Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 11

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A camper's notebook.

Day 5: Tuesday August 18th (cont)*

8pm

Dinner was wings and fries and salad and donuts!  Jen Segal, Christina Galonska, Stephanie Kline, Lori Farquhar, Lisa Close, and Mike Toal worked hard to get it organized and serve us since we weren’t in the Mess Hall tonight.  They’re always working really hard to making sure all of the non-magic stuff is taken care of.  I sure am grateful for their efforts. 

Dance party = so much fun!   Mark Correia did a wicked Michael Jackson impersonation and two of the littlest kids here had an incredible dance off!  Phil DaCosta DJ’d again and gave away t-shirts and cards and stuff too for answering questions and making clever requests.  I love this place. 

Mark doing his thing.

The weather must have cleared ‘cause they’re letting us have camp swim!

10pm
I did it!!  I got scared and wasn’t going to.  But then I remembered that Scott Hammell and Eric Leclerc both say that we should try things “out of our comfort zone” now and again.  The lifeguard said it was safe to jump from up high and that he’d make sure nothing bad happened to me.  I was so nervous climbing up those stairs.  They went up forever.  The lake looked such a long way down.  I froze and almost didn’t do it.  Then I jumped!!!!  I was surprised how long it took for me to hit the water -- it felt like hours.  I didn’t get hurt, nobody laughed and my friends all cheered for me!  I really feel like I’m part of one big family here.

I did it!!!

There was more dancing and a spectacular fireworks show.  Everyone sang some song by a band called “Queen” and that was the end of the night.  I’m so excited and tired.  I don’t remember much else.  I don’t want camp to end tomorrow.

This is so. much. FUN!

Everybody dance now!

To be continued ...

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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 10

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A camper's notebook.

Day 5: Tuesday August 18th*

Cheesy omelette breakfast.  I saw the rabbits again!  And I saw a bright green frog too.  Still no sign of the deer. 

At card class Shawn Farquhar talked to us about stuff I’d never considered.  He said, “give people a sense of wonder.  Don’t make them feel stupid or small.”  And then he said this quote from American poet Maya Angelou:   

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

We played “Capture the Flag” which was so. much. FUN!

6pm
The camper show was fantastic.  Before the show, Lee Asher made his group perform walk around for the audience.  They did really well. 

Pre-show walk around.

Then the show started.  Some of the kids performed things they just learned (or even made!) this week!  Others made stuff up and some came prepared with things they’d been working on the whole year.  Shout out to them all!

Emcees: Chaz and RJ.
Performers: Cathy, James, Brad, Matt, Tariq, Jordan, Ava, Vincent, Landon, Matthew, Nathan, Will, Ben, Jack, Nick, and Jeff.
Backstage: Simon, Holden, Serena, and Jarrett.
Sound and tech: Steve Kline (for this and all the other shows!).
Production assistants: Mike and Lisa Close, Dan Wiebe, and Mike Toal.

Owning the stage.

Sponge balls.

Something big is about to happen!

The coolest thing about the show was that everyone’s performance looked good.  Beginner kids went first so they didn’t have to go after someone who had more experience.  I don’t see any competition between the kids.  The adults want us all to shine. 

Today’s electives were Pulp Friction (with Lee himself!), linking rings, Gravity Half Pass (with Aaron Fisher!), Assistant’s Revenge stage illusion, Miser’s Dream, any card at any number, and Patriotic Ropes. 

Bill Wells and Sheldon Casavant talking coins.

I did the linking rings and was kinda surprised (and disappointed) to learn how they work.  It seems that some of the most wonderful effects are based on simple ideas.  Loran was a great teacher, but I’m going to have to practise a lot more until I feel comfortable doing it in front of anyone!

Rats. Camp swim got rained out.  (I wish I tried the high jump yesterday).  Silver lining: we all piled into the Staff Lounge and had a big impromptu panel with Shawn, Eric, Phil, and Mark.  They do things off the top of their head better than I can do anything I’ve rehearsed a million times.  I wonder how much of it is pure talent and how much of it is hours and hours of practise.

Shawn speaking at the panel.

To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 9

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A camper's notebook.

Day 4: Monday August 17th (cont)*

5pm

After lunch (burgers and lemonade and ice cream!) everyone gathered around a bunch of the adults on benches.

Cook out for lunch!

There was excitement in the air and I could barely see what was going on.  It turns out that Daryl eats his pie in a really unexpected way.  Who knew?




Great elective choices today:  cups and balls, memorized deck, mentalism, rope magic, spoon bending, and dancing canes.  I picked the dancing cane and it was so much fun!  I can actually make it look like I’m levitating it and making it move.  (And it’s so much easier than juggling.)  I need to own one. 

Dance cane, dance!

Cups and balls.

At performance workshop we played the “questions only” game.  You can only reply to someone by asking another question. Much harder than it sounds!  It’s supposed to help us to listen and to think on our feet. It’s hilarious.  I laughed so much I cried!

Questions only!

9pm
All I remember about dinner was ice cream with chocolate sauce!

The lip syncs rocked.  I especially liked Shawn and Lori Farquhar doing "You're The One That I Want" from Greece, and Magic Mike Segal (and Stephanie Kline, Chris Galonska, Jen Segal, and Lisa Close) doing "Mahna Mahnam" from the Muppet Show.

Mahna Mahnam.

It was a super talented show again tonight.  Loran did an elegant time themed piece, Mark did some stage stunts, Philip and Jonah and Chris Mayhew were fantastic.  The show ended with the Marion and Ted Outerbridge doing a fabulous stage show with big props, fancy costumes and great illusions.  Ted has the best disco ball jacket ever!

Loran.

Ted and Marion Outerbridge.

Marion stopped by our cabin to visit. She had amazing stories of touring and performance.  She MADE Ted’s sparkling jacket.  So. much. WORK!

To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

|< page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 -9- 10 - 11 - next > 

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 8

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A camper's notebook.

Day 4: Monday August 17th*

French toast for breakfast!  I don’t mind wiping down tables and clearing the dirty dishes. The food here is great.

Morning stretches.

Card class was actually coin class today.  Dan Wiebe brought a bunch of metal washers for us to use as coins. Coin tricks are hard!  The time whizzed by and then it was time for “Dealer’s Day!”  The place was crazy busy.  There were tables and tables with of tonnes of stuff for sale.

So much to see at Dealer's Day!

I have never seen so many magic tricks.  Or so many different designs on decks of cards.  Some were really expensive and some I could afford.  I came away with a new deck of plastic cards (they won’t get wrecked if I accidentally “beach” them) and a rope trick with instructions.

Pick a deck, any deck.

Camp swim was fun.  I almost mustered enough courage to jump from the tower.  Maybe tomorrow.

I could jump from there.  Maybe.

To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

|< page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 -8- 9 - 10 - 11 - next >

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

20 magical memories from Sorcerers Safari

Almost 20 years ago, armed only with the idea of making magic more accessible to kids who want to learn magic, "Magic Mike" Segal opened the doors to Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp.  Sorcerers Safari is Canada's only sleepaway magic camp, hosting up to 150 campers a year.

Words fail to adequately describe the phenomenon that is Sorcerers Safari.  Everyone comes away from camp with their own unique experience.  To mark their upcoming 20th anniversary, here’s a list of:

20 magical memories from Sorcerers Safari (in no particular order):

1. My favourite camp memory would have to be when I first went to Sorcerers Safari. I saw all of my idols in magic and there were so many magicians that I had watched on TV and on YouTube. It was brilliant to see them perform and not only to see them perform but just to have a normal magic or even non magic conversation with them was amazing to me. It was literally like a dream come true!
   
   Brad B.
   Camper: 2014-2015
   
   
   
2. The first year I ever attended I recall walking down a wooded path and seeing Michael Ammar talking to a group of campers who were seated under the shade of a huge tree.  Michael was talking about choosing magic as a career and I could see the look in all the campers eyes as I eavesdropped.  I knew in that very moment I would return to camp as often as I could as I felt something I’d never felt before.  Not sure how to describe it, but it was just so special.
   
   Shawn Farquhar (magichampion.com)
   Instructor: 2008-2013, 2015
3. A favourite memory was making a card flourish duel that appeared in the 2013 camp video.
   
   
   Eric S.
   Camper: 2007-2014
   
   
   
4. I was overwhelmed by the quality of instruction and the dedication of Mike, Jen and the entire board and staff. It was without doubt one the finest experiences I've had in my almost 40 years in the Magic business.
   
   Phil Matlin (PerfectMagic.com)
   Guest: 2014
5. I would have to say that my favourite memory at camp would have to be after Brett C. and I performed the “cube in cube out” stage illusion. It was a huge relief that the whole thing went successfully and it was also the first routine that Brett and I created together.
   
   Holden L.
   Camper: 2008-2015
   
   

6. Many of my favourite memories at Sorcerers Safari come from the late night jam sessions in the campers' cabins.  You never know what newest tricks or guest magicians you'll find.
   
   For example, a few years back, I witnessed Tyler Wilson sharing the longest and most entertaining card revelation I've seen. Over the course of about 45 minutes, the cabin filled with campers as they watched him attempt to find the card.  Pure suspense. Needless to say, he had no idea what the card was, and was playing us the entire time.
   
   The jam sessions offer a great opportunity to see the campers' talent and creativity.  In 2015, Philip B. and I posed an Ambitious Card challenge to the cabin.  They split into 2 teams to work together to create an Ambitious Card routine from scratch.  This impromptu competition went on for close to 2 hours and was a blast to watch!
   
   Sheldon Casavant (SheldonCasavant.com)
   Camper: 2003, Counsellor: 2004 and 2007, Instructor: 2015
   
7. 

   Trying to find only one Sorcerers Safari good memory is impossible because there are so many!  So let’s say that one of them is when Anders Bjorkman, Johnny Toronto, and I did a “fire trio act” together on the beach during the party night. I believe it happened in 2010. We literally had a blast!!!
   
   Loran, (LoranIllusion.com)
   Instructor: 2000 - 2015
   
   

8. a) The first time (repeated over the years) that all the campers hit the stage on the final night to present their interpretation of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” ... (always a fun moment).
   b) Seeing the "shy and timid" take the stage for the first time in front of their peers and proudly present an effect they have learned at camp.
   c) The meal times with the table banging under the direction of Lee Asher.
   d) Seeing a camper on TELEVISION presenting magic... and only a few years earlier not being able to communicate...
   e) Year after year - the reunions. Campers emailing each other to make sure they would be in the same dorm.
   f) The chant of "we love Dick, we love Dick."
   
   Dick Joiner, (DickJoiner.com)
   Instructor: ~2001-2015
   
   
   
9. Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp was the first time I ever went to camp. I'm in my seventies and it was fun and exciting. I loved the enthusiasm of the kids and their teachers, who were the best. We met old friends and made new ones. Keep up the good work and thank you Mike for inviting us.
   
   Evelyn Matlin (PerfectMagic.com)
   Guest: 2014
10. I have so many wonderful memories of camp that it's near impossible to choose just one. But a camp classic that we continually reminisce about all the time happened on my first year when Rob 'Fish The Magish' Fishbaum secretly hid in the woods during the middle of the night, waited until I walked by, then jumped out making a loud squealing pig noise. I shrieked like a little girl, jumped into Steve Kline's arms completely terrified, and almost crapped my pants.
    
    It was an amazing moment. It's also when I knew these people would be part of my family for the rest of our lives. The best part, scaring the newbie staff has since become a long-standing camp tradition.
    
    Lee Asher (LeeAsher.com)
    Special Guest: 2001, Instructor: 2002-2015
    
    
    
11. Lip Sync Battles
    
    

    

    
    

    

      
    
    Jeff P.
    Counsellor in Training: 2015
    
12. When the whole camp did a one camera take lip dub! That was so exciting and EVERYONE had a part and nailed it! The video was a hit and definitely one to be remembered.
    
    Watch the 2011 Sorcerers Safari Lip Dub on YouTube:
    
    
    
    Lorena Watters (TrevorWatters.com)
    Instructor: 2010-2014

13. a) I remember one night at the nightly stage shows in the Pinetages theatre:  the air was hot and thick… the performers were breaking a sweat after literally 30 seconds on stage.  And out of the blue we see Lee Asher come out and perform a trick (and a dance!) in a massive eggplant costume! It was epic.
    
    b) One year we decided to do a lip dub. It was amazing to see everyone come together and participate with such passion and precision. Check out the video it took us about a half-day to film. It was truly awesome.
    
    Eric Leclerc (EricLeclerc.com)
    Instructor: 2008-2015
    
    
    
14. My favourite memory from camp was probably performing for Michael and Lisa Close's daughter on stage. I was able to use her last name to do a hilarious bit for the entire camp while poking fun of their last name.
    
    Chris Westfall (ChrisWestfallMagic.com)
    Instructor
    
    
    
15. One of my favourite memories would be Eric Leclerc and a few of us attempting to scare RJ late at night with a bunch of scary halloween masks and then RJ wouldn't wake up. I have the video footage of it, but it is one of those bits that never made it into the annual Sorcerers Video, but was very funny to observe at the time.
    
    Chris Mayhew (ChrisMayhewMagic.com)
    Videographer: 2013-2015
16. a) Performing on the camp stage. The first time I worked a stage, wore a mic, stood in front of the lights, and performed for a "big" crowd all came at camp. I'll never forget the love and support people showed me, and it's probably a major reason why I'm still getting up there today!
    
    b) Watching my campers grow up.  I still maintain relationships with campers I had a decade ago.  Some have become better performers than I would have ever imagined. Some are even better than I am... which is both awesome and infuriating!  One that stands out to me is Nathaniel Rankin.  I watched him grow from a cute, but shy, juggler to a world class magician performing on cruise ships around the world.  I don't take credit for his success -- that was all him -- but I'm glad to have been a stepping stone on his path to finding something that makes him so happy.
    
    Ben Train, (BenTrain.ca)
    Counsellor in Training: 2000-2001, Staff: 2002-2015
    

17. This memory is from 2006.  For the end of the week camper show, Sami S. and I decided to dress up like veteran campers and counsellors, Kelvin and Dustin.  Every year, this eccentric duo would perform the “one-handed card trick” in which they are Siamese twins, joined at the hip where each only has the ability to use only one hand.  2006 marked one of the first years Kelvin was not at camp (but Dustin was) so we did not get to see their jubilant routine.  Instead, Sami and I dressed up like the duo and impersonated them and the one-handed card trick.  It was really goofy, not many people understood what we were doing.  But I distinctly remember Scott Hammell and Magic Mike in the audience laughing uncontrollably.
    
    This memory isn’t about the moment itself, but about the inside joke shared with the other veteran campers and staff that makes it stand out so strongly in my mind.  The inside jokes are what I remember now; nonsense jokes told around the campfire (knock-knock jokes will always be the funniest for me because of camp), and ridiculous one-liners.  There are moments with sugar shots, fruit stickers on our foreheads, crocket, fridge box racing, pushing Steve Kline in the lake and so many defining “coming of age” moments that bring me back to camp.  There are too many small memories to put one as the best, but the inside jokes between fellow campers and life-long friends are something I hold onto very dearly.
    
    Lauren Proctor
    Camper: 1999-2008
    
18. My favorite memory is when Magic Mike told us that the visiting volleyball camp found an (invisible) deck, and not knowing what it was straightened all of the cards for us. I retell that story to magicians all the time.
    
    
    Jonah Babins (JonahBabinsMagic.com)
    Camper, Counsellor in Training, and Instructor
    

19. Playing capture the flag with the kids during active time, then one of them realizing that I was the entertainer he watched on stage the night before! He was so excited, then I noticed a few more kids running around with me to beat the game!
    
    Trevor Watters (TrevorWatters.com)
    Instructor: 2010-2014
    
    
    
    
20. I have so very many memories of camp, having been the guy who started it, and having attended every year, that it is hard to pick just one. There really are so many in the 20 years… but one stands out, and is particularly appropriate for this summer.
    
    I remember the summer 15 years ago when we switched our host camp after 5 years at another camp.  It was an amazing summer, as everything felt new again. The energy (which is never lacking at Sorcerers Safari) seemed to be ramped up that summer in everyone, staff and campers. Exploring the new grounds, and meeting new challenges really made everyone bring their ‘A’ Game. It was great.  The move was extremely positive, making me that much more excited to see what our move will bring this summer.
    
    Magic Mike Segal (SorcerersSafari.ca)
    Camp Director: 1996 - 2016

The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016.  For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

20 things you need to know about Sorcerers Safari

Also in the 26th edition of VANISH magazine, starting at page 104, is "Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp: A Canadian institute."

To mark their upcoming 20th anniversary, have a look at "20 things you need to know about Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp."  Paul Romhany did created an eye-popping with fabulous photos taken by James Carey Lauder.

Does anyone have anymore information to add about the origins of "Farquhar Lake" mentioned in item 6?

My favourites are:

1. Sorcerers Safari Magic and Performance Arts Camp is hosted at an actual outdoor camp in Haliburton, Ontario. With an actual lake. Be sure to pack your swimsuit. And lots of sunscreen.

and

20. There is no one single thing that makes Sorcerers Safari successful. As Magic Mike Segal often says, "it is more than the sum of its parts." And he's right. He's created, seemingly by alchemy, a unique opportunity for young magic enthusiasts to learn from and network with, professionals who are open and approachable. When asked how he came by this elusive recipe, a modest Segal said, "I'm totally amazed. This is the best trick I have ever pulled off in my life."

What would you add to this list?

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Erratum:  #5 In 1997-2000 Sorcerers Safari was hosted at Camp Tamarack. From 2001 to 2015 it was at Camp White Pine.

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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit Sorcerers Safari

20 amazing alumni from Sorcerers Safari

No matter how you slice it, camp just wouldn’t be camp without campers!  It shouldn’t surprise you that Neil Croswell (gold medal ‘Magic of China, International Magic Championships” 2015), Bill Cook (three-time award winner at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas), and Kelvin Kwong (first place Magi-Fest junior close-up, second place IBM junior close-up) have all attended.  Without a doubt, Sorcerers Safari attracts multi-talented and amazing youth.  To mark their upcoming 20th anniversary, flip to page 108 of the 26th edition of VANISH magazine and have a look at "20 amazing alumni from Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp."




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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit Sorcerers Safari

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 7

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A camper's notebook.

Day 3: Sunday August 16th (cont)*

9pm
Dinner was good but the ice cream pie was AMAZING!

At the theatre they said Chris Mayhew is making a video of camp.  I can’t wait to see that!  Rosemary said she runs the Sorcerers Safari social media accounts and will help promote events that campers are involved with.  Impressive.  I don’t get the sense that people here think they’re better than anyone else -- they all just want to see everyone succeed.  Just like our moms and dads.  But WAY cooler. 

Mike Close played some beautiful piano before the show.  (Is everyone here crazy talented?)  The lip syncs were extra funny tonight. Rosemary (singer) and Chris Westfall (background cheerleader) did “Cheerleader" by Omi, and Jonah (with Jonah supporting) did a duet -- "Love Is An Open Door" from Frozen.  HYSTERICAL!!!!

Found myself a cheerleader!

Jonah backing up Jonah.

Tonight’s show was called the “World Champion Show” and featured three award winning magicians!  I got to see Greg Frewin, Shawn Farquhar, and Daryl all on the same stage.  I bet that the evening shows alone are worth the price of camp.

Greg Frewin.

Shawn Farquhar.

Daryl.

Rocket popsicles for bedtime snack!  (The sugar will help keep me awake for cabin visits!)  Eric came and gave us all mouth coils to try.  (I thought they would never end!!  We’re going to decorate the bunks with them tomorrow.)  Lee Asher showed us some super cool tricks with cards and then he showed us specialty decks we’d never heard of.  They looked really fancy.

Eric sharing secrets.

Goodnight.

To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

|< page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 -7- 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - next >

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 6

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A camper's notebook.

Day 3: Sunday August 16th*

Morning comes too early.  I’m tired.  Started the day with scrambled eggs and cereal (no sugary cereals here… boo!).  Card class was great.  Dick Joiner taught us how to do an effect called “Hotel.”  I’m amazed at how it works!

Card class with Dick Joiner and Ted Outerbridge.

I heard that some of the more advanced kids need to get some card tricks ready to perform walkaround magic in the audience before the camper show.  I’m glad I’m just a beginner!

Camp stretch.

Field activity was a game called “Food Chain.”  The rules were a little complicated, but it was fun.  One kid hid under the mess hall stairs to try and “survive” longer in the game! 

There's always time to squeeze in some more magic!

5pm
Fueled up at lunch with meatball sandwiches and corn!  Apparently Joan Caesar, the founder of the Canadian Association of Magicians, is here visiting today.  And Bill and Becki Wells from the International Brotherhood of Magicians are here all week.  Wow!  More great electives to choose from (camper show walk through, impromptu magic, classic force, balloons, stage presence / performance tips, elastic thread, the business of magic, and necklace magic). 

The balloon elective was tonnes of fun!  Balloons kept popping all the time.  It was crazy!   Even the instructors, Carey Lauder and Chris Westfall, were surprised at how much they kept popping.  We learned some easy things like dogs but also some more complicated things like flowers and ladybug bracelets. 

Before the camp swim, they got EVERYONE in the camp together to take the camp photo at the dock.  I took forever to get everybody organized.  I can’t wait to see it.  I learned an important lesson too:  never be late for the camp photo!  There were a few stragglers and boy did they get get in trouble.  Not only are they not in the photo, but now they have to clean up ALL THE TABLES at dinner tonight! 

2015 camp photo! (Scroll to see everyone.)

Turns out that Carey is also the official camp photographer.  During camp swim he did something called “Levitation Photos.”  We all got to pose for a photo either levitating someone, being levitated by someone or both!  (The line got longer by at least 20 people when Neil’s assistant was being levitated!)  I posed for pictures with one of my new best friends.  I can’t wait to see them!  (Diary, you’ll have to understand if I don’t reveal the secret here.  I’d hate for it to fall into the wrong hands if I happened to lose you!) 

Levitation photos!

The big kids looked like they were having so much fun jumping off the tall platform.  The lifeguard did some trick flips too!  I want to try jumping but it looks scary.  I don’t like heights.

In performance workshop we played a game called “Freeze Tag.”  That was hilarious.  It was improvising and then anyone could call out “freeze” and tag someone out, take their spot, and change the entire setting!  It’s supposed to help with thinking on the spot, playing characters, and doing scene work, but I just think it’s great fun!

Mark Correia and Chris Westfall make improvising fun!

To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

|< page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 -6- 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - next >

* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.

Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 5

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A camper's notebook.

Day 2: Saturday August 15th (cont)*

5pm
Camp swim is so much fun!  We get to use huge inner tubes to float in the docks at the lake.  Eric Leclerc went out of the designated area in an inner tube, to get a ball that floated away.  It was funny to watch him try and paddle with his hands!  There’s a slide that goes into the lake and a super high platform that you can jump off of too.

Inner tubes are fun!

Squeezing more magic in before the swim.

We had “performance workshop” where some campers performed something and everyone got to tell them what they liked about it and what they thought could be improved.  Some kids got up and did things that we just learned at electives today!  Everyone seems really supportive and encouraging here.  No one was mean about it.  

Then we played the “Umm” game.  It’s where you have to talk as long as you can about an assigned topic (think unicorns, chocolate, soccer, etc) without saying things like “umm” or “ahh.”  It’s hard!  (And fun to watch!)  Now I know that I need to script my performances because I’m not so good at improvising!

Performance workshop.

10pm
What a night!  We ate chicken burgers and chocolate mousse!  At the theatre we watched video messages for us from magicians from Las Vegas and other places in the US.  Apparently there’s a camper show later in the week.  I wonder if I have anything good enough to do for the show...

The evening performance was mind blowing.  Mike Close, Eric, Sheldon Casavant, Scott Hammell, Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva are all fabulous.  I got to see dove magic live for the first time.  Neil made birds appear out of NOWHERE. 

Mike Close.

Eric Leclerc.

Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva.

Rosemary Reid, Mark Correia, and Chris Mayhew did lip syncs tonight.  I laughed so hard when Chris “blah, blah, blahed” his way through "Single Ladies" by Beyoncé.

Chris Mayhew channeling Beyoncé.

After that we had a beach party -- wait for it -- on the beach!  There was fire floating in the lake (I’d never seen that before).  We had fries and chicken nuggets and fried zucchini for snack.  Phil DaCosta, the DJ, had everyone moving and doing the limbo and forming conga lines.  I liked it when he played the “Cha Cha Slide” and “Uptown Funk.”  I complained when my counsellor said I had to leave early ‘cause I’m so little.  Secretly I’m glad I’m back at the cabin.  I’m pooped.

How low can you go?

Beach party!

More beach party!

 
To be continued ...


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The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca

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* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season.  It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.