Dynamo Camp!!

(This title isn't in Italian because the camps name is simply Dynamo Camp!)

First off, for anyone who doesn't know what Dynamo Camp is...it is a summer camp sponsored by the Paul Newman Foundation for kids with severe and/or terminal illness or disabilities. It's a camp designed to give them a classic summer camp experience in a safe environment that doesn't make them feel like "handicapped" outsiders. This particular camp is tucked away in the Tuscan mountains near the town of San Marcello. It boasts state of the art medical facilities, camp activities and beautiful surroundings. If you want to find out more about it, check out http://www.dynamocamp.org/en/the-camp/

Now...to get on with cool stories! Perhaps the coolest part about Dynamo is the setting. Everywhere you look you see picturesque mountain views.

Since we are volunteer teachers at the camp, they give us some seriously swanky housing. We're staying in a luxury villa on campus that normally rents out for 460 euros a night!! Our room is complete with a veranda, fluffy robes, and a shower that can apparently fit twelve people (so I've been told).

The other parts of this villa are equipped with a baby grand piano, a beautiful old fashioned billiards table, and a fireplace that could probably also hold twelve people.

Besides exploring our sweet temporary home, we've gone on a few walking/hiking adventures in the last few days. Yesterday, we hiked a trail converted from an old railroad. We're told this railroad was built in the early 20th century to export goods from the original farm on Dynamo's property. We found many exciting treasures like an old railroad depot, a secret tunnel, and scattered bits of marble and ceramic in the road.

Today, we used some of our free time to hike into San Marcello for more picture perfect views and a taste of hill town Italian life.

Of course, we are here for a lot more than traipsing around the Italian countryside and sitting in fancy villas. We have the amazing opportunity to share acting, improv, and sword fighting with tons of teenagers! Now, I can't really take and share photos of all the kids and the happenings around here (to protect their privacy), but I can tell you so far that the camp here has been amazing! We've taught a few classes, seen artwork that has been made in the art classes, witnessed superheroes made for each cabin, and learned many silly dances (we all dance for about 10 minutes after lunch AND dinner). We've also been able to eat some pretty tasty foods. Granted, it IS still camp food (there was a slight hotdog and fries fiasco last night), but some of it is pretty darn tasty. Much of the food (meats and vegetables particularly) come directly from this mountain property. And yesterday, I had some fresh ricotta cheese that flat out shames any ricotta I've had in my whole life.

As the week progresses, we'll start developing a show that our campers will perform on Saturday. I'm sure there will be many interesting stories to come!