Prof. Mtro. Yamandu Ploskonka DSLL
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Please note: The following descriptions mention skills related to camp program areas detailing only situations on which I have been Instructor, Supervisor, or designer and builder of equipment, even if it were not in a camp setting.
No mention is made of personal, just-for-fun experience, which often covers many years and diverse situations.

Water Activities
Water activities by their very nature are often the most fun and enjoyed area any camp.
Because they are so basic and widespread, water activities require special attention from a safety point of view, since they could easily lead the instructor into routine and lack of the close attention that is so necessary if they are to remain safe. Safe, so water can be all the fun it can be.
Activity
Description
Where, When
Related Skills
Sailing Sailing Instructor for Optimist Class & Mirror Class, and one-on-one tutoring on several sailboats up to 25'.
Organiser of YCB sailing programs for children.
YCB Harbor Master
  • Yacht Club Boliviano, since April 2000
  • Wood and fiberglass repair. Anti-fouling paint. Marina maintenance. Motor maintenance and repair. Sail repair. Ferrocement construction. Map making. Welding. Carpentry. General attention to Club members and visitors.
    Organised an international regatta for the YCB
    Programmed a course on boat parts for Computer-based learning.
    Swimming Supervisor, Instructor
  • CampoAventura, Uruguay, 1995-1996
  • uncounted Scout and school camp swimming activities, 1981 to present
  • Senior Counselor, YMCA Camp Wewa, FL, 1994
  • preparation of roped, safe areas for swimming activities. Firm staff training in non-negotiable safety and risk-management procedures.
    Canoeing Instructor, Trip Leader
  • CampoAventura
  • YMCA Camp Wewa
  • Logistics, pre-trip training of campers and accompanying staff, supervision while activity is run.
    Inventor, designer and builder of the "Canoyak", a light, inexpensive two-camper boat
    Motorboating Instructor, Harbor Master
  • Yacht Club Boliviano
  • Trainer in safety & operation issues.
    Minor repairs and maintenance
    helped organise several cuises for YCB. Organised a Predicted Log Contest
    Fishing Instructor
  • CampoAventura
  • Construction of simple, inexpensive fishing tackle, lures and flies
    Fish woodfire cooking without utensils (mmm, yummy)

    Ropes & Challenge Activities Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    High Ropes activities are seen by many as intrinsically unsafe. Yet they have huge self-esteem building value, and thus are very significative in achieving most camps' objectives.
    This is the situation where it's evident that a solid training in risk-management policies and procedures can be a matter of life and death.
    Staff must be almost "brain-washed" into following the required rules to keep this activity safe, and thus something that will contribute to the highest grade of learning and lifetime memories for campers.
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    High ropes Designer, Builder & Instructor of maybe the only civilian high ropes course in Uruguay
  • CampoAventura
  • YMCA Camp Wewa
  • Design, construction, maintenance of High Ropes course, including rappel / climbing wall and Giant's Ladder and some minor low ropes elements
    Low ropes / Initiative courses Designer, instructor
  • CampoAventura
  • Several elements for initiative and adventure activities, mostly using existent buildings, tree stumps, tires and the like
    Ideas adopted and adapted from Outward Bound books and concepts
    Rock climbing Instructor
  • CampoAventura
  • Bolivia, 1999 to present
  • Training, control of safety of equipment and procedures, supervising activity
    Adventure / Initiative activities Organiser, Instructor
  • Grupo Scout Don Bosco, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 1998
  • Organised and ran diverse group bonding initiative activities, inspired in Outward Bound concepts

    Games & Sports Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    I do not tend to give widespread sports much of a place in a "normal" camp, precisely because the idea is to have an extraordinary week with unusual activities.
    Archery is an example of the sort of extraordinary activities that people normally have no chance to practice unless it is done in a camp setting.
    Rugby earns a special place, for I would tend to classify it rather with group initiative / adventure activities, for it shares many of the same educational results found in these.
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    Rugby Rugby coach, a title I have always felt honored to deserve
  • Minas Rugby Team (A.R.CO Cup winner, 1995, and assorted other minor awards)
  • High School students in Minas, Uruguay. 1994-1998
  • Made our first Rugby ball by hand
    Tackle dummies, rugby shirts and such equipment. Directed PR efforts, organised trips and participation in national events.
    Wrote press releases, and had 15 minutes of radio every two weeks about Rugby (1994-96)
    Soccer Coach

    "adult in charge"

    anchor "La Hora del Baby Futbol" radio broadcast

  • High School and Grade School teams, Uruguay, 1984-1996
  • CW54, Emisoras del Este Radio, Minas, Uruguay
  • Often what was required was simply a sort of chaperone, but other times it was more a coach position. I am rather more in touch with Rugby than with soccer, but the way things are in Uruguay, I found myself taking care of co-curricular and extra-curricular soccer pretty much all of the time.
    Roller Hockey Volunteer Instructor
  • "Amor en Accion" Mission, La Paz, Bolivia, 2000
  • Amor en Accion is a Christian mission that does outreach with street children and at-risk-youth. I helped train and run Roller Hockey activities
    Track & Field Volunteer, Special Olympics

    Teacher

  • Minas, Uruguay, 1997
  • Minas, 1996
  • In the 1997 National Special Olympics I took over the most varied chores, ditto in several interschool High School meets I helped with
    Archery Instructor

    Maker of equipment

  • CampoAventura
  • As I said above, I consider Archery a necessary program area in camp. Yet the high expense of equipment in Uruguay required I build targets, strings for bows, and even a bow and arrows.
    Minigolf Instructor

    Course designer

  • CampoAventura
  • Golf is almost unknown in Uruguay due to the expense in equipment. Thus it was definitely an extraordinary (and well liked activity) there
    Rifle & Air Gun Ranges Range designer
  • CampoAventura
  • Actually this activity never got off the ground in CampoAventura, beyond building a safe range for cal .22 and airguns. I also designed the procedures for safe use
    Biking, Bike Trekking Instructor

    Trip Leader

  • CampoAventura
  • High School groups, 1993-94
  • High School, Uruguay
  • Biking activities let people become active in putting in practice safety principles.
    Bike trekking expands possibilities for camping and adventure, as it allows greater distances to be covered.

    High Tech Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    I've grouped under this heading not only cutting-edge camp activities, such as computers, but others that require specialized or expensive equipment.
    The American Camping Association makes a very good case for camps to get "wired", for marketing and better parent-camper interaction, as well as an program area in its own right.
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    Photography Instructor

    Exhibition designer

  • High Schools in Minas, 1992-96
  • Photography, even from very simple equipment like pinhole cameras, has a lot of "magic" that young people enjoy to discover. As well as teaching basic darkroom procedures, I prepared an exhibition on photography.
    Video Instructor

    Jack of all trades

  • Minas, 1994
  • From what was a Geography project, three of my classes produced a short documentary about our city. For this not only did I give instruction, but had to solve many of the practical problems that arise in such cases.
    Rocketry Expert
  • Minas, 1993 (?)
  • I helped a Science Fair team to develop their project on rockets. Later on I learned this is a usual activity in many US camps.
    Computers Instructor
  • in many capacities and locations, since 1984
  • I started teaching Computers in a formal setting in 1984, in San José Private School, and I keep using them and training others in it use

    Religious Activities Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    It would be hard to imagine camping without reflecting on one's relationship with God and His creation.
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    Sunday School S.S. Teacher
  • Christian and Evangelical Alliance, La Paz, Bolivia, 1982 (1 year)
  • La Paz Community Church, 1999 (6 mos.)
  • Prepare a lesson, Bible on hand. Prepare additional materials to build interest and learning
    Devotions, Chappel Senior Counselor
  • Camp Wewa
  • Part of the duties of counselors was to lead in an evening devotion time in each cabin, and once a while, lead the whole camp in morning chappel devotions.

    Woodcraft Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    Camping was for a long time little more than woodcraft. I define that as the skills that enable a person to enjoy momentary periods of communion with nature away from civilization
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    Camping Instructor

    Trip Leader

    Contingent Leader

  • Camp Olmsted
  • Dominican Republic Scouts
  • Scouts of Uruguay
  • Scouts of Bolivia
  • School groups in Uruguay
  • CampoAventura
  • My camping skills honed by much practice gave me the satisfaction of having the only campers who were reasonably dry, fed, and with activities during a large camp when it rained almost non-stop for 4 days.
    Trekking Instructor

    Trip Leader

  • Mostly Uruguay, 1984 onwards
  • CampoAventura
  • HS groups
  • Trekking makes for even closer calls than single-location camping. When you take a group trekking, logistics, weight, careful planing are even more essential for success
    Cooking without utensils

    Pioneering

    Instructor
  • Camp Wewa
  • others
  • Cooking without utensils is a natural part of primitive camping and trekking. In Camp Wewa such activities came under the name of Pioneering
    Survival Skills Instructor
  • CampoAventura
  • Survival Skills training is especially attractive to older teenagers. I do not condone this kind of activities when they include killing animals
    Orienteering Instructor

    Course designer

  • Minas, 1992 (?)
  • CampoAventura
  • Map, course, markers design and instalation. Training in the use of compass and maps
    Hiking Instructor
  • 1979 onwards. Dominican Republic, Camp Olmsted, Uruguay, CampoAventura, Camp Wewa, Bolivia
  • Even the most 'modern' camp must have hiking as an activity. It allows for building many processes of self-discovery and teamwork, when there is proper preparation and activities are planned beyond just walking.
    Scoutcraft

    Pioneering

    Instructor

    Troop Leader

  • Dominican Republic Scouts
  • BSA Camp Olmsted
  • Scouts of Uruguay
  • Scouts of Bolivia
  • Scoutcraft adds to traditional woodcraft activities and skills those related to Scouting. Ropework, signaling, camp constructions

    Nature & Environmental study activities Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    A better understanding of the relationship between all elements of nature has placed this kind of activities in the forefront of many camps' programming, especially for year-round, co-curricular activities linked with schools.
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    Nature Program Area Instructor
  • Junior Counselor, Camp Olmsted, Goshen Scout Camps, National Capital Area Council, Boy Scout of America, 1981
  • Boy Scouts have many sets of pre-programmed activities as part of the Merit Badge system. The 4-instructor team I was part of in Olmsted dealt with Merit Badges related to nature
    Geology Merit Badge Counselor
  • Camp Olmsted
  • I learned enough geology by my dad's side (he's a geologist), to be the most prepared to teach and evaluate scout's knowledge in that subject
    Astronomy Merit Badge Counselor
  • Camp Olmsted
  • Sharing this knowledge with others was putting to use my hobby when a teenager
    Ecology Activities Teacher
  • curricular and co-curricular activities, several schools, Uruguay
  • Part of a grade school's teacher nowadays is being involved in teaching about the environment, and acting on that. Headed several recycling projects, even one at city level.
    Nature trail Designer, Instructor
  • CampoAventura
  • A nature trail lets a camper take nature and knowledge at his own pace. Makes for better, friendlier learning.

    Arts & Crafts Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"
    The "macho" crowd often looks down at the arts & Crafts area, as if it were too petty to be a real part of camping.
    Yet it should not be forgotten that camp often is the only unhindered, non-directive opportunity many children have to express their creativity, and as such might be determinant in a person's development.
    Activity
    Description
    Where, When
    Related Skills
    Ceramics Instructor

    Industrial consultor

  • since 1992
  • Kiln building, primitive firing techniques, engobe, glassing, potter's wheel, plaster molding
    Tapestry Instructor

    Cooperative advisor

  • Cooperativa Polanco de Lana Rústica, Polanco, Uruguay, 1989
  • All steps of several different tapestry techniques. Loom, carder, spinning machine construction
    Woodworking Instructor

    Carpentry shop manager

  • Camp Olmsted (carving)
  • Rio Abajo, Bolivia, 1998-99
  • msot issues related to use of wood for furniture, windows, doors. Finishing
    Silk-screen Instructor
  • Minas, 1993 (?)-96
  • A fascinating activity. Young people crave the power to make their own T-shirt designs
    Drama Christmas Pageant producer, writer, etc
    Teacher
  • Christian and Evangelic Alliance, 1982
  • Uruguay Grade Schools, since 1991
  • Logistics of drama production pale in front of the effort to provide an environment where young people will be creative without bounds.
    Campfire Leader
    Team member
  • since 1975
  • Campfires are a natural part of any sort of camps. Creativity, initiative, joyousness


    Return to the main page   or   go back to "Resume"