Summer camp 2010 finished up with a flourish. It was an amazing summer. We had a record number of camps and more campers than ever before. We also had more floods than ever, resulting in water damage in the office and library. But being resourceful OSSD folks, used to improvising, the staff were able to continue to offer fabulous programming while working in less than ideal conditions.
We had some stellar councilors and volunteers working with us this year, and they all managed to keep going, despite the less than ideal conditions. In fact, I am not sure how much of the chaos other people were aware of — Emily McCauley (the summer office manager), Vanessa Doucet Roche (summer camp manager) and Thomas Swayne (all round assistant to everyone) became quite adept at coping with change. After the carpets in the office and library were ripped up, they moved the main office into my office and packed up all of the books in the library.
Everyone found new corners to work from. My favourite days were when I was propped up at the bookshelf, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. Emily took over my desk to respond non-stop to fall registrations, auditions and Open House organization. Vanessa took over the intern desk to managed a fleet of summer councilors, campers of all ages, and parent questions that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thomas, meanwhile, bounced from computer to computer, loving the challenges (did I mention that our General Manager Sheila had a computer blow up this summer?) Files were converted and reconfigured and Thomas’s quick fingers were the technological support for us less savvy OSSD staff.
We had a number of new instructors this year, and they were a great asset to the OSSD team. Highlights included David Bernstien’s fabulous “Actors’ Lab” camp, a high creative and motivated group of 13 – 17 year olds that devised an original piece for us; Jocelyn Ruano’s camp in which 6 year olds did amazing research on Greek drama, using it to create very clever scenes; Courtney Mason’s lovely 8 – 10 year old musical theatre camp that won our hearts as they explored grandma’s past.
All in all I would have to say it was the most creative summer we’ve had, but probably the most challenging as well. 4 floods in two weeks, coupled with some financial issues, was not ideal. But the staff never missed a beat. And when I left at the end of the last day, they were still singing and dancing in the halls, belting out the Broadway tunes as they tidied up studio D.
