This morning I got to lead a tour in which I encountered the most chatty kids and the first disobedient kid that I've had since R.L. Stevens. My techniques for getting attention and for getting kids to stop doing things work pretty well here! Occasionally, when I was about to introduce a game I had to say, "We can either stand here and wait around, or you all can get quiet and listen so you can hear how this game works." I had a couple boys who picked up sticks, one who kept picking up the same stick twice after I told him to put it down until the third time, it was mine (Cue, "No! Come on! Let me throw it in the bushes!"). The boy ended up being one of Nicky's for the week and she gave him two checks on his first day (a first for Nicky!).
I just got in from co-leading the campfire with Rick and Hiro. We had to move the kids inside partway through because it started drizzling and getting windy. This campfire could have been better. I haven't memorized the words to all the songs yet and I totally rocked out on "Banana Slug" (to the tune of "Twist and Shout") with more gusto the week before last.
Playing guitar and singing with the kids is a big part of my job. The only song I've totally memorized that I sing on trail is Monty Python's Galaxy Song. That is, of course, because I wouldn't be able to see a song board on my night hikes and the kids don't sing with me. But I really need to memorize the other songs because there's nothing like craning one's neck to read the words on a song board to ruin the flow of a performance.
In other news, the forecast for the week - other than crummy weather - seems to be a lot of curriculum development, learning what to do with kids when it rains, and other terribly exciting fun things. Nothing like having tons of fun with kids on trail to make sitting inside seem ultra-boring!
I LOVE The Galaxy Song. Were you too young to remember when Manda sung it in one of Claire's performing arts classes? She wore a white t-shirt with gold and silver appliques of the moon and planets. After you've got it down I wish you'd post a video on YouTube or some cyberplace!
ReplyDeleteHAHA. I am too young to remember it, but I have seen a home video of it, complete with corny synthesizer/keyboard instrumentals by Claire! Did you make the shirt especially for Amanda's performance?
ReplyDeleteI'll see about the video. We're blocked from youtube here, so I don't know about that. I'm not experienced in putting videos on sites like this, or even making them on my computer at all.