Well a lot has happened since my last post. To start with second session went really well at Beber Camp. The majority of kids only do one session so there is a whole new group of kids for second session. This session I was with the senior kids (15 years old) with 2 co-counselors and 13 kids it was a bit easier to manage. They were a great group of kids including a blind camper who loved camp. He has been coming to camp for many years and is able to waterski by himself, which was great to see.

The senior boys around their camp fire pit they built.

A great highlight of second session was being involved in the 3 day canoe trip off-site. We had around 35 kids and 8 counsellors and canoed down the Kickapoo, Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, which totalled about 30 miles. We camp on sand bars in the middle of the river, which was great fun. On the final morning we woke the kids up around 5am so they could paddle during sunrise. The kids loved it (once they were awake) and we saw about 10 bald eagles perched along the river, which was a big highlight.

The campers canoeing on sunrise along the Wisconsin River

Dave, Stacey and Me setting up dinner on a sand bar in the middle of the river.

The other big news, which I deliberately held of telling anyone prior to, was I organised about 20 counsellors during a day off to go skydiving!! It was awesome and something I was always wanting to do but need a little bit of peer pressure to do it. The plane took us up to 14,500 feet in groups of 4-5. We then had a free fall period of 60 seconds before the parachute and about 5mins of gliding to the ground. After the jump everybody wanted to do jump again it was that much fun.

The jumping group from back:
Mor, Lauren, Bar, Billie, Me, Bel, Oz, Stacey, Mel
Tali, Marc, Conor, Aya, Lily, Saaumm,
Paul, Dave, Callum, Visenta

Loading the plane!!!

Cruising at about 120mph over Wisconsin

Safe return and happy smiles with tandem jumper

Fireworks over near camp on Lake Beulah for 4th July celebrations

Beber Camp staff 2012

The boat drivers and some other good friends decided to stay around for a family camp, which involved  families with kids too young to come to camp come and experience what camp has to offer. The parents come as well, which allows them to check out what Beber is all about and see if it is right for the kids. The weekend was a great success and the families had a great time.

The same group also signed up for Chabad week, which is a camp for the orthodox jewish kids and to come to camp. It was a lot more relaxed from our point of view as we did not need to live with the kids in cabins. Our role was to run activities and clean up the camp ready for winter shutdown as the whole place is covered in snow in a few months.

Dave hard at work cleaning the boats before they are put away for the winter.

It was a much more relaxed week compared to session 1 and 2 so we were able to get a lot more waterskiing in to practice our skills.

Practicing carving those skies through the turns. 

Getting our pyramid under control

Finding some clean glass water to practice on. 

Our Captain Hamish (waterfront director) showing how it's done with some great sunset shots.

Practicing barefooting with some success but more practice needed.

We had a few evening activities, which including going to one of the local boat drivers friend's farm and have some shooting practice.

Me and Billie hitting the targets with some handguns.

Hitting the clay pigeon with a shotgun

It was a great wind down week for the group cleaning up the camp, running activities and getting some well deserved water skiing in. It was sad to split up the group at the end of the week. The good news is they bought the Venga Bus off me so they could travel back to Canada with it and I wouldn't need to drive it back to Canada.

The Hey-Bud group just before we all departed ways.
Bel, Hamish, Dave, Leisha, Scott, Mel, Bill, Bec, Justin, Stacey, Me

The official hand over of the Van to the guys (Bec, Billie, Bel, Scott and Dave)

The guys headed off to Canada to get there working visas before meeting a few of us in New York. I headed with Sam and Mel to Block Island in Rhode Island. We crossed 8 states, drove 1700km in 18 hours to arrive at Block Island. It was a great island that was quite touristy but didn't allow development so had its own charm. We stayed there overnight with Sam's Macedonian friend before heading to New York City to meet up with the others.

Entering the Block Island Old Harbour by Ferry

Great sunsets over Block Island

View from were we stayed overlooking a children's farm and the ocean.

We met up with the guys in New York City to hit up the tourists sites and catch a game of pre-season football. We watched the New York jets just over the Hudson River at the Metlife stadium in New Jersey.

Getting stuck into a hotdog at the New York jets pre-season game.

New York City from the Empire State Building.

The crew walking down 34th street

The crew at Grand Central Station

Taking the boat out to Liberty Island.

Right under Lady Liberty

It was a great time with the guys but unfortunately good things must come to an end and I had to head off to Iceland. I've had an awesome time in the states but it's time for a new chapter in Europe. Hope everyone is doing well and will update you soon on my Iceland adventures. Lot's of Love, Charlie