Camden NJ....what a sight!
We are starting our new project this week at the Camden Children's Garden. We left MD on Friday much to our dismay. Camp Conowingo was a wonderful place to have our first project because it was easy work and fun afternoons. We spent most of our working hours picking up sticks, raking leaves, maintaining trails, and trying to stretch out our work so that we can have a full work day. The work was easy so that gave us plenty of time to goof off and enjoy each other's company. Our sponsors were also awesome. Dennis and Jeff work at the camp year round and it is just to two of them on the 600 acre camp. My team saved the two of them about a month of work beautifing the camp.
Working there also allowed us to do some great team bonding! Because we were well secluded there were two options for my team. We could have either learned to hate each other with so much time to get on everyone's nerves...or we could have enjoyed the company that each one of us had to give. Luckily we learned to love each other! We played lots of games, had a few bonfires, asked lots of get to know you questions, and went exploring together. We even got to tell ghost stories in a haunted manor at midnight! We had no internet access and no cell phone reception so it was great to get out of the daily grind. I learned that I LOVE to go trail running, that any body of water can calm my brain, and that using a latrine is 10 times better when it has pictures of ponies and princesses painted inside :)
But alas, now we are in Camden, NJ. Its pretty much a 180 turn around. But, despite the negative stigma and the high crime rates of this place, I am really enjoying myself. We do have wireless and cell phone reception at our housing so thats always nice. And I am very excited for our project. We got to do a walk around at the project site on Sat and the garden looks like it will be a blast! Its so colorful, there are rides and mazes, and we can see penguins! 5 weeks in Camden may not be so bad :)
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