NYSP Reflection

At the halfway point of camp, my responsibilities as a coach shifted to that as an educator.  During the first day of class, I quickly realized that I was going to have to make an adjustment in regards to the disciplinary portion in order to make the environment conducive to learning.  While I was able to be more lenient and show my personality when playing basketball with them, the classroom required more discipline and structure.  This proved to be the most challenging aspect of teaching because the children enter the classroom with the same amount of energy that they have at their sports.  At times, obtaining a teachable environment was nearly impossible, but when achieved the desire to learn and curiosity among the children was extremely apparent.

            We focused our lessons on the personal promotion of one’s health and wellness.  Topics included nutrition, physical activity, personal hygiene, sports safety, and so on.  Additionally, we have found that allowing for an open format question time was extremely beneficial as the children always have questions that they are burning to ask.  My favorite teaching moment was during the nutrition and exercise lecture.  As a fitness and health fanatic, I enjoy helping people lead a healthy lifestyle.  Many of the children were very interested in diets that may help them lose or gain weight, or that were tailored towards sports performance.  I had the opportunity to sit down with the children and help them write a daily diet that would be conducive to their daily lives and goals.  it was great to see the sincere interest of each of the children regarding their health and their desire to become more knowledgeable in health related topics.

With the final week of camp approaching, it is hard to believe that the completion of camp is so near.  Every day was filled with activity, leaving no time to dwell on what sometimes seemed to be long, grueling days.  Whether in the classroom receiving enrichment, inside Veale participating in basketball, swimming or dance, or on the football field playing soccer and football, the children were constantly engaged and interacting with their peers.  As staff members, it has been our responsibility to provide a positive and learning environment in order to stimulate personal growth within each of the children, physically, emotionally and mentally.  My most treasured moments of the camp were building relationships with the campers, participating in sports with them, and being able to share my knowledge with them in the classroom.  Reflecting back on the camp, I can only hope that I have had a lasting impact on the children’s lives just as they did on mine.