.WOODS CAMP- a behind the scene peek !

Yes ! thats what the counter says ! Zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero !

But to the campers , its not zero ! They have gained so much, they have gained unimaginable experience , they have found new friendship, they have discovered the spirit of camaraderie .

All the above wouldn't have been possible in their daily life--in the hostel or the university ! 

For me - this is the third activity and the second camp under my charge. I would not compare the two camping session as  each is different from the other. 

BUT WHAT THEY ACHIEVED WOULD REMAIN THE SAME !

Presently I am nursing a sinus attack gfrom the millions of layers of dust in the chalet and as such had to be on medical leave today, but later in the day I hope to write more and upload some (?) photos .

I didn't sleep well in the camp because of this and I couldnt take my medication as that would make me sleepy and I didn't want to miss a thing in the camp !

But for this posting allow me to do a short run-up of the preparation and the hard work put in. 

• the idea of a second camp came up immediately after the first camp in August 2008.
• This was a request from Anwar, Baby Shah and gang as they refused to take off their team colour band for 2 weeks !
• Come December 2008 - the mood changed to a bowling tournament which was also conducted VERY successfully.
• Then the idea of the camp resurfaced !
• Five trips I made to Woods resort in two months for the purpose of checking, re-checking. negotiating, confirming, payment and final checking before the actual trip.
• Identifying the committee members and assigning their roles (of which they did a very good job of being independant -- anyway more on them in the next posting!)
• Looking for a good form of transportation (the last camp was flawed by the horrible transport system)
• And the marketing  -- getting students to come for the camp (which, surprisingly was the worst part of all). I am sure you students have heard me blabbering before each lesson!
• I was constantly in the woods-(pardon the pun) meaning always with problems!
• Right to the eve of the camp , confirmation had to be made to every party connected to this camp
• Only this time I left the activity part to the committees to run--but still I had to oversee the operation !

All in all the anxiety and the pain is apparent for me. This camp is on a package deal of a minimum of 50 campers. Right up to the last minute I could not garner the required 50 campers.( Finally managed 38 only) 

Numerous telephone conversations were made to negotiate but failed because Woods Resort is run by the a Corporate body and it has been so structured that they could not move out of the fixed package. 

I was on the verge of cancelling the whole camp OR go back to the old camping site (Rock Resort) which would mean a loss of credibility and also terrible disappointment for those who had signed up and paid up !

But I decided on a last attempt to re-renegotiate. I went there again (with Nazerine) and finally struck a deal where both parties compromising certain issues . And the camp is ON !

Heck --I'm sleepy again ---this medication is taking effect on me, but at least I cleared my nose block, my cheeks are not burning and I have no temperature !

So more to come on the actual camp itself in an hour or two - after my nap !!!!