Flexibility

This last week and weekend were all about flexibility within the recreation industry. After the heavy snow that Prescott received a few weeks back, the freezing of the melted snow during the night time hours have caused havoc around camp. We have had several busted water pipes which have required the full attention of our hard working maintenance crew; however, since they were consumed by these issues the rest of the staff was tasked with other duties such as stocking firewood and preparing cabins for our guest groups.

Also, this weekend we were forced to close down our zipline section of the rock climbing wall because of the amount of snow and ice that was around the area. We did this because of safety precautions; however, in doing this we observed that many of the customers were displeased with the cancellation of the zipline. Being flexible also took on more meaning, on Saturday, as we cleaned several cabins around the camp in order to get it ready for a new guest group that was coming in to the facilities.

It was very difficult to be flexible with how the weather affects our jobs on a daily basis because when you are tasked with so many other things to do it makes the other spontaneous tasks more difficult manage. I am a very detail, planning, scheduling type of person and when there are times when flexibility is needed that is when I grow the most because I do something that is out of my normal comfort zone and expand my willingness to serve.

Learning Something New

This week has been very interesting with everything from snow days to slow days to now everything getting busy all over again. It's amazing to see the nature of working in the camp industry and how everyday is different and presents new challenges and opportunities.

For this weekend I'm going to be hosting for several guest groups that will be coming to use our facilities for the next several days. It's going to be a challenging time because I will be working on my public relations skills, which are not very refined, and doing various tasks for them. With the high probability of snow this weekend, my job will be made even harder as I make sure that our guests stay warm with plenty of firewood and that their needs are met to keep them safe in some cold weather conditions.

At times this internship has been difficult with the added responsibilities and stress, but I am so passionate about what I am doing here and what I am a part of in this camp that I have been able to persevere through it all and gain new knowledge and insight into all sorts of different situations.

Beyond 9-5

I've realized this last week that professors don't lie when it comes to the recreation and tourism industry being a labor intensive industry that goes beyond a normal 40 hours/week job. This past week I have been involved in the various program elements of our second winter camp. I have made a recreation video, constructed a stage/set, thought up ideas for back-up recreation games, climbed a 30ft pole to record video, etc. It has been an emotional roller coaster of a weekend from the start of the week stresses to the middle of the week triumphs to the pre-camp jitters. Our program team has really started to mesh more and more as we get these projects accomplished. We are learning how to truly trust one another and pick each other up when one of us is bogged down with too much stuff to do. With the prospect of snow this weekend during our programmed event, we have had to be flexible in our programming by creating back-up plan after back-up plan so that we can create a unique and exciting experience for our guests. I am pumped for what this weekend will bring and can't wait to see all of the kids encounter God in a whole new way.