Camp Jewell - A Team Building Experience

Boundary Breakers
By: Eva Januszkiewicz

            It was my third time at Camp Jewell, but it sure was a new experience! After meeting all of the new inductees, the future leaders of the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Council, I knew that we had a stellar group. I came to Camp Jewell midway through the retreat, but I was eagerly welcomed. Everyone I met was very amiable and caring, but I felt that I didn’t really get to know them, seeing as how I missed the first day of camp, the day for icebreakers, and activities to get to know each other. However, when the sun set and the fire began to crackle, everything changed. James and Tea, our Camp Jewell facilitators, asked us to make a circle near the fire. We simmered down, began to relax after a fun filled day, and we became quite serious. James and Tea warned us that the activity we were about to take part in could get very personal, very serious, and very emotional…very quickly. I know for me personally, some tension arose…but I trusted my counselors and my peers to listen to me and to accept what I had to say. We started with what were called “boundary breakers.” We were asked to stay quiet, not to smirk, laugh or make comments about anyone’s answers to the questions being asked, be open, stay honest, and to pass whenever uncomfortable. The atmosphere was calm and tranquil, although the questions were not always so soothing. We started with some easy questions, the typical “get to know someone” questions. “What is the best television program?” James would ask us, or, “What is the last book you’ve read?” We answered the questions easily, but then came some of the overwhelming ones. “What moment in your life within the past six months stands out to you the most?” Some people just stayed quiet and passed, others opened up, while still others cried because of things they’ve dealt with. Many different answers were shared, and the group listened attentively and respectfully to each person who spoke. Many boundary breaker questions simply stumped me. I couldn’t think of an answer off the top of my head, or I just had too much to say. Many of the questions that were asked were very complex, deep, thought-provoking questions, while still others were uplifting. We all reflected on who we are, while getting to know each other, in ways that we may have never gotten to know each other if it weren’t for our trip to Camp Jewell. The group of youth leaders, myself included, felt as if we opened up, got a lot off our chests and we walked away from the activity relieved, knowing that there is always someone we can connect with and turn to for comfort and understanding. We shared moments that will never be forgotten, I’m sure. The activity was so impeccable that we didn’t want it to end! We grabbed the questions, ran inside the warm cabin and continued unraveling the secrets and ideas of our peers. It was surely an experience that changed us all for the better, helped us understand each other, and pulled us even closer to become the tight knit family we were meant to be.

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Bus Ride
By Joseph Morrow

         The trip to Camp Jewel was an amazing experience and it all began with the bus ride to the camp. As we all waited for the bus, we were sectioned off by our school and other stood by themselves who did not know anyone. It continued as we got on the bus and we all noticed that everyone sat with the people from their school. The bus ride was as quiet as it could possibly get and no one said a word to each other. As the weekend went by everyone became really friendly as if we were a family and all of us could tell on the bus ride back home. The bus ride home was completely different from the bus ride to the camp because no one was sectioned off by their school and we now called ourself the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Group. As soon as the bus began to move we were all giving each other our cell phone numbers to keep in touch and the bus ride was not so quiet anymore. As we got closer to home, we all received our pro-note bags and we were all smiling because of all the touching notes people have left each other. As we got off the bus we were proud to be part of the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Group.

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Meeting New People
By Josh Hahn

It was finally here! The day that Valley United Way goes to Camp Jewell. I was a little nervous about the whole experience. I knew some people but others I have never seen before. When we arrived at Camp Jewell we unpacked and then went off to do some "icebreakers" and got to know each other better. After that it was like we all had known each other for years. We were laughing, telling stories, and being friends. We became a family. It was so great because everyone accepted you for who you are. No one had any hard feelings towards anyone and we all got along. I feel at home with the new Valley United Way group. Meeting these people from other towns was one of the best, if not, the best experience I have ever had. I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing program and I look forward to working with everyone throughout my high school career. I have made wonderful friends that I hope to keep my whole life. I highly recommend the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program to any and every young leader out there!

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While at Camp Jewell, everyone spent the night in wooden cabins. When you walk in, you enter a common room with couches, tables, and a fireplace. At one end of the cabin there is a huge room for the boys, and at the other end there is another room for the girls. These rooms are where you keep your belongings and sleep during your stay at the camp. There are bunk beds lined up all around the edge of the room with a large, open space in the middle. Between each of the sleeping rooms and the common room, there is a hallway that leads to a bathroom that contains private showers. The best part of the cabin was the common room. At night, you could go into the common room to play games, sit by the fire, and hang out with all the members of the youth leadership program. The last night we were there, we came inside and finished up the Boundary Breakers activity in the common room, with everyone sitting on the couches around the fireplace. The cabin provided a warm and friendly atmosphere for all of us who stayed in it. It was a great place to stay and get to know all the new members of the Youth Leadership Program.

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Platform/Giant See-saw Activity

By Courtney Winger

On our final morning at Camp Jewell, we went out on a blindfold hike, only to reach a platform that was similar to a see-saw. About half of the group was instructed to remove their blindfolds, while the rest of us remained blindfolded. We were instructed to get every person onto the platform; however, there were some regulations. The platform was allowed to touch the ground three times and two people had to enter at a time. We were also instructed to enter from either end, but not the middle of the platform.

Those without blindfolds began by gathering the weights of everyone in the group.  For about ten minutes, those that could “see clearly” tried figuring out a plan, while the “blind” stood around waiting for instruction. After much talking, the plans were finally put to the test. We immediately learned that putting two people of the same weight on either side of the platform at the same time did not work. Then, we tried putting the heaviest boys on one side, and slowly added more people to the other side. This method was successful until the people with blindfolds had to try to maintain the balance of the platform as the weights began to balance. (This was very difficult!)

After many unsuccessful attempts, everyone took their blindfolds off, and communication became a lot easier. During this activity, it was difficult for the blinded to express their ideas, while the people without blindfolds had to guide the blinded in their every step. I think that we were so worried about making a mistake, that we were afraid to try more things.

Although we were not successful in completing the physical objective of this activity, this experience tested our communication, trust, and leadership skills. Being blindfolded, I felt like I was obliged to comply with everything the people without blindfolds told me to do. I knew hardly anything about the situation at hand, and trusted them enough to guide the way. Throughout this year, we will be faced with challenges and difficulties where some of us may be blinded. Therefore, it is important to be open to the ideas of others, while expressing your own. I think that many of us learned valuable lessons from this team-building activity that will help us work together as a cooperative team this year in VUW.

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Friendship
By Kevin Jones 

                 At 4:00 pm on April 11th I arrived at Nolan field. When I got there I was really nervous because I didn't really know anybody and I felt awkward because everybody was talking to their friends and I felt like I was the only one who didn't know anyone. But then on the bus ride this girl Penny who sat behind me told me that she felt the same way because she didn't know anybody on this trip either. That made me feel a little better because now I knew that I wasn't the only one nervous and scared. I talked with Penny all the way till we got to the camp and now I had one new friend. Then when I got up there and the girls and the guys split up into the two separate rooms we all put our stuff as far away from each other as possible. Then Jay talks about pranking our counselor Patrick and I love pranks. So me and Jay started talking about what we could do to him, and before I knew it I made another new friend. Then the next day we split up into groups and played some team building activities and we had to work together as a team to do these obstacles, and I usually keep to myself when I have ideas even if I think their good but then we all needed to talk and work together in order to get through these activities. I figured out how easy it was to talk to all of these people during these activities.

That night when we all went back to the cabin we played a game called cranium which was really fun because it was challenging and you were on teams with four people and it was really funny and took a lot of guts for some people to do what they had to do, such as drawing, acting, and humming a tune to a TV show. Then when it was time for bed all the guys who had split up in the room ended up all sleeping in the same corner and we talked for a long time that night and tried to play cards and clue.

The next day was even better with all the blindfolded activities which in order for you to be friends with someone you have to trust them and you needed to trust the person in front of you that he or she would get you through the courses safely. When you hang out with the same people from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep you just can't help but be friends with them and I think that's what happened with us because when I walked onto the bus I wished I was still home but then when I got on the bus to go home I wished I was still there. Its like what Pat said we all arrived on the bus individuals but we all left as Valley United Way members.

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Climbing Mt. Wood
By Colleen Holt

            Climbing Mt. Wood was an ultimate experience.  It was our first full day at Camp Jewell when we embarked on this adventure.  Mt. Wood is the rock wall at Camp Jewell that we all climbed and had amazing experiences.  As we were climbing Mt. Wood, the only words I heard were words of encouragement from the rest of the people in United Way that attended the trip.  I was in amazement of how we all had only known each other for less than a day and were cheering each other on.  Each one of the members had a part in motivating someone to reach their goal while climbing.  Once I had reached the top of Mt. Wood, I heard the entire group cheering and applauding for me, which was a great feeling.  After everyone had finished climbing Mt. Wood, a new light shined on the new Valley United Way group, the light of a family.

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Close Your Eyes
By Rosy Cersonsky

Close your eyes. Better yet, cover your eyes with a blindfold. No peeking. In this state, what is it you most rely on? Your hearing? Your sense of touch?

Many times this weekend we were blind. However, in these situations we relied more on others than on our own senses. We learned to trust, but we also learned to direct those whose resources were different from our own.

In one such activity, we were put into a line with our hands on the shoulders of the person in front of us. The twist: the entire line was blindfolded except for the last person. This person could not talk (the same with the entire line), but was responsible for directing the entire line through an obstacle course. It became aggravating, as each team realized they should’ve established a signal for “LARGE ROCK AHEAD” or “TREE!” beforehand. We learned some people, such as Eva, were better at giving directions, while others, such as Jay, literally only ran people into walls. Later on in the weekend, we had a similar activity, except this time everyone was blindfolded, and we were to follow a rope line through the woods; but, thankfully, we could talk. This exercise taught us communication is key, and how we all must work cooperatively as a group. When the blindfolds came off, we realized that what had seemed such an enormous feat was merely a small course. Nevertheless, we prided ourselves on how we accomplished it together. Not to say there weren’t flukes in the process though, as people did run face-first into trees or trip over rocks. At these times, those near this person would yell “STOP” and the team would wait for their fallen comrade.
 
Probably my least favorite blindfolded game was the weight/balance game. The team was given a very complex challenge: put your entire group onto a balance, a) two at a time, from either end, b) without letting the balance hit the ground 3 times, and c) making sure there’s a person on every two planks. Half of the team was blindfolded, and the challenge was immensely hard. Our team began to over-strategize, and in the end we had to give up, take off all the blindfolds, and balance it our own way.

Some blindfolded activities were purely by choice, and done alone to test one’s ability to find their way around. Some people chose to go up the climbing wall blinded. One such person said, “[It was] really, really difficult because I was reaching around to find a peg but it was a great experience because I had to feel around for it instead of using my eyes. It was really scary.”

Some blindfolded activities did not contain the entire group, but individual pairs. The group played an arena game, quite like a gladiator fight minus the killing, but there was one blindfolded person inside the arena who could move but not talk, and one non-blindfolded person outside the arena who could talk but not move. The point was for the non-blindfolded person to direct the blindfolded person to take out all the other people within the arena. The whole concept is confusing, but the game turned out to be quite the blast. After three rounds of misdirected throws and unsuccessful directions that led to nowhere, there was the final round. In this round, there were only three teams, and they were the best of the best. One team was ruthless, and took down anyone who was near them. The next was very methodical, with directions such as “TURN NINETY DEGREES LEFT”. The last was the most entertaining, as their directions were random, such as “GAS IT, GAS IT” or “MOVE IT BEYONCE STYLE” (to the left). The methodical team was taken out by a lucky throw early on. Afterwards, the ruthless team dogged the entertaining one, and the latter’s strategy was forced from annihilation of others to running away from the ruthless’ throw. Kevin eventually even ran out of the arena (because he was blindfolded). The ruthless prevailed though, securing their victory with a throw from behind. One member of the entertaining team stated, “[It was] really confusing but fun because you had to trust and listen to the person directing you and you also had to listen closely to the directions”.

These activities not only taught us to work with senses other than our sight, but also taught us to trust. We learned which teammates were better at direction giving, and direction taking. These exercises will prove useful during this year in our decision making, because some people will be blind to situations, and now we will know how we can step in to help.

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An Experience of a Lifetime
By Penny

Camp Jewell was an experience of a lifetime.  I never expected to meet such wonderful, warm, open people that I could be my complete self around.  On Friday, April 11^th, we had to meet at Nolan Field.  I was so nervous because I did not know even one person.  When I said goodbye to my mom I told her that I was going to miss her and that I was afraid of what the trip was going to be like.  As I got on the bus, a boy named Jay helped me lift my heavy bag and place it on the seat of the bus. I found a seat and sat by myself and watched as the other kids were talking and getting to know each other.  Soon I looked up and saw two other girls sitting by themselves, Hanna, who was across from me and Ari, who was diagonal from me.  We talked and soon found out that each us did not know anyone because we were new.  Soon I got up and moved to the back and rested comfortably on a normal seat, realizing that I was in the fire exit seat before which was very uncomfortable.  A boy named Kevin was sitting in front of me.  He was familiar to me because I am friends with his cousin at school.  I asked him if he knew where we were and he said that we were on our way to Wendy’s.  When we got off the bus, Kevin and I stuck together because we both felt new and nervous.  We talked and instantly became friends the rest of the bus ride to Camp Jewell.  Once we got to our destination, the bus ride, which was quiet and awkward, soon became chatty and full of excitement.  We all talked and got to know each other during our walk up to the cabin. I soon met Josh because we were both carrying up the cart of luggage.  In my other hand was my big bag rolling up the hill, Colleen soon offered to help me and then took it off my hands and rolled it up.  Everyone so far had been so sweet to me.  As soon as we got to the cabin, the girls ran to their room and we all grabbed our beds.  After we did this, we all opened up.  We found out each others' names, schools, and years we were in.  Soon afterward, Rosy, a very sweet heartfelt girl, took the conversation in her own hands and got us all to open up by talking about discrimination and stereotypes.  Right then I knew we were all going to get along perfectly.  As our journey went on everyone became so close, that it made us feel like a family.  The games that we played and he teambuilding adventures offered us room to open up and really become friends.  Although our trip was only three days, I already know I am going to be friends with everyone for a long time.  I now understand why Pat Tarasovic requires us all to go to Camp Jewell before start our year into Valley United Way.  It helps us get to know each other deeper than we could ever imagine and even more excited for every meeting and plan there is to come.

To all of you who have made me feel special and loved, I was able to open up, trust myself to trust others and laugh the most I have ever laughed in a long time because everyone just made me so happy.  I love you all and can’t wait for our year to come.

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New Friends
By Arianne Elmy

As I sat on the bus, I was somewhat scared for what I had gotten myself into. The bus was on it's way to Camp Jewell and I sat quietly trying to make small conversation. After the long quiet bus ride, we all piled out of the bus, most of the kids knew at least one person except for me- because I come from a small private competitive academic school located in Waterbury, I was not familiar with any of these kids.  However, within a very short amount of  time, I  found myself talking and sharing stories with all the other girls in our room as we all were getting situated, it was at this point that I knew I had made the right decision. By the end of the weekend even though I am not much of a " camper,"  I had a ton of fun and was sad to leave all the new wonderful friends I made.

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Note Lovin'
By: Jayhon Ghassem-Zadeh

As a returning member of Valley United Way Youth Leadership, I was skeptical to the thought that I would be able to trust and love another group of kids like last years group; it was a sort of  "Its not you… its me" dilemmas. So on Friday, April 11^th, I unenthusiastically dragged my feet in addition to two unnecessarily overflowing, cumbersome, and overweight duffle bags.  

As Pat Tarasovic, Read off the names " Penny..here, Kevin….here, Josh…."  I thought to myself " Oh boy, this is gonna  be a long weekend." On the way to camp, I noticed that everyone was unusually stiff, like planks of wood; same as last year.

Being a returning guest to Camp Jewell, I was looking forward to see my friend and former counselor JoeDon. To my utter shock and disappointment, JoeDon was no longer an employee there and went to photography school. Instead we got James, fresh from the UK, and Tea from South Windsor.  After we all got settled into the cabins,  we went to the "Deans" Room, where we first intricately designed our Pro-note bags.  These sacks of happiness, known as Pro-notes, was one of the best parts of camp.  Pro-notes were paper bags which your peers wrote about happy things from camp. The first time I did pro-notes I felt like I was back in the 3^rd grade on Valentines day.  I hoped that I would get something good, but the possibility of getting absolutely nothing haunted you the whole day; in this case the whole weekend.

By then most of us had already established a general association with each other, now all we needed was to break down our professional leadership reserves. As the weekend progressed my attitude of the whole weekend changed.  I became such good friends with everyone. The big swing came, the ice-breakers certainly shattered the ice, boundary breakers just made us closer. By Saturday, I felt as if I nearly knew these kids my whole life.

Writing the Pro-notes was actually funny, like the electoral college, everyone picked a spot were no one would see their ballot, or in this case their Pro-note. We would write a silly comment then look up at the person they are writing to and sneer.

On the way home, Pat gave us our bags in Waterbury. As a was reading the comments in my bag, I was nearly brought to tears.  I realized that Pat did it once again. She managed to bring 21 kids from all different walks of live, family status, financial status, and emotional status and made us love each other like family. 

Like the bus ride to camp Jewell, we were silent but for different reasons; we were all diligently reading our notes. The atmosphere in the bus changed from skepticism and fear of the unknown to love and unity. When I first got two Nolan field, I never would have guessed that Penny could turn any frown upside down with her laugh, or that Rosy was such a deep and loving person. I could not foresee that Arianne had such a colorful and fun personality, or that colleen was so outgoing. I'm happy that I found how awesome Stephanie is, how amicable Tim is, how  Josh is so different from his brother. Eva like always was a strong leader, Kevin and Joe were a great guy and easy to get along with,  Sarah was so friendly and loving, Paravti and Courtney were so fun and loving, and Hanna, like her older sister, made every moment great.

As I got off the bus, I noticed my bags felt remarkably lighter, however, my feet were still relatively heavy, however that's because I didn't want to leave my new found family. That's right ladies and gentlemen, my FAMILY.  I guess after all we didn't need the pro-notes to know how much we liked each other, but I am so glad that it's apart of the experience.

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