Task One: Deciding On A Theme

So I know this might not be everyone's first task but for me it is. I have to decide on a theme. And the rationale behind that is the fact that everything happens around the theme. You plan crafts and activities based on it. You make your t-shirt design based on it. If you're a Christian day camp - like we are - you pick curriculum based on the theme you'd like.

Deciding on a theme is the hardest part....okay, maybe it's not but it sure feels like it!

Last year I did at super heroes theme and it rocked! I loved it.

The year before that I think the camp did a camping theme. (I wasn't there so I'm not entirely sure.)

So I think the first place to start with themes is the internet...look up day camp themes, or VBS themes.

I did and here are some of the 2011 theme ideas:

- PandaMania (Group)

- Home Town Nazareth: Where Jesus was a Kid (Group)

- Big Apple Adventure (LifeWay)

- Beach Blast (LifeWay)

- Mission to Mars: Meet a Risen Saviour (WordAction)

- Inside Out, Upside Down, On Main Street (Standard Publishing)

- SonSurf: Beach Bash (Gospel Light)

- Kickin' It Old School (Go Fish Guys)

Plus there are more, those are just the big names. If you're looking for help on picking a vbs theme curriculum there is a video by http://ministry-to-children.com/ a great ministry blog. You can find the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncx_bQs5S_k.

Unfortunately, I still feel sorta lost. I'm not really stuck to a specific vbs curriculum because I have a 6 week day camp and will be coming up with my own curriculum (like I did last year) but I need a theme. But I have some issues: my kids are inner city kids and no offence, they would not be impressed if I did a Pandamania theme. But I still need something that will work for the older and younger kids, and something that both the girls and boys can relate too.

Any ideas? So far I've thought about doing a Beach Bash, Space or Treasure Hunt theme....

The Ditzy Day Camp Director

Who's the Ditz?

So first of all I know Ditzy Day Camp Director isn't the brightest light to shine on me but the word ditzy just means scatter brained and I'm pretty sure if you've ever been a day camp director or if you ever worked at a day camp you know the feeling of being scatter brained.

So I thought I'd start by letting you know a bit about me. I'm 21 years old and I'm a day camp director. My first time ever being a day camp director was last summer. I worked at a church as their day camp director from May - August. May and June was planning and prep. July and August was hot and full of kids. We had a 6 week day camp program.

And yes I had to deal with all the day camp director (hereafter refereed to as dcd) duties. I had to hire busses, plan trips, design t-shirts, order them, promotion, hiring, budgeting, training, everything. And it was all a first! I have no idea why they hired me (shhhh don't tell them that) but it somehow all worked out. But trust me I was as scatter brained as could be.

So I guess I must have done an okay job because they hired me again for this year! This year there's a bunch of things I want to change and do better and there will be a bunch of brand news - I'm sure.

Due to the fact that I know there are other ditzy dcd's out there I thought I'd share the process with you. Maybe we help each other. I can share my mistakes and bumps along the way and hopefully you can learn from them - and me too.

So whether this is your first time as a dcd or your 30th I hope you're able to get something out of this blog. Even if it's just a laugh.

The Ditzy Day Camp Director