Without question, the most anticipated, the most exciting, the most high-energy moment at every Staff Training is Partner Pairings. Over 100 counselors have already spent several days together getting ready for campers, but this is a turning point. During Partner Pairings every single counselor finds out their partner, their cabin and their unit for the summer ahead.
Counselors go from being one out of an army of staff to becoming someone's partner. They become the counselor of a specific cabin. They have a Unit of counselors to belong to who will soon become their family. They belong. Suddenly a very large group seems much smaller.
I wish I could bottle up all of the smiles and screams and fist pumps and hugs and jumps from Partner Pairings and sprinkle it out the whole rest of the year. The emotions are incredible. Ask any Tecumseh counselor and they'll be able to tell you every detail of the morning of Partner Pairings-- it's unforgettable.
I think the best ideas are often borrowed ideas, so I'm going to borrow Partner Pairings.
This year our Wyld Life leadership team consists of 7 adult leaders and 45 HS Juniors and Seniors. FORTY-FIVE HIGH SCHOOLERS. That's exciting and just so dang many and kind of intimidating all at once.
So WL Leadership is going to have it's own Partner Pairings on Monday night.
We're going to organize our leaders into specific teams this year-- suddenly a very large group will seem much smaller. Every HS leader has their own adult mentor, a specific group of kids to get to know and a small group of other HS leaders to grow with.
On Monday night they might find out they're on Caitlin's team, leading 7th grade girls at Fall Creek Junior High with six of their best friends. They have a place to belong.
I can't wait to celebrate with all of our leaders on Monday night at our own version of Partner Pairings. Perhaps we'll create the kind of energy and excitement and fun that we'll want to bottle up for the whole year.
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