After working here at Hartwick things work like clock work. Registration has gotten better, smoother, and easier for parents. The returning campers know the extra things to bring (window screens for example) and every Sunday night the menu is Beef Stew over Egg Noodles. As funny as it sounds that is how camp is up until the first all swimmer meeting.
Coach Dale Rothenberger has been doing this a while, I am lucky to have been on board with him for 12 years. This camp like CAL U is all about "Swimming Smart". I think one of the most important parts of each camp is that we instill great morals and values. Our "rules" help the campers be good people.
We started our evening session with a couple of "ice breaker: activities to allow swimmers to talk to new people and get them outside of their comfort zone. The simplest of things such as lining up oldest to youngest allows kids to talk and get to know people from Queens, Rochester, Victor, West Virginia, South Carolina, Penfield, and beyond. I love it because it allows me to be myself, enthusiastic and funny at the same time.
We did a "Human Knot" and a "My name is..." Ice Breaker that lead into a timed 75 followed by a solid pool session of Streamlining and Ready position. Oh yeah...81 swimmers are doing all of this.
Our water session went a bit long but we leave nothing to chance. We want kids to Swim Smart and learn new things or a different way of doing what they know.
An Ice Cream Social gave our campers the chance to enjoy something sweet while interacting with the staff and signing up for Early Bird practice.
Hartwick is a special place and a great camp. There are a lot of unique and fun personalities here.
Pictures tomorrow as I take the lead on Freestyle.
Goodnight from Hartwick...
Coach Scott
