Reality Television - VAMPY Style
Comic-Con, one of the most well known comic book conventions, began when a group of comic book fans went looking for a space to share their interests with like-minded people. This desire is prevalent in VAMPY campers as well. They have broad interests and—if they look close enough—can certainly find others who love the same things. This past Saturday, they were given the opportunity to make those connections. They attended VAMPY’s very own iconic convention, V-Con, which melds our typical weekend activities into a cohesive and themed event!
For the first two weeks of camp, the theme of V-Con is kept hidden from campers. The secret is not revealed until the playing of the opening video, which the counselors craft and star in. This summer, our theme was reality television. The opening video encouraged campers to work hard and have fun throughout the day in order to earn ratings for the fictional reality television network. After the dramatic reveal of the theme, campers assisted in opening V-Con with the Nerd Triathlon, a competition in quick recall, creativity, and problem solving. They hurriedly collaborated with their teammates to write down as many countries as they could, list the most people with a doctorate degree, shoot ping pong balls into cups, and come up with a pitch for next summer’s V-Con theme. The crowd was certainly invested, cheers coming from every corner of the room. After the Nerd Triathlon, campers were encouraged to take part in the many games and activities happening during the bulk of V-Con. Some of my personal favorites included Shark Tank, Lego Masters, Survivor, and American Idol. All of these were inspired by reality television shows and then given a camp twist!
Alongside these activities, campers were encouraged to dress up. This is an aspect of V-Con that is similar to other popular conventions and events. Some campers sported solo costumes, while others dressed up in groups or pairs. I spotted costumes inspired by popular movie and book characters, celebrities, and even counselors! Our hope with V-Con is that campers are able to express their excitement and interest in what they enjoy, no matter how niche. Judging by the smiles I saw on their faces after the fact, I think we were able to accomplish our goal!