Hi. My name is Joe.

There really is nothing like singing (actually, performing) "Hi My Name Is Joe" to a bunch of six-year-olds instead of with them.  Because it's the song of the day so it has to be sung, (or else parents will complain that we didn't follow the calendar) but the kids are too lazy and prissy to sing and act out the song themselves.

(This is a generalization.  Some of the kids do sing and act out the songs with the counselors.  Others just look at us as if we are crazy.)

Regardless, my absolute favorite part about camp is singing songs with the kids.  I don't know why - I have a terrible, terrible singing voice.  My quiet voice does not project well at all, especially in song.  And yet, it's just so much fun to sing these silly songs with a bunch of five or six year olds.


Still related to camp, but not related to song:
There is a child at the camp who has a cochlear implant.  I know that there is a lot of controversy surrounding those within the Deaf Community, but I think it is just the coolest thing ever.  This little boy was born completely deaf.  When he was about three, he received the cochlear implant.  Now at six, he can "hear" and communicate with people so well.  When the room is very loud and sounds are coming from everywhere, or when he is sitting close to a fan, he isn't able to pick out the important sounds.  And during swimming he has to take the microphone off and is not able to hear anything.  But for the most part, he is just another camper.  For preschool and kindergarten he went to a school for children with hearing impairments, but next fall he will be going to the regular public school for 1st grade, and from what I have seen of him at camp so far, he will do just fine.