So much has happened!!

So since the last time I wrote I have done so many things!

The first week of camp is over and I cannot believe it! My unit only had 5 girls (4 of which I had in my unit last summer) and they were awesome, honestly I could not have asked for a better week to start the camp season! I mean I did have a horse camp which I have to say are not my favourite but all the same the week went really well!

So yesterday we finished cleaning after the girls left and we then got to go on break which (I think) is one of the longest times we have off, so my new camp buddy BugBite (her really name is Sammy) invited me to stay at her house. We arrived around 8, came in, got changed and headed out to get some food. We ended up picking another camp friend, Wallaby up to go get food at a really nice restaurant called Bonefish Grill - it was SO nice to get some real food!! I had seared tuna which was amazing!! Then we headed back and slept really well!

So today we decided to go and explore Pittsburgh which was really cool! We headed to the strip district with some cute shops and AMAZING DONUTS!!!!!



Then we headed to South side which is a really nice area where we did some shopping and wandered around for a while. After purchasing a bag we headed to meet a few other international staff members for lunch at a place called the Porch in Schenley Park.





BugBite and I then headed back to her house to get changed and head out to dinner at a place called the Spaghetti Warehouse, just as the name states, we are a lot of pasta!! I also got a balloon hat made for me by a balloon artist!



We then headed to a place with a giant waterfall and got some really cute photos!! Unfortunately I need other people to send them to me so I can't upload them at the moment!

That's it for now, heading back to camp for around noon to start week 2.... I have a cooking camp!

Happy Reading!
Charlotte xx

Busy busy busy!!

So chaos has ensued! The first set of campers have arrived!

The past two days has been the Mom and Me camp in which girls come with their mums for the weekend to take part in all the activities sleep away campers can do!

Saturday was a busy day in which I was in charge of making friendship bracelets, apple pies over the fire and creek swimming!

Sunday I was canoeing all morning!! It was really fun as I was able to use my new certification to teach the mum's and daughters! It was really cool.... Until we figured out a giant tree was in the way meaning we couldn't move anywhere! We had to improvise a lot but all the kids had a lot of fun!!

So a quick a turnaround of 2 hours and the new girls have arrived! I have started the new season with a horse camp - Level 4 called "Trailblazers" and I had 4 out of the 5 kids last year so it was really nice to see familiar faces! They are super chilled and really excited to be at camp!!

Anyways I better go to bed! I have a busy day sitting at the barn tomorrow! Yay!

Happy Reading!

Charlotte xx

It's been a while

So it's been a while since I've blogged but we've had so little time to ourselves it's been really difficult!!

Firstly, I will say that I actually got a social security number this year! Woo!!

Back to camp things, staff training has been really good, definitely bonding with all the new and old staff and I love the leadership team this year, they are definitely a really great bunch of people to work with and they are SO supportive! I'm so excited for the summer!!

On Sunday night, all the staff slept out in the field across the river and it was really nice, I got to sit and talk to people I wouldn't normally have been able to talk to and I got to catch up with my BFFs!

Yesterday we had a day of conference style sessions that we could pick to go to, these ranged anywhere from learning new songs to learning about ways to deal with special needs campers - it was definitely a good and informative day! In the evening we all had a square dance and it was so good!! I love those so much!

The first lot of girls arrive on Friday so that's going to be so fun, I can't wait!!

Happy Reading!
Charlotte xx

The adventures of Dora, canoeing and other things!

So for the past couple of days the Leadership team have been having their training so the 3 of us Brits  who are Unit Counsellors have been doing jobs around camp. We've had to wash costumes, clean out boxes full of mouse poop and count cutlery!!

Today Badger (the camp director) decided we would all go on a canoe trip to Big Rock (it's essentially a big rock down the creek that you can eat lunch on and jump off of). Baloo, Verity and I, as new canoe instructors, were in charge of the canoe trip, it was really fun until it started to really really rain.... I got absolutely soaked! The creek was so fast so we decided to head back and eat our lunch back at Redwing.

When we got back from the canoe trip absolutely soaked, the internationals quickly had to change and head to the social security office. Let's hope I get one this year!!

That's it for now! Tomorrow is another cleaning day and then Thursday is when camp training starts. I cannot wait to see everyone!!

That's all for now!

Happy Reading!

Charlotte xx

Finally have WiFi!!!!

Hey Everyone!!

I haven't been ignoring my blog, I just have not had wifi yet! But I'm all good and well and have arrived home to Redwing! Yay!

I'll backtrack a little, I arrived in Pittsburgh around 6pm and my best friend/ pretty much my older sister Scooby surprised me by meeting me at the airport! She was of course greeted by a HUGE bear hug!!!

When my bag finally arrived from the plane we headed out of the airport. Scooby was driving me straight to one of the other Girl Scout camps in the area; Singing Hills for me to stay and do canoe and archery training. Little did I know she going to surprise me again and tell me that she would be staying at Singing Hills with me for the weekend! That was also great as I got to catch up on all the gossip!

Friday and Saturday were the days which I took part in canoe training, which was really fun! I was told I was a natural but I knew I wouldn't have an issue because of my rowing. The first day we learnt about the parts of a canoe and safety tips, then in the afternoon we headed to the lake that Singing Hills use to do their canoeing. We were able to practise all our new skills.... Plus learn how to capsize and get back in.... So I got very wet but it was really fun!

On the Saturday some people then moved onto the Level 2 part which is the canoe training for moving water, so we got to go on a canoe trip! That was really fun!! Although my arms and legs were soooo tired after! And good news, I passed!

I got to meet the new international staff which was good and I've been handing down my knowledge to them! On Sunday, we all took part in Archery training level 1, I liked this but not as much as the canoeing, it's definitely not a sport I'm as interested in. But all the same, I met the directors and staff from some of the other camps and we had a fun time, with lots and lots of laughs. One of which may have involved a plastic shark but that's another story!

After Archery we pretty much left straight away for Redwing, but not before we had to manage to fit 4 suitcases, 4 plastic storage containers, 2 full sized mannequins, 5 people and a few extra bits. Safe to say we were wedged pretty tight into the van!!

We arrived at Redwing around 8.30 and have been chilling and catching up for the rest of the evening which has been really cool!

Tomorrow is looking like a chilled day with some other staff arriving to start leadership training, meaning myself and the other internationals will begin to open camp up - woo!

So glad I have finally arrived at Redwing, it feels great to be back!

I think I have pretty much caught you guys up in everything!

Happy Reading!
Charlotte xx

First post of 2016!

Tomorrow is the day I will be leaving England again for 10ish weeks and I'm all very excited again! Not only am I getting to see all the friends I made last year, I get to make new ones too and of course see all the kids again!

I'm leaving from Heathrow tomorrow morning at 9.40 so I'll blog throughout the day to keep you all up to date with my travels!

Having a lovely meal with the family tonight as a farewell and then an early night for an early start!

Hope you enjoy this summer's blog posts!!

Happy Reading!

Charlotte x