Craft Cabana!

"Welcome to the Craft Cabana! How can we make your crafting dreams come true?!"

This is said almost every time a camper walks into the building of my secondary job at camp: the Craft Cabana!

At the beginning of the summer, all of High School Division is assigned a secondary job due to our primary job as a counselor being more diluted than the other divisions when it comes to daily supervision with the campers. I was lucky on the lottery draw and was able to pick my secondary job: a crafting assistant with high school division.

The two superiors at my secondary job are Miss Sue and Miss Kitty. These to elderly women are the kindest and most knowledgeable when it comes to the Craft Cabana! I learned so much under their supervision, and, in turn, I was able to teach high school campers what i have learned from them. From friendship bracelets to looming, anything is possible in the Cabana!

Although we can work on projects while we are working a shift, it is highly recommended that we make sure that every crafter has their needs met first. I’ve personally lost count on how many times I’ve have to make a loop out of earring wire, but I still love seeing everyone’s faces when the earrings I’m wearing are ones that I made myself! Picking out beads in the miscellaneous bead boxes with the campers is always fun. I also enjoy seeing their designs and helping them put it together.

Some of the most creative pieces I’ve seen being worn out of the cabana would be a skull and teeth necklace, pineapple earrings, a sakura tree loom bracelet, and many more. The most frequently asked question I get there is always about friendship bracelets. We keep lots of string on a pole which hangs over the tool boxes on the side of the work space. Although we love it when campers come in to make them, we always ask if they want to make something different. It's all about expanding the creative mind!

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Some projects I have been able to work on and keep myself include: hemp cord bracelets, daisy chains, loom bracelets, clay figures, earrings, candles, and leather imprinting! The possibilities at my secondary job are endless, and I love to help campers make their newest set of jewelry. One of my favorite projects so far is a camper's set of teeth earrings and matching necklace. I also was able to make my own leather key chain for my horn case!

I am so thankful to have this opportunity to make crafts and enjoy the company of campers and their projects. I hope the summer never ends!