My name is Geertje, age 21 and a Roeland volunteer for the past five years. The first time I left home to be a teacher at a camp, I was a bundle of nerves. Would I succeed in giving the children the same wonderful time as I once had at camp? But now, five years and twenty camps later, being a teacher is as challenging and fun as it was the first time.
Every camp is different
There are no two camps alike, that is the beauty of being a teacher. Even when you return to the same location or when you cooperate with the same team, there is always something new to experience. This time you are kayaking through pouring rain to find yourself watching a movie with a hot cup of coco afterwards, the next time the sun is omnipresent and you’re chilling at the lake after kayaking. Different circumstances tend to generate their own stories.
Theme days for a unique experience
This summer in Stenay, we tried to make every camp day stand out by introducing different themes. For example: we had a Willy Wonka Day, an Inside Out Day, a Hunger Games Day, and a Disney-themed day. It was fantastic to see how the teachers and children really submerged in these settings. Every day had a unique vibe to it, with an unforgettable experience as a result.
Magic at the Harry Potter Day
My personal favourite? Beyond any doubt: Harry Potter Day. Even before the camp started, we had floating invitations, ‘Wanted’ posters for every teacher and a system for scoring points, designed for the ‘Houses’ to challenge each other. We converted the dining room to The Great Hall of Hogwarts, with all the magic of the sorcerer’s world.
One of the highlights was definitely our self-designed Sorting Hat, who could read a personalized message for the attendees. And the rest of the day was all about scoring points, during language labs or sports activities, with a game of Quidditch as grand finale.
The ultimate fulfilment after the camp
The stories, posted on Instagram by our participants afterwards, are an endless source of joy for me. The posts are about their favourite moments, often accompanied by messages about how they already miss the camp days. Which, in my opinion, is incontrovertible proof of a successful camp. And there is no greater fulfilment for a teacher to know you contributed to an unforgettable experience.
Geertje
Teacher French language camps
