During the Eliot conference at Naramata, we celebrate both Canada Day (July 1) and U.S. Independence Day (July 4), marking them as special days and reflecting on positive aspect of nationalism - pride in our heritage and care for our land. Generally, the marking of theses day should be low key, thoughtful, and playful. Suggested activities are sports events, songs, perhaps food, and entertainment which reflects national character. No fireworks. We save the big celebration for Friday night, our last night in camp - the Gala Friday Finale. The urge to celebrate and create a spectacle and ceremonial occasion will be let loose on Friday night, in a wind-up event involving food, music, dancing, singing, costumes, movement (a lighted lantern procession) and the fire circle.
The facility provides a buffet dinner in the gym. We coordinate a supper dance. This is an occasion for costumes - all campers are encouraged to dress up, perhaps relating to the speaker’s theme. Music should be provided, and encourage dancing by all ages. An MC is needed, to coordinate the festivities. A panel of judges should award humourous awards for costumes, and novelty dances such as spot dances. At dusk, the supper dance is followed by a lantern procession to the beach, and a worship service at the fire circle, followed by a sing along. At the end of this organized program, conversations and board games (Encore?) May continue elsewhere.
Before Camp:
Check with Registrar to see what supplies are in storage at Naramata. With permission
of the Dean, purchase supplies you will need and bring to camp.
At Camp:
1. Meet with the Volunteer Coordinator, Music Director, Musical Accompanist
and Worship Coordinator as required to coordinate planning of the event.
2. Ask the Volunteer Coordinator for the names of campers who have already volunteered to assist with decorations, clean-up, etc. Keep him/her up to date on planning and recruiting for the event.
3. Advertise and promote the Friday Finale during the week through posters and the newsletter. Give it a catchy name.
4. Supplies: Check the Eliot Costume and Event Boxes for decorations (streamers, balloons, Xmas lights, etc.), make-up, cold cream, tissues, safety pins, tape, etc. See the Operations Manager for help in locating the box. The Dean has a budget for such expenses - in purchasing supplies, do not exceed the budget! For awards, ask the Children’s Program Director if s/he has materials to make awards. Keep it simple, but fun.
5. Recruit
the following volunteers:
• Decorator: To organize decorating the Gym for the event.
• Costume and make-up helpers: Recruit 2-3 people to help children with
costumes and make-up, on Columbia Hall patio (picnic tables) in the late afternoon.
Make campers aware through the newsletter that this help will be available.
• MC: The MC generally announces to campers the planned flow of activities
during the supper dance. Recruit someone who has a big voice, is funny, and
has lots of “patter”. S/He announces dances, makes a game of which
table will proceed to the buffet table, presents awards. S/He is a focal point
of the evening, and should be in costume.
• Herald: a musician (piper, drummer) or big-voiced herald leads campers
from the grace circle into the Gym for the supper dance. If not available, this
function could be assumed by the MC.
• Three judges (three is ideal): since the judges can contribute a great
deal to the evening, choose wisely. You need people who are quick and funny
- good with language and one-liners. They will sit at the organizers table and
invent awards for costumes, campers who have achieved notoriety during the week,
and winners of dance competitions. The awards will generally have double meanings,
but they should not be so clever that the children don’t understand them!
Imagination is a must. Judges should be reminded to use inclusive language only,
no sexist, racist or minority put-downs. Have the judges dress up. At the end
of the supper dance, after the MC thanks the organizers, the judges should than
the Coordinator and give awards to the MC and the Coordinator.
• Scribe: recruit someone with fancy printing or handwriting to sit at
the organizers’ table and write awards citations. (Speed is an asset!)
• Procession leader: at the end of the supper dance, the MC should coordinate
campers into an orderly procession, and indicate a leader to follow out the
door. This person could be a musician, dancer, or the Worship Coordinator, and
must be costumed.
• Clean up: recruit someone to organize removal of decorations from the gym, sorting and the return of re-usable items to storage. Coordinate with the Operations Manager.
• Safety: Use of candles adjacent to paper lanterns and flammable costumes is to be strictly controlled and follow the rules of Naramata Centre. Flashlights may be used in lanterns as an alternative. if and where candles are used, recruit safety monitors who will have containers of water, and be aware of the Location of the nearest fire extinguisher. Note that many public lantern processions have been successfully staged by the Public Dreams Society (author of the lantern-making instructions) without accident. Make all campers aware of the rules through the newsletter and MC.
Thursday:
Check in with all your volunteers to make sure they have supplies they need
and know their responsibilities
Friday:
Be on hand to assist volunteers and make sure things run smoothly.
After Camp:
You are encouraged to write a short report telling what went well, what needs
improvement, and any comments that would help the next person doing this job.
(Revised November 2003)