The following are suggested tips and tricks from experienced Family Campers:
Preparing for your Trip:
- Learn some basic Spanish phrases before coming,, especially to communicate with the Mexican children. Some of the children learn English in school. Check out Learn Spanish, studyspanish.com, spanishprogram.com, spanishunlimited.com, spanishprofessor.com or similar websites.
- Check out the climate conditions for the area before departing. See The Weather Channel for Tijuana, Mexico.
- Checkout
what the latest currency valuation is. As of Wednesday, March 17,
2004:
1 US Dollar = 11.06400 Mexican Peso
1 Mexican Peso (MXN) = 0.09038 US Dollar (USD) - Drink sports drinks, Gatorade or cranberry juice the week prior to departing and Gatorade provided at the camp and worksites to raise your electrolyte and potassium levels.
- Staying a couple days in San Diego before the trip is a nice way to acclimate your body and prepare for the rustic camp conditions. Taking hikes along the beach or among the many trails in the San Diego area is a good way to prepare those leg muscles especially for desk jockeys or couch potatoes. Remember to meet the team in the San Diego airport on Saturday June 18, 2005 at noon.
- Do purchase a 5-gallon solar shower bag, since warm shower water is very nice, however realize that on cloudy days, it will not be warm and so be prepared to either take a cold shower or use wet wipes or some combination.
- Confirm your airline and any additional hotel reservations before departing.
- Pack expecting that your bags will receive rough treatment by the Airports and be squished into bus luggage compartments.
- If you have been ill for any reason prior to the trip, please let the camp director and your site manager know.
At the Worksite:
- Stretch each morning before beginning work at the worksite.
- The Mexican children love to play soccer. Take some time during the work day to play, talk and build relationships with them.
- It is important to be patient, but ready to help and occasionally offering when you see an opportunity. Don't be shy about asking to help somewhere.
- Pace yourself.
- If in doubt, ask the Site Leader.
- Don't pet the animals since they often carry diseases. Wash your hands immediately if you do.
- Don't allow the Mexican children to drink in direct contact with your water bottle. Pour it into their mouths if necessary. If they do, disinfect it back at camp before using again. This is the reason for having 2 bottles.
At the Camp:
- Make it a priority to listen and talk to campers and the Mexicans around you to build relationships and learn from this experience.
- Do the suggested daily devotions provided to you and read the Toilet Times.
- You won't go hungry, there is plenty of food and always leftovers. Breakfast always has cereal, milk and usually oatmeal in addition to a daily variety (e.g., scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy). Lunches usually have peanut butter & jelly as well as meat sandwiches like turkey and ham, fruit, snacks, etc. Dinner has a balanced variety as well.
- Don't drink the shower water or water from the Mexican people or allow contact with your mouth. Don't brush your teeth or shave using it either. Don't allow children to play with the water and then put their fingers in their mouth.
- For your safety, keep yourself and your children within the camp perimeter while in camp.
For more information: