Day 13: Friday 16th June

It was so cold, dull and rainy all day today. The best part of the day was lunch - chicken strips and chips! I mean I have been having salad quite a lot here, so that was a great treat. It was quite a nice chilled out day, the children are lovely.

The evening activity was the race for the arts which Alice kindly signed our girls up for - and they were not too happy haha. It was a 4k walk (i think), the girls were complaining about walking it, Alice and I were obviously very supportive and told them to suck it up haha. A few tried to cut corners which would shave around 5 seconds off, but nevertheless they finished.

The start was at the high ropes course, and began with a brave soul riding the zip line with the American Flag. I ended up with Robbie and we just walked the whole way, i'm hoping with training at the gym, by 4th session I can run it.

I'm not sure what time we finished, but Steph ran with us the last 10 metres haha.

In the canteen Robbie made his first debut rock band performance on the guitar with some of his junior lodgers which was super cute!

We then made our way to Hancock on the mini buses to go to Little Italy where some of the guys who run the rock shop at camp were performing with us. They were great! Not going to lie, it is really bugging me that the drinking age is 21 here. I mean I have been legal to drink for 3 years in the UK.

We headed home at around 12, I was sooo ready for bed.

Day 14: Saturday 17th June

Today was the last day of teaching until pur day off to Niagara falls. The little mini campers who come stay for the weekend in the empty bunks were here and it was actually kinda warm!!

My friend Kirsty whom I teach batik with on an afternoon was helping mini camp, meaning that today was my first time ever teaching a class by myself! I only had 3 children, but it was so lovely to actually feel like I am so capable to teach these children all what I know, it felt quite rewarding. I'm more of a follower, so this was definitely out of my comfort zone. But we used the wax and created some great t-shirts which we need to finish another day!

The girls are mentioning "next year when they come to camp" which is so heartwarming, I mean we must be doing something right!

The evening activity was the previews of the shows, now I am not joking, there are NINE broadway style shows performed every 3 weeks. If that isn't impressive then I dont know what is, all the kids from the ages of 6 through to 18 are all incredibly talented.

I headed to bed earlier than usual, as I was on duty and needed to get up early to go to Niagara Falls. Although, the girls thought I was deaf and didn't know they were all squished onto one bed gossiping. They're all so funny, and no sooner were they all in their own beds and asleep haha.

Day 15: Sunday 18th June

The majority of the bunk went to go and see Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway today, I can't wait to hear all about it.

Today was a lazy day for camp, so those whom don't go on the Broadway trips get to watch movies and have a BBQ by the pool which is so lovely. However, as a staff day off, we went on the trip camp organised for us to Niagara Falls.

By the time we eventually set off, it was 6.15am, and we made a pit stop a few hors later at a service station and had McDonalds for breakfast.

We arrived on the New York State side of Niagara Falls at around 12pm ish. It was SOOOO HOT and so windy. I literally made the effort with my hair too and it was all for no point, as it quickly became a tangled mess which resulted in me shoving it up haha.

We WALKED over the border to Canada, haha it sounds so funny that you can wall 10 minutes over a bridge to a different country. I was also now in the country where the God almighty Biebs was born - which happens to be about an hour and a half away!

I even brought my AmeriCamp top along to take an AmeriCampy photo.

After crossing passport control and lingering around taking many pictures, visiting the Coca Cola and the Hershey store, I was finally able to meet up with my Aunty Di's bestie of 30 years and her family whom live in Canada. They only live around half an hour away from the falls. I have been in contact with Morgan for around 10 years and we were finally able to meet!

They also took my to Tim Hortons which is like Canada's version of Costa. I had a tropical smoothie to cool me down which was so good.

Robbie, Amy and Kate came and found me and Kim and the gang left to head home. What a lovely family they are, Morgan has grown into such a beautiful young lady! I hope I get to meet them again one day and see them for longer this time.

We then proceeded to walk back down Cliffton Hill (which appeared to look like something out of universal studios!). We headed to the horse-shoe part of the falls to take more pictures.

Afterwards we headed back across the border as we wanted to do the Maid of the Mist boat ride - but not before stopping at duty free BECAUSE THEY HAVE EUROPEAN IMPORTED CADBURYS, AND IF THAT WASN'T SATISFACTION TO CURE THE SLIGHT HOMESICKNESS. It was so funny because we had to go pick out duty free up from a drive thru window - even though we was walking accross the border. So we started queueing up behind cars haha. Turns out the man just needed to escort us with our British chocolate to the border.

In next to no time we were back in the States and headed to the boat ride. Oh what a laugh that boat ride was. We got absolutely soaked, to the point where you question if it was actually raining or not haha.

It was such good fun and I dont think we stopped laughing and screaming - probably annoying everyone around us haha. Robbie and I saw some steps and thought it would be a fabulous idea to walk up the steps to the top, not knowing that they ended halfway up the falls and we got even more drenched haha.

We had to then climb back down the stairs and take the lift.

One thing that shocked me about today was how hot Canada is, I expected it to be cool (especially as it is more northern than the Catskills). We all burnt today which just showed how hot the sun was, and it was quite decieving when stood by the falls as it is so windy and you get sprays from the falls.

Getting back on the coach was like some kind of comedy act, it began to absolutely throw it down. So we all started running across roads and lawns to get to the coaches, for them only to start moving toward the place we were originally
stopd, meaning we all ran back. Then they drove straight past us AGAIN to park around the corner - meaning we ran again.

Day 16: Monday 19th June

Today was a hard day in the fact that I was absolutely shattered from going to Niagara the day before and being awake for soooo long! Although, the day went soo quick!

The girls and I just skipped canteen, brought back pizza and ice cream, and had a nice pamper night painting nails and then sleeping haha.

Day 17: Tuesday 20th June

Our head counselor Naomi organised for us to do wakeboarding straight after breakfast, which is like surfboarding but you're attached to a speed boat haha. Only one of the girls (Savannah) actually wanted to do it, so the girls and I sat in the sun and watched her wakeboard, she was so good!

It's so much nicer now that the weather is so much hotter, I mean this was at 8.30am.

The girl who teaches batik with me had her day off today, meaning I took a class by myself again yay!

The evening activity tonight was the magic show, some of the tricks literally are so mind blowing. I would love to know some of the tricks!

It was bowling night again tonight, it wasn't as busy as the previous week but it was still fun. We got home at around 1am.

Day 18: Wednesday 21st June

So this morning was really spontaneous! Kaija, Alice, Emily and I took ourselves to the high ropes! We did rock climbing and then zip lined down the other side. I am so scared of heights and have never hadthe strength to do any such activities. But I did it! It must easily be a 30ft rock wall, and I went up the hard side of the wall too!

I was soo prepared and had my gopro harness and the lot... started climbing and my 16gb memory card was full. What a joke. So unfortunately I didn't get to record my scary rock wall climb, I fell off so many times haha. It took Kaija and I soo long to jump off the zip line too hahah.

The day was exactly the same as every other day, fun and artsy.

The evening activity tonight was watching the campers and staff in an orchestra. WOW I have no words. It was amazing, and our lttle Kaija performed with her violin!

Day 19: Thursday 22nd June

Kaija and I had breakfast and headed back to the high ropes course, this time to complete the high roppes course. Oh my gosh, it was so scary and absolutely hilarious. Kaija chose us the hardest way around the course! We had to try walk along swings, and along a basically non existent tight rope hahah!

It was so scary!! At the end we got to zip line again! I have honestly never shook so much in my life! But thats a fear conquered I guess.

The evening activity was watching the children in rock shop, 2 of my girls were there and they rocked it!!

Thursday is counselor meeting night, and oh my gosh so much is going on this weekend that I am definitely going to try and give show weekend a blog of its own!

lots of love,

Jade xoxo