Camp Mendecino

Last weekend the Green Unit (7 teams of 10 corps members, roughly 70 people) went to Mendecino to bond over humongous trees, camp fires and ropes courses. It was fun, kinda like summer camp. Except that Americorps NCCC is pretty unorganized so times of activities were always changing, primarily angering and confusing the Team Leaders. And as they go, we go. It was a rocky start, some serious tension as blame was tossed around. The settling point was reached when every team gathered in the large mess hall for a round of "the newly wed game". For those who don't know this game, here's how it works. Each team split up 5 and 5 and sat across from each other at adjacent tables. In front of the now split teams were the names of each member of that team and it's leader. A clue was read from a neutral party, something akin to "Most likely to double dip at dinner." The goal was to match names when the time came to show the names. You got a point if both answers were the same. Although my name didn't win any points for my team, I was voted by the other half of the team to be "Most likely to go to Chuck E. Cheeses" and "Most likely to arrive at dinner on time." They think I'm a childish, fat kid. Almost nailed it.

Camp Mendecino itself is split in the middle by the aforementioned mess hall. On one side is cabins and firepits for one unit, and the other was for the other unit (two units were there at once.) On my side was a basketball court and some sort of little field that could be used for many activities. I played many a game of knockout during downtime. Which brings to something that's been bothering me for a while. I'm a solid basketball player, not amazing, not terrible. I know my role. But when it comes to knockout, I get tooled on. And I know why. Through some sort of Darwinian evolution, a generation of specialized knockout players has emerged. These players have mastered the straight shot, utilizing the backboard to it's full potential. They can make a foul shot with their eyes closed. Seriously, kids were making 9 of 10 foul line shots. If they missed it took them 3.5 minutes to make an f'ing layup but man could they shoot from teh foul line. In a regular 5 on 5 basketball game they'd be useless unless we found them wide open at the top of the key every possession. So I lost a lot of my ego that came with coming second in the 1.5 mile fitness test that happened a couple weeks ago. I officially retire from Knockout. Forever.

Anyways, I've lost my train of thought. The first day of Mendecino my team had a little service project in which we painted the head haunchos house that was looking pretty decrepit on the outside for 3 hours. We then had some free time, and went exploring. Let me tell you, California has some big ass mother fucking trees. At first you're a little awestruck, kinda like meeting someone again for the first time since childhood. It's hard at first, but once things get rolling and reminiscing begins, it's all fine and dandy. Once I went up and touched these trees and felt their spirits, it was all good. But man... they are big.

The next day we went to the ropes course and rock climbing wall. Fun stuff, I've got a great team. Very supportive, very positive. We'll see how long that lasts. In the evening each team had to make a skit and perform it in front of the whole unit. We did one making fun of the team leaders' quirks. It went over pretty well I think. I'm still in Americorps so...

So it was about 2.5 days there and 3 nights. Got ot know the team. It should be a good year. We learned that our first SPIKE (it's the term used to describe the 6 to 10 week community service projects your team does)would be in... Drumroll Please.......... SACRAMENTO!!! Yea, so I'll be living at this campus until January 19th, assisting teachers in an elementary school 5 minutes from the campus I'm at currently. I was a little bummed hearing this, consider a whole unit (7 teams, about 70 corps members) was going to New Orleans to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. But thats the luck of the draw. I've learned some things from poker: You won't win every time. But since every team has to do one service project here, doing it first is just like getting it out of the way so I can go somewhere else in the country next time.