INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT NIGHT
Campers board the camp “airliner” and travel to one or more international destinations. An international presentation by a tour guide (international staff person) or a travel movie can be part of the travel time. At arrival, campers leave the plane and join a tour guide for activities in that country. A return flight can be used for snack time or served during the tour activity.
Time for Activity: 1-3 hours
Number of Participants: Depends on size of airplane and number of staff. To stretch space have travel groups rotate between airplane and tour sites. For example, one group is on plane and one or more are at a country activity. We do this with 105 campers and 25 staff in three tour groups.
Set-up: In recreation hall or dining hall, set up chairs airplane style (short rows with long aisles). Put two or three seats in very front for pilots. A video screen can be set up for the flight movie. Set up one or more areas as the country to be visited in locations around camp.
Staffing: Staff on plane: Pilots, stewards, and stewardesses, tour guide.
Staff at country site: Tour guide and helpers for activity.
Equipment: Chairs for airplane seating
Cart to roll snacks down airplane aisle.
Video equipment if a movie is to be shown on the flight.
Hats, walkie-talkie, props, etc. to make the airplane crew authentic.
Tickets for plane trip.
Ways to spice up the activity:
·Have the airplane staff plan a skit or drama to happen on the flight.
· Use walkie-talkie or sound system to add airport and flying sound special effects.
Have a question and answer period on the flight. Quiz campers about what they learned and give prizes for correct answers (international coins, candy, etc.)
·Offer an on-flight meal or snack of international food.
·Make passports and tickets for the flight. This could be a pre-flight arts and crafts activity.
·Have a camper be the navigator and direct pilots with humorous dialog.
· Offer an in-flight video or slide show of the country, narrated by the tour guide.
·Have a camper group, with the leadership of an international staff person, role-play children from the staff person’s country. This group helps host an international game or activity.
Ocean signs/Country signs
Security Checks
Luggage Claim
Stewards/Stewardess
How did the activity increase international understanding and/or cultural awareness among your campers and staff?
Campers and staff learn about and experience the countries visited in a memorable way. The activity has an energy that fosters learning and discussion. The question and answer time allows staff to clarify information and test out what people learned about the place visited. The activity focuses the whole staff to understand and present the cultures of the places visited. The success of the activity depends on the whole staff working together. Campers are fully engaged because many senses are used to learn about the country.