Last Day!

I love Fridays, but I hate goodbyes..... But, we'll see you next year!
Thank you to all the parents who donated to the Feast yesterday!!!! Your contribution helped us have a awesome time yesterday and we thank you kindly for donation!
 Even though there weren't very many kids this week, I couldn't tell. All I see every morning is smiling faces ready for another day of adventure! Yesterday was great, but today is even greater!
Thank you for your support,patience,and love and we hope we give you the same!

Movies we made!

The Feast!!!!

No! You don't have to bring lunch tomorrow! Yes! You must promise to have a great time!! There will be pizza, fruit&veggies ( because I am very much into the good green earth stuff,how else did I lose 38 pds?) ice cream sundaes ( DIY style) juice, chips, and so much more!!! We'll be watching the slideshows we've made, movies the kids put together, an UNO championship, and good golly you knows what else is in store!
 If you'd like to donate anything, feel free! See you tomorrow!

Swimming, Movie Making, and More!

A great Wednesday! Of course we have another day at swim upon us, and to add to an already awesome day, we're finishing up our movie projects that we started yesterday. Tomorrow is our feast and we're pumped! We're gunna have pizza, "make-your-own" sundae, fruit, veggies.....everything! after gorging, we'll watch the movies we made and have an award ceremony where we pass out certificates to each kid! Near the end of the day we'll have our Uno Championship!
 Sounds fun, huh? I know....it's because at Empire, everyday is an adevnture!

Ok, I think I fixed it....

Alright, I tried one or two things, I think I fixed the blocked video...it was blocked because of the song Beat It......so...it should work now!!! Let me know if it doesn't!!

Yes and No!

Yes another great at camp! No!!! People are leaving! Bittersweet, but we'll see you next year, right?!
 We do know about what happened today in the greatest city in the world, and don't worry, we are not going anywhere near the Empire state building. no thank you!
 Your kids are safe here at camp, besides, if anyone causes trouble at my camp, they will have to deal with me, and I can be pretty scary! EEEERRRR!(insert mean face here)

It's really happening....

Oh no! I realized this morning at Rally that there is only one more week left....and then it's all over!More and more kids come up to me saying it's their last day or week and I can't stand to say goodbye! Promise me you'll write?
  Actually, I was on the subway not to long ago with the older kids and one of the girls was leaving. Claire says to her,"Don't worry we'll text you everyday!" I thought that was too strange so I suggested that they write to each other through snail mail. They all looked at me like I was crazy!! If loving snail mail is a crime, then lock me away! Nothing touches my heart more than a hand written note, but alas, it looks like the world is a-changin'. Only for the better I suspect.....
 I digress. Let's make sure these last few days of camp are super groovy!

Talent show info and fun!

So, still working on getting that video to load onto the blog. Sorry for the delay! I'm still waiting for someone to send me a video of the last group that performed!!!!
 Tomorrow after we go to Central Park in the morning, we're coming back to the school to decorate cakes! Hooray! Why?
 Because it's my birthday and I'll do as I please. And what I please is decorating and eating cakes!

Talent Show DVD, Week 7, and more!

 Still working on that DVD, the talent show should be up on this blog tomorrow though. The only problem is...........MY VIDEO CAMERA DIED RIGHT BEFORE THE LAST ACT!
 I know, awful!
Who knew!!?? I'm so sad watching this show all over again, laughing,tearing up, etc...and then all of a sudden.....BAM. no last act.
 If you are a kind soul, and I know you all are, please please please send me a video of the last act.
If you do this, I shall be forever grateful and pay you copious amounts of compliments for the rest of your existence.
But until then, The show must go on.....the blog! tomorrow! see you then!
oh, p.s. Monday is my birthday so there will be special activities in store for week 7!

Swim tomorrow! Serious!

Please bring a swim cap! Tommy Ho the director of Seahorse Fitness Center has said "No cap, No swim!!" and he means it. please pack a swim cap, we are happy to take the time and write their names on it!!!!
 You can also buy one from the pool for $5! We want everyone to swim, but with a swim cap!
....what am I forgetting.....
 TALENT SHOW ON THURSDAY AUGUST 16TH AT 3PM IN ROOM 100!!!!!!

Week 6!

 Talent show this Thursday! 3pm, rm100, be there or be obtuse!
Just joshin.
 But seriously, please pack a swim cap!!!! If your child comes to swim with no swim cap, the swim director will not let them swim!!!! He said he will sell you one for $5, but I don't want anyone to have to do that! Please bring a swim cap!

Here are just a few pics from the bronx zoo trip!!!

We have so many more pics to show next week!

Bronx Zoo!

I love going to the zoo. I went to high school in DC, and I loived in Van Ness. Van Ness is right next to the zoo and I would go all the time when my little brother would come and visit. We will be back around 3:45!

Another day of fun!

 WWWOOOW! 14fish were caught yesterday! Apparently they give out corn for fish catchin, but the fish don't like it! The snapping turtles do though!
 Ritchie thought of a great idea, maybe those fish like something more.......exotic, something like....deli turkey meat! Yea, we went there, and it WORKED!
 Today is another day of swim, cooking for prek/k, some art, some sports, and a whole lotta fun.
 Don't forget to bring a swim cap, ALL SWIMMERS MUST BRING SWIM CAPS!!!!
PLEASE BRING A SWIM CAP!

Strings, Fishing, and Sprinklers!!

Heyhey!! So, today is our day in central park for fishing (if you're a curious avenger or wild monkey) and sprinklers for all our little guys!
 The strings program starts today!!!! instead of the original 9-1pm schedule, Miho was nice enough to switch to the afternoon so everyone can keep swimming! Please sign up for this great program! It goes for 2 weeks everyday and is very rewarding.

Week 5!! Trips, Strings, and More!

 Yes! The rumors are true, 2nd grade and up are going fishing on Tuesday and the prek/k and 1st grade are going to the johnjay sprinklers, bring your suit tomorrow!!!
 On Thursday, we're all going to the Bronx Zoo!
Our strings program starts this week and it's not too late to sign your child up! I have flyers at drop off ready for you to view. Please don't forget your weekly newsletter,schedule, and strings program info sheet!!!!

Last Day of Week 4!!

Oh no! It's here!!!!
 I can't believe it, it's the end of week 4 already. We will be saying goodbye to a couple of kids today, and we're so sad!! It sure was fun though.
 For those of you who are staying with us this summer, we have to so much to do. Starting next week we will have Maurice, our kung fu teacher, two times a week! Also, the Strings program is starting!!! I'll be passing out flyers this afternoon!!
 Have fun and see you soon!

Central Park and Dress up day!

 It looks like it will be pretty nice out tomorrow! Hooooray! I always love going to Central Park.
 Tomorrow is the big day! Yes, pack an orange shirt and play shoes because after we show off our dress up attire, we will eat lunch and head to the park!
 You may be asking, what are you going to to do in the park?
 What AREN'T we going to do! Group games, soccer, some baseball, and good ol fashioned fun!
 Bring a water bottle, sunscreen and your costume! I actually have no idea what I'll be. Probably nothing, I never have anything prepared!
 See you tomorrow!

Remember when I said we're still going......

 Well, ok.....here's the skinny--rain is good for plants but bad for outdoor field trips. Since the older kids usually take the subway, they will stay on site today and see a movie, then come back to the school,eat, and make their own newscasts/commericals/music videos.
 The prek/k/1st graders will eat lunch here at camp and then take the school bus to the gardens at 12pm. There's a "no-rain" window between 1-3, and that's exactly when our kids will be there. The bus driver is going to stay by the gardens in case we need a quick gettaway.
 Sorry for the confusion and we'll try to get the older kids in there another day!!

YES!We're still going!

Since the forcast is not set in stone, we're still going to the gardens! If it starts to rain, we will find shelter and head back early. Do not expect us back from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens until 4!

Central Park!

I love playing games in Central Park. Eating together, playing games together, and singing cheers is what camp is all about. Tuesdays are a great day for us to come together as a camp and work as a team. We'll be putting on lots of sunscreen and drinking lots of water!! we won't be back to the school until 3:30-3:45. At the end of the day, we'll just be relaxing and talking about how great camp is!

Group Leader of the week and pick up times!

Since camp goes to till 5pm, I totally understand that some of you guys wanna get your lil ones early. Please let me know so they can be ready! Pick up can be at 4pm (after rally) or at 5pm (the end of the day)
 Also, Suhaila of the Mini Minions won Group Leader of the week! Great Job on week 2 Suhaila!!

Week 3!

 I can't believe how fast camp is moving! We're having a groovy time! The schedule for this week is packed with fun activities like Kung Fu, Fencing (how about making fencing a part of after school?hm?) sculpture, Lego Robotics, and soooo much more!!
 There's a newsletter for this week available tomorrow at sign in along with the new schedule!

Important message regarding pick up:
 Pick up from camp is either 4pm or 5pm.
So many kids are getting picked during classes, it's hard to pull them away. So, if you are to pick up your child before 5pm, please pick up at 4pm after our End of Day Rally 
End of Day Rally is usually held outside. If it's raining or too hot, we are in rm114.

 Let me know if you have any questions at all!

A Trip to the MET!

Today's our day to go to the MET museum of art. I'm so pumped! I love going to museums.
 The kids have super cool guides that I made myself with specific areas of interest and questions and activities to go with it!
 Camp is going so great! We're having an awesome time. Just remember to pack sunblock and water!

So much to say!

Last week was a blast! I want to give a super shout out to Lauren Lieberman for donating Tie Dye materials for our tie dye adventure on Thursday! Thanks to her, we have enough to do another round of Tie Dye in week 3!!!
 I am such a ninny. I can't believe I left my handy dandy notebook at school on Friday! Granted, I didn't get every parent's email, but I wanted to send the new schedule out before the week started. If you guys shoot me an email, I can send one out to you, or wait until tomorrow for a hard copy, or write your email down, and I'll email the schedule. Whew!
 Well, here's an overview:
Prek/k Group A, is now the Mini Minions! They will have Painting, Acting, Mancala, and Paper Mache on Monday.
Prek/k Group B, is the Madagascar Smurfs! They will have Mancala, Painting, Acting, and stories on Monday.
1st Grade is the Orange Dragons! They will have Paper Mache,Baseball,Painting, and Stories at the Library on Monday.
2&3rd are now The Wild Monkeys! They will have Comedy Acting, Sewing/Fencing, Baseball, and Painting.
4th&up are now the Curious Avengers! They will have Baseball,Fencing/Sewing,Paper Mache, and Painting.

 So pumped to announce the that Orange Dragons won the Spirit Stick for our first week of camp!! They did such a great job working together, showing their spirit, and having fun!!! This Tuesday in Central Park, the Orange Dragons will look for the perfect stick for Empire and they will add something special to that spirit stick that represents their group. Each week a group will win the spirit stick for outstanding behavior, working as a team, and having a great time at camp.
 The Group Leader of the week award goes to two people!!!
Melcys and Shay of the Orange Dragons!!!! They did such a great job working together and getting their groups ready for transitions, the pool, and cleaning up after themselves. They also had a great attitude the whole while! It's tough the first week getting to know a big group, but they did an amazing job of staying safe, having fun, and proving that working with kids is the most rewarding experience you can have!
 Great work girls!!

That was fast!

The first week of camp is almost over? What????
 Tie Dye was not only a success, but really fun in the process! These shirts look awesome, I mean, I knew our kids were groovy, but I know they're really groovy!
 Tomorrow is another great day. We'll be swimming, roboting, playing soccer, keepin it real, and stayin out of trouble.
 Please remember sunblock, water, and a smile for everyday of camp!

Tie Dye!!

Don't worry if your child didn't bring something to camp to tie dye today, we will gladly tie dye again this summer!
 Tomorrow morning we will be giving out the spirit stick to the most spirited group this week! This morning they will be cheering and showing off their posters and showing their camp spirit to earn that stick!
 Also, we will be anoucing the Group Leader of the Week winner for week 1!! All of our group leaders are stellar, but every week we want to show our love to those who go above and beyond!
 Kids will not be able to take the tie dye shirts home today because they need to dry overnight, but they can take them home tomorrow!!

Second Day!

The First Day of camp was AWESOME! I had so much fun! Today will be even better. First, groups are going to start decorating their classrooms and coming up with group names. I really hope a group chooses the name "King Kong". I don't know why, but it's a great name.
 We lucked out with the weather! It's only going to be about 84 degrees while we're out at the park, how lucky!
 Pick up is promptly at 5pm. Please do not come into the school looking for your child. if you need to pick up before 5, you must contact me, Bridget the Site Director first, so your child can be ready.
 Thank you for joining us this summer, and it's about to get better!!

Almost There!

Sorry I haven't rapped at y'all in a while! I've been busy with making camp 10 times better than last year I totally forgot to write in the blog!
 Not anymore though! Everyday this summer you'll probably see something from me posted on this blog!
Drop off is in room114 on the first floor of the Ella Baker School.. You're kids will receive t-shirts for camp the first few days and you will receive a newsletter (with important phone numbers,dates,and reminders),a personal schedule for your child, and a calendar for the month of July!
 We will also have a list for you to sign with your phone number(quickest way to reach you) and email address.
 Please be sure to pack a lunch everyday,a water bottle, and sun screen.
 Yes we are swimming Monday July 9th. BUT it is a swim test day. Meaning, their will not be instructional swim, just the tests.

Have you signed up for summer camp yet?