Memories of Summer Camp 2022
As students return to school in August, fortunate Ebiil Campers will have a lot to share about their summer adventures. This summer, Ebiil Society held two summer camps, Camp 1 on June 26 to July 3, and Camp 2, which was held on July 10-17.
Camp Supervisor Iseko Willyander would like to share the highlights of both the Counselor’s Training (June 23 – 25) and the first summer camp.
June 23 (Thursday/First Day of Counselor’s Training)
On the first day of training, counselors arrived around 9 a.m. We were welcomed by the Chairman of Ebiil Society, Baudista Sato, and the Executive Director, Ann Singeo. Supervisor Iseko Willyander and counselors went over the weekly and daily schedule of the camp. At 10 a.m., Ilima Kloulechad conducted a class regarding traditional medicines that are convenient and easy to find in the field in case of emergencies. Lunch came around, and the afternoon was spent in the Too Good for Drugs classes where counselors learned not only the benefits of avoiding drugs, but also important decision-making skills and emotion management that would not only prove useful in life, but also in handling the arriving campers. After class, roles and responsibilities were split.
June 24
The second day of counselors training was spent cleaning the facility and prepping the dorms, signs and rules for the incoming campers. Rules and signs are vital when it comes to managing a group of people living in one place. The day was also spent in the Too Good for Drugs class.
June 25
On most of the third day, counselors participated in First Aid and CPR training. They took the course and were tested twice. Gladly, everyone did well and all passed. They are certified in giving First Aid and CPR, another useful life skill that is highly important when handling children. Later in the day, counselors attended a Technology/Photography class handled by Reid Endress. They were taught basic photography tips and tricks and how to use cameras and drones.
June 26 (Sunday/First Day of Camp)
Campers’ arrival time is 10 a.m. Campers check in and register whilst counselors do health and safety inspections with the consent of parents. Campers are welcomed by the executive director, Ebiil staff, camp supervisor and counselors. Lunch is served at noon. At 1 p.m., boys and girls are split to attend Gender Roles & Responsibility Class. Sue Ldesel taught the girls class while Andrew Shiro taught the boys class. After classes, campers were rejoined for the Gender Clock Exercise handled by Ann Singeo. In this exercise, campers were asked about the daily roles of male and female within their households. Campers and counselors recognized that household roles were handled most often by the women and girls within their homes and less by the opposite sex. This served as an important lesson for the boy campers who were inspired to return home and make a bigger contribution in household management and supporting their mothers and sisters. After the exercise, counselors initiated ice breakers, games and other fun activities to ensure that the campers were having a good time on their first day. Chores and dinner followed after that. At 7 p.m., instructor Joyce Beouch gave a presentation regarding Forestry and Watershed which was to help prepare for the next day’s activity. Then, campers split into their groups were they came up with their group names and short presentations describing what they learned on their first day. What came after were more fun games and preparation for bed. Lights out was at 10 p.m.
June 27
July 27 was the first field day. Everyone woke up and got ready for tree planting. Shower, breakfast and briefing in the morning then departure to the field at 8:30 a.m. We went to Ngardmau State and planted at Ongimi. The species of plants planted were: kisaks, btaches, las, miich, rebotel, and ukall. We planted 6 islands (reforestation term) which was a total of 384 plants. At 10 a.m., the reforestation work successfully completed so campers hiked down to the Ongimi Waterfall to freshen up and have a good time. At 12:30 p.m., campers hiked back to the summer houses where lunch was served. At 1:45 pm, we returned to camp site. Showers, chores, dinner, and group presentations followed afterwards. At around 8 p.m., girls and boys were separated. Girls learned to weave with Remurang Renguul and boys learned to paint with Danny Kloulechad.
June 28
Matul seagrass monitoring and marine debris collection and identification day. Campers had breakfast and briefing in the morning then walked to Matul (a beach in Ngarchelong). We split the campers and their counselors into two groups. The first group did sea grass monitoring where they made transects, conducted observations and recorded creatures within their designated areas. The second group collected marine debris that was found on the shore. After a while, both groups switched roles so everyone could have both experiences. When everyone finished, campers gathered around on the beach and sang the Ebiil cheers and even created new ones with their counselors. The counselors even made everybody dance to the famous Palauan dance, “Mechas Momes”. After the field activities, campers returned to the camp site where we had lunch and followed our daily afternoon schedule. At 7:30 p.m., a very knowledgeable rubak named Rebechall Takeo Ngirmekur came to give a presentation and inform us about Olekull ra Risong which was the site that we were going to visit on July 30th. After presentations, campers excitedly packed for the next day which is when we would camp out at Ngerchelchuus, the highest point of Palau. Campers packed their flashlights, water bottles, change of clothes, etc.
June 29
Hunting, Traditional Medicine and Camp at Ngerchelchuus. Campers woke up and showered, had breakfast and did their final packing. At 9 a.m. they departed to Ngardmau where boys and girls were split. The girls followed Omkatl Blaiyok as they walked on the savanna and observed the many species of plants that serve crucial importance regarding our traditional healing methods. Teacher Omkatl was nice and very fun to be around. The boys on the other hand, followed Ngirakesau Renguul, a man known in Ngardmau state for his hunting expertise. They followed him into the forest where they ventured as he taught the young children how to look out for birds and which species of trees to find them in. He also taught them how not to get lost in the wilderness. It was a fun and unforgettable experience. During our journey in the forest, we saw rivers and a very cute and miniature waterfall. One of the boy counselors jumped into the river which felt very cold and refreshing. At 12 p.m., everyone returned to the Ongimi summer houses where we had lunch. Afterwards, we showered and departed to Ngerchelchuus around 4-5 p.m. When we arrived, the scenery was stunning. The logistics workers at Ebiil and the boy counselors had already set up the camping tents and the firewood for our camp fire. The sun was setting and Palau was beautiful and majestic as we looked at it at from its highest point. We took many pictures with our phones, cameras and drones. We watched the sun go down and then we ate delicious hot dogs and later cooked our smores. The weather was perfect and the sky was clear so there were so many stars. We tried counting all the shooting and falling stars to the point where some of us lost count. Campers were telling stories, a counselor played the uke, others singing along to it. It was just a very fun and memorable moment. We did this until everyone eventually fell asleep.
June 30
On the 30th, everyone woke up early. Some woke up extra early to catch the sunrise. It was a breathtaking view as the sun rose and shone its light through the fog that covered the hills of the land. We packed our belongings as fast as we could, and put away the tents. The Ebiil logistics boys brought the things we no longer needed back to the camp site. The rest of us departed to Drop Off at Koror State where we got on a boat and went on our way to learn about caves. We went all the way to Olekull ra Risong which is located on one of the rock islands of Airai State. We met with the Airai State Rangers who guided us into this massive cave where. We learned that it had been used as a burial site for ancient Palauans who held the title Risong. Then over time, it was used by the Yapese (those who came for stone money) as a burial site as well. Eventually, the Japanese also used the cave during the WWII Era. It was huge and very dark inside. Campers had to use flashlight to light their way. Also another fun fact, the ground was covered in bat poo so our shoes were brown when we stepped out of the cave. After that educational experience, we got on out boats and went to visit a water cave located at Ngermid. We snorkeled and used paddle boards to go into it. Counselors and campers swam and had their fun and even challenged each other to try and reach the sand on the bottom. After all this fun, we had lunch on the boat and returned to Drop Off. We then returned to the camp site at Ngarchelong where we took showers and had nap time because we had two extremely fun days away from the camp site. After naps, we prepared for presentations and then we had an instructor and expert diver named Clayton Johanes discuss coral reefs which was relevant to the next day’s activity. We did weaving and painting class later and then got ready for bed.
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July 01
Ebiil Channel and Marine Restoration. On this day, we departed Ollei Port by boat around 8:00 a.m. We went to Bengall located in Ngarchelong State and we planted a total of 100 clams. We then went to Ebiil Channel where campers and counselors snorkeled and observed the magnificent wildlife. Sadly, there was noticeable change in the conditions of the environment at Ebiil. Those who have been there before realized that some of the coral are dying. After the snorkeling and reseeding experience, we returned to the center for our daily afternoon schedule.
July 02
On this day, the boys and girls split in the morning. The boys went out to fish with local Ollei fishermen and the girls went to visit the taro patch with Aunty Rose. The boys returned and stayed at the port to clean their catch whilst the girls returned with freshly harvested taro. These taro and fish were then saved and prepared for the next day which is the last day of camp. Upon everyone’s return, master navigator Sesario Sewralur gave a class on traditional navigation. After much learning experiences and lunch, everyone got their group presentations done for the day and packed up their belongings. At 9 pm, campers had movie night and games such as Mafia to enjoy on their last night. At 12 a.m., it was lights out.
July 03
On the third of July, everyone woke up at 6 a.m. and took their showers and had their breakfast. At 8 a.m., counselors and campers set up chairs for the arrival of their parents. At 10 p.m., parents arrived and campers and counselors gave their final presentations to their parents that explained all that they did and learned throughout the camp. There was even a camp slideshow that was shown to the parents. At 12 p.m., lunch was served to parents and children and then after that came farewell for the campers. The counselors stayed for one last Too Good for Drugs class and final clean up and left around 4 p.m.
EBIIL Summer Camp – Second Camp July 10-17, 2022
July 8-9
Similar to the first camp, the second camp held counselors’ training to ready the counselors and the camp for the event.
July 10-17
The second camp was just as exciting as the first, but with a whole new group of campers to make friends with.
The schedule took the campers to the same exciting places as the first camp, but with one small difference. Instead of camping at the highest mountain in Palau, Ngerchelchuus, they camped at the traditional Bai Melekeok.
