Camp OFLA 2015

French (F) German (G) Japanese (J) Spanish (S)

Lori Winne

Chair, Early Language Learning (ELL) Committee, OFLA

Monday, June 15, 2015

7:45

Hoppers to hall 2

7:55

Flag Raising

Staff

8:00

Breakfast

8:30

Camp mtg.

8:40

Clean cabin

9:15

Language lesson

(F/G/J/S)

10:30

Craft (S/F)

Song & Dance (G/J)

11:45

Hoppers to hall 3

12:00

Lunch

12:45

Rest & Change into swimsuits

13:30

Language lessons

15:00

Swim

16:00

Change out of swimsuits

16:15

Hike (F/J)

Craft (G)

Song & Dance (S)

17:15

Hoppers to hall 4

17:30

Dinner

18:00

To cabins – prepare for evening

18:30

Around the World Trivia

19:30

Int’l Playground games

20:45

Snack Time

Flag – CITs

21:00

Bank – Exchange Camp OFLA dollars

21:15

Return to cabin

21:45

Lights out

The first day at Camp OFLA 2015. Busy! Full of language, camp activity, and rain! Tuesday – rain! Wednesday – rain! Thursday – rain! Friday – rain! Saturday – rain! But that didn’t stop the outdoor language lessons, the swimming, hiking and campfires! In eleven years of Camp OFLA, this was the worst weather experience. But while camper and counselor surveys listed better weather, drier floors and Febreeze as their suggestions for Camp OFLA 2016, 100% of the first-time and returning campers enjoyed their camp experience. Most could not describe their least favorite activity for the week. Many listed “everything” as their favorite activity. The treasure hunt was a particular favorite where solving clues required the teamwork of all four languages! The treasure hunt was held this year on the last night when parents were invited to join in on the fun (and a couple of the parents thought the clues were too hard!).

Camp OFLA 2015 offered two levels of language learning – a Novice level and a Novice Mid for repeating campers or campers who had had either heritage language experience or the same language in an elementary school program or were returning campers. The Novice Mid campers were able to read a Carol Gaab book, Brandon Wants a Dog in either Spanish or in German. French, German, Japanese and Spanish classes all included Novice level campers. The daily schedule included two language class sessions – 1 ½ hours in the morning and 1 ½ in the afternoon. Each evening a different language group shares a game, craft, or presentation from their culture and then share the treat that their groups made earlier that day. Linzer cookies, homemade salsa, rice in a bag, and chocolate treats were rated high amongst the campers, H.S. counselors and teachers.

Look for new activities in 2016. Scholarships will be offered again. As more high schools encourage community service projects, H.S. language clubs have begun to sponsor their own scholarships. One of the H.S. German counselors gave up his stipend for the week and donated the money to the 2016 scholarship fund. Camp 2016 will offer two levels again in French, German, Japanese and Spanish. H.S. counselors will have a chance to apply earlier so that they can participate in training and more conversational practice before the June camp. Watch Camp OFLA 2016 on http://www.campofla.org and LIKE US on Facebook. Spread the word!

The more campers, the more CITs (counselors in training), the more H.S. counselors, and ultimately the more teachers involved in this fun and educational language and cultural experience! In the words of a first time Japanese camper “ Do Japanese again – if you don’t I will be very, very, very, very (16x) mad!