Hey everyone!

There are 6 days left at camp! I can't believe it. Since I last spoke to you I've been pretty busy (duh).

Immediately after my last time off I returned to find out I'd been picked as co-captain for one of the teams in colour games. Colour games is a bit like sports day in school, with 4 teams, a couple of days worth of activities and challenges, and a team winning. There are also songs, a skit, some art work, and a million different cheers to learn to cheer on your team when partaking in activities. Being captain/co-captain is a bit of an honour. You have to be nominated and voted on by the staff, as someone who has stood out, so I was really happy. By the second day my throat was pretty hoarse! The theme was willy wonka, and our team (yellow) was Mike TV. There was a lot of dressing up and silly songs. It was great fun.

After colour games we had Israeli day. Obviously here, Israel is a big deal. We have about 7 or 8 Israeli staff and they arranged different events. ODL was doing something a bit different... We spent the day inflating metre wide blue and white helium balloons. We then attached climbing ropes to said balloons. Then we attached a harness. Then we made children fly. I am not joking. This is my job.

Following Israeli day I had a 1 day rock cllimb at left fork. It was with a pretty good bunch of kids, and I spent a bit of time belaying (I'm allowed to belay rock climbs but not set them up, as I have not been trained in the set up of rocks, only high ropes...). So by the end of the 1 day rock climb I was pretty exhausted! Last week was fairly non stop. I had one day of workshops (we made bread on sticks over a fire, surprisingly good fun and very tasty) and then I had a 2 day rock climb! It's been so non stop.

The 2 day rock climb was at annapolis rocks. We had to hike a few miles there, then we set up camp whist the rocks trained staff set up some climbs. Because we only had 4 boys and 4 girls, the staff were able to climb too. I would like to put it out there now, rock climbing is not my forte. On the first day, the climb was verticle so I managed. But on the second day, we had to get over an overhang at head height to start the climb. Add to this the fact that I was barefoot (because I had come in my waking boots which were too big and clumsy for the rockface) and the fact that, let's face it, it's me we're talking about, and you have a recipe for disaster. I am so bruised right now, it's not even funny. I also have very little skin remaining beneath my feet. But I had a very good time, and it's another achievement of my summer.

Last night was the beginning of my last time off. We went to a previous ODL staff members house and had a quiet party, then today we went to Baltimore. We did a bit of shopping, then went to a tapas place overlooking Baltimore harbour. There we were, casually chilling on a balcony when a cannon went off. Such is life.

Looking forward to seeing you all in a month! Lots of love, Lucy xxx