In April, the Buy American, Hire American Presidential Executive Order was signed. The intention seems to be about reviewing immigration rules to ensure they protect domestic worker interests. At least  - 5 categories of the J-1 Visa are being included (Summer Work Travel (SWT), Au Pair, Camp Counselor, Interns & Trainees).  

The implementation of this executive order was assigned to a White House committee chaired by Stephen Miller. Governmental agencies working with this committee include the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Commerce Department, and Office of Management and Budget. 

​Friday,Tom Rosenberg, the President/CEO of the American Camp Association (ACA) emailed Camp Directors everywhere to call our attention to the way things are unfolding:

As of Friday, the ACA could not confirm information related to these conversations at the White House. Then Sunday, the Wall Street Journal shared this story.

Camp Arrowhead has used the visa sponsor program Camp America since the 1970's. We participate in the Camp Counselor AND Summer Work Travel programs.  Further limiting the number of VISAS awarded or even ending the program would affect us DRAMATICALLY.  Our Camp America staff add to the diversity and richness of our program but they also satisfy literal program needs; They help us fill ALL of our staff openings so that we can run a full camp.

 Great Question!

• Learn more about the J-1 Visa Programs
  • Check out the Department of State's website.
  • Read through some FAQ's below that the ACA has compiled.
  • Consider these talking points on the necessity and value of the J-1 Visas for camps
• Contact President Trump, your Senators, and Congressional Representatives.  
  • The ACA & the Visa Sponsors they work with have created a tool to make this quite simple.  They have included an editable pre-written letter . WRITE THEM NOW. 
  • The ACA has even posted samples of some more detailed letters if you would prefer to write your own. 
• Email the American Camp Association your testimonials in support of Camp Cultural Exchange: j1visa@ACAcamps.org​

What is the difference between Camp Counselor and SWT?
Camp Counselors are participants placed in positions giving direct supervision to campers. Those positions could be group/unit staff positions or program staff positions. SWT participants are in support positions in camp, such as the kitchen. They do not supervise campers. Placement agencies may term SWT participant positions with titles such as “Support Staff,” Camp Power,” etc.

Who regulates these programs and how does my placement agency fit in?
Both Camp Counselor and Summer Work Travel are part of the J-1 visa program for cultural exchange. They are regulated and monitored by U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The State Department designates organizations to be visa sponsors who actually help implement the program.  Many of the placement agencies are visa sponsors. See J1visa.state.gov/basics for more complete program information.

How many of these international participants are placed in camp?
Almost 23,000 international participants are placed through the Camp Counselor program every year and more than 5,000 in SWT camp positions.

What is an executive order?
An executive order is a directive handed down from a president or governor without involvement from the legislative or judicial branches.  Executive orders can only be given to federal or state agencies like the Department of Homeland Security or the State Department and are subject to revocation or revision by a subsequent President.

What can I do to help?

• Stay informed. 
• Be ready to act when called upon to reach out to decision makers in government with appropriate messages, which ACA will share with you if and when this is needed. We are working on a multi-level engagement strategy right now, in conjunction with our allies in this effort. 
• Share with our ACA Government Affairs team the contact information of people in your camp community who have personal relationships with relevant decision makers, like members of Congress, members of the Trump Administration, or others in positions to influence the policymaking of this Administration. Sam Hirt works for ACA with Public Policy Issues: 765-346-3391 & shirt@ACAcamps.org There are many stages to our strategy and potential contacts are very helpful.  We will provide talking points and direction as appropriate.

Can I provide stories and testimonials in support of these programs?
Yes, please do. You can send them to ACA. Email them to  j1visa@ACAcamps.org.

How does this impact this year's foreign staff who are traveling in the US after leaving my camp?
There is no impact on the current program. 

How does this impact camp's planning for international participants next season?
Placement agencies are moving forward with the planning and recruitment for programs for next season to meet camp needs. They can best answer immediate concerns. They and ACA will keep camps informed of any changes.

For our last blog post of 2017, our friends in this session’s day camp asked if they could guest blog! They were so excited to share all the adventures they had this week with everyone, take a look at what they wrote.

“This week in Day Camp 1 we had many wild and fun adventures. Our adventures took us all over camp, from the bay, to archery, to high ropes too! Everybody had a different favorite adventure. Some people liked the banana boat because it was fun and exciting. Others enjoyed the blob because they got to jump around and splash in the water with their friends. One camper enjoyed predator vs. prey because he got to run around and show off his skills. The rock wall was another favorite because campers got to go really high up and zoom down on the zip line. Another camper loved archery because he got two bullseyes and learned a new skill in the process. Another favorite was all the new games that were learned between activities, like ninja, mafia and bang. Other fun adventures included a canoe battle, and joining the Hobie 16 army for a sailing extravaganza. Overall, we had lots of new and exciting experiences and it was a great week for day camp!”

We are so happy that Day Camp 1 could share their week with you, and that we were able to share the joy of summer 2017 with everyone through this year’s blog! Keep updated throughout the year for pictures and other camp happenings!

This is goodnight and not good bye.

With joy from homestead way,
Maddie (The Office Lady) and Bethany (The Chapel Lady)

​

​Hi! My name is Annie and I am the Assistant Storekeeper, which means I spend a lot of my time behind the counter selling your kids those sweet t-shirts they come home with. But it also means that I get to watch and join many groups in their daily adventures around camp. Here is what I had the joy of seeing yesterday:
 
As the weather cleared up on Tuesday morning, H5 took on the crate stacking challenge at our High Ropes course. P3 also fastened their harnesses and spent the morning on the High Ropes bridges. Finally, P5 tested their strength and teamwork by climbing the ladders.
 
At 11:15, our youngest campers in H6 went to the Environmental Center to create their own flower crowns which they proudly modeled at lunch. The group was called up to lead the rest of camp in a song and they chose “The Princess Pack”. Unfortunately, H8 missed the sing-a-long because they were busy at the waterfront. The group had cooked out lunch on the water before going on a boat ride with our Boat Driver, Juan.
 
Day Camp 2 also had the privilege of spending some time with Juan, as they strapped on their life jackets and hopped on the banana boat in the morning.
 
Both Day Camp 1 and H11 joined Austin, the EC Assistant at the ballfield to play “Predator vs. Prey”. This is one of our newer games at camp, which combines a version of the game ‘tag’ with learning about nature.  H3 also did some running during their scavenger hunt, which sent them all around camp performing good deeds to spread joy to other groups.
 
Some groups embraced the spirit of adventure by lashing a pole to proudly display their Unit’s tie dyed flag in their site (P4) or by having a shelter building competition using materials around the EC (Adventure Pathfinders). Additionally, P8 had a fire building competition in our beloved Council Ring.
 
As previously mentioned in the Waterfront Blog, yesterday was the Hobie 16 Palooza, in which nine groups spent their 4:15 block on the waterfront. Other groups on the waterfront yesterday were able to go paddle boarding (P2) or even kayak to Santa Claus to search for arrowheads and old pottery (P1). However, the rest of camp did not stop for the Palooza, as H4 stayed in the craft shop, hard at work glazing their clay tiles. H10 also hung out in the Craft Shop and created water color masterpieces.
 
While P6 decided to settle down for the evening with sunset yoga on the beach, P7 took a different approach by listening to scary stories in the Rec Hall, lead by the Boys Homestead Unit Leader, Oliver.
 
H1 concluded their day with a quiet Monk Swim, where they were able to listen to H2 and H7’s drum circle nearby, lead by Stephen the Adventure Director.
 
H9 had a dessert cookout on main camp, stuffing waffle cones with marshmallows and chocolate chips to create their own twist on the traditional s’more. Meanwhile, P1, P2, P3, P4, and APF settled in their tents for the night in outpost after an evening full of cookouts, scary stories, and spirit animals.
 
We anxiously await all the new adventures ahead in session five, but until then, I’ll be restocking the hoodie rack.
 
With Joy From Homestead Way,
Annie (the Store Assistant)

One of camp’s busiest places is the Waterfront. Units typically visit the bay at least once a day, often times twice a day. There are many exciting activities that take place in and on the shore of the Rehoboth Bay. This blog is a quick look into these activities.

This blog about the Waterfront is interrupted by breaking news from the Rehoboth Bay!
​
Yesterday, the Waterfront Staff launched Hobie 16 Palooza! Director Kevin, Sailing Director Stephen, Waterfront Staff Taylor and Matt, and Boat Driver Juan helped set up the fleet throughout the afternoon. Six 16s were sailed by Waterfront staff, Assistant Counselors, one counselor and our CIT Unit leader Will. After the fleet of 6 took off, the Lafontaines (Executive Director, Walt, Registrar, Nancy and their son (a former Waterfront Director) Scott) took out their Hobie 16, making the total count 7. The five camp dogs chased the boats around the bay joining in on the fun. Campers came in and out of the bay on and off the blob to take part in the Hobie Palooza.
 
“Sailing, sailing on Rehoboth Bay, when days are hot when days are cold, in Rehoboth Bay Sunfish, Zumas, fancy Hobies too, oh how you wish you had nothing else to do but!”
 
Typically groups are sailed by either a member of the Waterfront Staff or their counselor, if they are experienced in sailing. Sailing pathfinders spend their afternoons sailing, learning how to rig and sail Sunfish, Hobie Waves and Hobie 16s.
 
When groups go sailing, not every camper is able to fit on the sailboat at once so the campers on shore do other fun activities, such as the Blob!! The Blob is a giant floaty obstacle course about 100 feet from shore on which campers can play. It is a fan favorite at the Waterfront, as it quickly becomes a fun game of wipe out that ends in giggles and swimming.
 
Some classic waterfront activities include canoeing and kayaking. Often groups will canoe or kayak to Santa Clause Island, a small cove about a quarter mile from camp. Sometimes units bring lunch there. It is also a great place to find arrowheads. Another destination adventure is Buzzards. Buzzards is further away so groups opt to canoe. They tend to bring lunch with them and make an afternoon out of the excursion. Buzzards is about an hour canoe ride away. I loved canoeing there as a camper and counselor because it is such a rewarding experience. The final canoe trip takes you to the other side of the bay. This trip is typically reserved for oldest pioneer and pathfinder groups as it is quite adventurous. At low tide, such a trip requires that canoes be pulled through the mud. Campers return to the waterfront a little muddy, but always proud of their accomplishment.
 
Groups can also go paddle boarding at the waterfront. Some of the best times to go is at sunrise or sunset – some of the prettiest times on the bay.
 
The environmental center does a few activities in the bay such as seining and Bay Safari! check out the blog post from earlier in the summer to learn more about those activities.
 
For those parents reading this who have had sent their kids to camp before, you are probably asking yourselves what about that world famous BANANA BOAT?! Banana boating is one of our most popular activities at camp. Every unit takes a turn riding the huge yellow banana tube behind our pontoon boat around the bay. Campers get a chance to jump off with their whole unit and swim around until they are picked back up by our boat driver Juan. Juan happens to be one of the most popular staff members with the campers, because without him, they wouldn’t be able to go on the banana boat. As popular as the banana boat is, it is not our only boating activities. Groups can also go tubing on the three-person hot dog, go for a sunset boat ride, or go deep sea diving, where they drive towards the middle of the bay, park and swim around. Although we call it deep sea diving, at lower tides, groups can often stand, yet still have an absolute blast.
 
Other activities held at the Waterfront include beach bonfires, cookouts and lunch boat rides, group activities on the beach tower or dock and human battleship. Campers also enjoy playing nukem, ladder golf and corn hole at free time and in between other activities.
 
From the Rehoboth Bay,
Maddie (a proud former 2 week Waterfront service CIT) 

Session four began with some beautiful cool weather. Most of camp wore sweatshirts to breakfast and chapel. But by lunch most sweatshirts were left in cabins as it warmed up for one of our nicest days at camp this year. Here’s a look into an activity that each group did on Monday.
 
In the morning SPF learned how to tie knots and rig Sunfish. In the afternoon they put their new skills to use and sailed around the bay. H5 joined them for part of the afternoon as Taylor, a member of the Waterfront staff, sailed them around the bay.
 
Most of Girls Homestead started their day off at the Waterfront. H7 participated in Icebreakers in the bay to get to know each other better. H8 made friendship bracelets. H9 went paddle boarding around the bay. H10 began their day with a bang as they took a ride on the Banana Boat.
 
P6 joined them at the waterfront in the morning for a spin in the hotdog tube. P3 hung out at our Environmental Center and make some homemade pickles using cucumbers grown right in the camp garden.
 
H2 played a game of Predator and Prey on the ball field. Meanwhile, P5 played an exciting round of Frisbee golf around camp.
 
H11 went on the Journey of Joy. One stop on the journey is to complete a random act of kindness for a staff member. I was lucky to be part of H11’s Journey. They stopped at the Office and sang me a song (Oh Fluffy Sheep). Our Executive Director’s grand daughter was visiting at the time, so they sang for her as well! She rewarded them with Hershey kisses from our Registrar/her grandmother, Nancy’s, candy jar.
 
P1 explored the bay in a Bay Safari block, using huge nets to catch, examine, and release bay life. Out in pioneer, P2 put their fire building skills to test with a fire building competition. P7 also put their camp skills to work by lashing grass mats on the weaving loom. Later this week they will use them to cover the teepee they are making in their site!
 
Before dinner H1 painted water colors while H6 played with the chickens and took a tour of the camp garden.
 
Day Camp 1 and 2 finished their afternoon with a hayride around camp.
 
H3 finished their night off with a beach bonfire. Their neighbors, H4 partook in a drum circle at the plaza before they headed to bed. P4 completed their night by climbing the Rockwall.
P8 did sunset yoga with Christian Ed Director (and co-blogger) Bethany. Many girls asked if they could end every night on the beach, it was so peaceful.
 
We can’t wait to see what the rest of session four has in store—but the forecast says there will be more cool days on the Rehoboth Bay.
 
With Joy from Homestead Way,
Maddie & Bethany (your resident bloggers)