestfriend from home camp songs so he can work on a assignment for one of his music edu. classes

[Marzz]

Sadly, most of my friends and co-workers don't "get" camp. I played Encore a couple of months ago and all my songs were camp song and so my friends didn't believe me that they were real songs. LOL. I did get some of my co-workers to do the Princess Pat a few years ago. That was hilarious as I work with a bunch of accountants and auditors.

[happy_camper]

I tell stories from camp to my friends, and I've tried teaching them games and songs, but they don't really connect with it. They LOVE the cup game though. Whenever someone does it, everyones like "oh, thats soo cool" and I'm like, "psh, I can do it faster." :)

PS - Marzz - Encore is the BEST game!! I can definatley understand your friends not understanding your songs, though!

[laurathistle]

I tell stories from camp to my friends, and I've tried teaching them games and songs, but they don't really connect with it. They LOVE the cup game though. Whenever someone does it, everyones like "oh, thats soo cool" and I'm like, "psh, I can do it faster." :)

PS - Marzz - Encore is the BEST game!! I can definatley understand your friends not understanding your songs, though!



What is the cup game?

[Pooka]

The cup game! Kinda hard to understand without being directly shown, though. (http://www.bluepineapple.com/partygames/index.php?page=cupgame)

We did it in the dining hall until the kitchen staff complained that we were cracking the cups-- which is true. The cup game can get intense. I've seen it taught to the chorus of 'This old man'-- The two claps are the 'knick nacks,' and so on.

[happy_camper]

the kitchen staff complained that we were cracking the cups

Yea, that happened to us too. Now we use styrofoam, which works okay, but they are so light that it can be hard. And if the game gets really intense, you can easily poke holes in them.

We do the cup game differently than your link expains it. It's essentially the same, but our clapping and tapping and such is different.

At my OTHER camp, the kitchen staff also complained that we were being too loud doing table chants and songs, so those were banned unless you were on the porch.
My REGULAR camp doesn't mind though.

[Pooka]

Yeah-- styrofoam and plastic don't work that well. Cup-stacking cups are great. They're meant to be played with, after all.

[Campgirlboo]

I use camp-life almost all the time, however, I work with kids year round (I'm a nanny in the camping off-season).

I also have been known to sing camp songs to strangers. ;-D