Cyril is a Science-Technology-IT teacher, but to Roeland he’s also a guide when it comes to unforgettable adventures. What started out by coincidence transformed into a passion. In this article he talks about camp magic, and how it inspires the children to playfully learn French.
I am Cyril, and I teach Science, Technology Education and IT at Doornik Secondary School. Besides my teaching job, I also help out as a language camp volunteer for Roeland.
Why am I a Roeland volunteer?
At first it was rather coincidental. While on vacation with another organisation, I received a message, saying that the Stenay camp for the age group 13 to 15 was on the lookout for a coach. I contacted the camp and was at once accepted by the team. Since I had earlier experience with animated teaching, I already knew it was going to be fun.
The Roeland values and the unique camp vibe, those were the things that really got to me. The connection you create with the children is truly special because you break through the language barriers together. Even if they do not show it right away, the children love to speak French, and they feel supported and motivated because we encourage and reward them.
Emotional moments at camp
I’ve been to a range of different camps, and the unforgettable moments are manyfold. I saw a broad range of situations: a memorial service for a beloved one, followed by the children via a video channel, kindling friendships that last for times to come, or the children wallpapering the walls of their bedroom with pictures of earlier camps. Which reminds me to say: for the teachers, a camp is one of the many they lead, but for the children it is often THE highlight of the year. For some of the children, it’s months of anticipation before the camp, and the memories often last a lifetime.
What happens at camp?
We learn French, obviously, but besides that we offer a wide variety of activities. We’re going for walks, participate in sports games, we visit a climbing park, enjoy days at the pool and we organize big group activities. Sometimes the children work in teams, working together or against each other, or they work on individual assignments. Running, jumping, strategy games: everything goes, and there are of course diverse ways to secure a victory.
Last night magic
My favourite moment is without a doubt the last camp evening, when we have a huge celebration. I always try to process small events into a memorable recollection of the most beautiful camp moments. That can be a map we made on the first day, or some decorative artefacts from the crafts workshops: everything that can bring the week back to life. It is also the evening that every participant realizes that it is almost over. The day after, everyone is going back home, carrying a backpack stacked with memories. That last night tends to be a mixture of joy and a pinch of sadness: the week is in the past, but the memories stay.
How do I ensure an unforgettable camp experience?
By spending all the energy I can muster, no matter how tired I may feel, and by being really there for the children. It is quintessential for the participants to feel good at camp. They have to be aware of the fact that someone is always there to listen to them. Providing personal attention makes all the difference.
Learning can also be fun
The most important thing is to leave room for mistakes, so the children do not have to be afraid to make some and try again. They often do not notice that they also pick up things through daily interaction with the teachers, and not only in workshops. Novel words, sentences and expressions are being picked up all the time. Playing games is an excellent way to make learning fun, as long as you bring the level of knowledge from your participants into account.
A special memory
This year, the room I spoke of earlier really got to me. Two girls, also friends outside the camping grounds, wallpapered their room with photographs depicting scenes from earlier camps. Pictures of the games we played and other small remembrances – everything went up on the wall. They kept it safe and gave it a new destination. It felt special to see the teachers and myself from last year’s camp again in these pictures. For me it was a memory already fading, but for them it felt like they enjoyed these moments only yesterday.
