First Half of NYSP

The two and half weeks of camp were great after all the wrinkles were figured out of course.  I was placed in Physical Fitness (NYSP’s word for weightlifting).  In the weight room on campus we had four counselors during first period, 8:30 to 9:30.  During second period, 9:35am to 10:30am, it was just me and Coach Harris because the other two football councilors had to go across campus to set- up for soccer, track and field, football, and softball. At times unorganized this left the weight room but it was still a lot of fun. 

Coach Harris was great with helping me organize my rotation in the morning before the kids came downstairs.  Each of the counselors was placed in a different rotation during the hour block we had with the kids.  One counselor worked with free weights, while another taught the children about the machine weights, and I was placed in agility skills.  This took place in the long hall way.  There I ran different drills that didn’t require any weights it was just the children using their body weight. This was hard at first because all the boys just wanted to lift free weights.  It was difficult for me to keep their attention because it was easy for them to wander to a different rotation when I was concentrating on someone else.  Once I explained that doing these types of drills will help them improve in their sports they became much more interested and gave me respect.  It was fun to see throughout the two and a half weeks the kids improve.  Kids that were unable to do a proper push-up were able to do 5 of them.  That does not seem like a lot but some of the children were extremely inactive before camp. 

Discipline was everyone’s job in the weight room.  From the beginning Coach Harris, the weight room coordinator, gave everyone a stern talking to because the weight room can be fun but also extremely dangerous and what the counselors say goes without question.  With that said if anyone was not listening I would speak to them give them a warning and the next time they acted out it went directly to Coach Harris.  Lucky for us everyone behaved for the most part and no harsh punishment took place in the weight room.  In all, the weight room was extremely fun.  I had a great time getting to know the students and watching them grow and learn a different ways to excel in their sport.  

During second half of the day from 10:30am to 12:30pm I was outside on the track participating in track and field.  I have never run track in my life but “never say never!” This relates to nursing because anything can happen regardless if it is public health nursing or working in an intensive care unit.  This sport was interesting because the other two female counselors and I were 20 years old to 23 years old and we were trying our best to keep the kids under control.  The days were long and hot but went by extremely quick.  I learned a lot during the afternoon as did the kids.  I was more so placed in track and field to help keep the children under control and quite.  During the afternoon there were 3 different sports on just the track and about 45 children in each of my groups.  I hope the children learned as much as I did during the afternoon.