Nick the Bus Driver

Each day, after closing exercises, my campers walk as fast as they can to Bus 11 to tell Nick about their day. It is a race to see who will be able to tell Nick first how big the fish was that they caught earlier in the day, or show him their new game board they made in art. At the end of every year, parents and kids ask if Nick will be the bus driver again next year. It’s an important question, since Nick is a very special bus driver.

Nick is the bus driver of bus 11, (formerly bus 16) which is the Wayland and Natick bus. Nick is a magical bus driver, he is almost the equivalent to Mrs. Frizzle in “The Magic School Bus.” He has many talents, and is always entertaining the entire bus with his stories and singing as he drives us to and from camp every day. Having Nick as my bus driver is a blessing. Nick has many special talents, and among them is his song- writing (and singing ability). Each session, Nick has a new song for us to sing, and perform during closing activities. Not only are these songs creative, but they are funny and they all relate to camp. One of my favorites, is the

“Yankee Doodle Camper”:
(to “Yankee Doodle”)

“I’m a Yankee doodle camper, Sewataro is the place.

I can catch a fish and then I throw it back, and then have a three legged race.

All the counselors are the best here, they teach us a lot of things...”

In addition to writing these amazing songs, Nick helps us discover how to perform them, and teaches the kids signals to do during the song to make it even more exciting. For example, the kids actually acted out a three legged race in the song, and then all crashed together, and got up to keep singing the rest of the song. It was fun for the kids to do this, as well as the rest of the camp to see it.

It is special enough that Nick takes time to write out these songs for the kids (which they love every time). But in addition to this, he prints out a version, and makes a CD for each child. On the way to and from camp, he sings with us (time after time). This is a great addition, because while I may be an enthusiastic counselor, singing is definitely NOT my strong suit.

When it comes time for us to perform these magical songs, we always find a time Nick can be there. Nick introduces us, and sings with us. The pride he has of these kids singing is so evident in his smile. Nick treats these campers as he would his own children. He keeps them laughing, smiling, singing and most of all, safe.

Posted by: Hannah

Bio: Hannah is in her fourth year (out of five) at Northeastern University studying psychology, early childhood and elementary education. This will be her fifth year as a Swim Instructor at Sewataro.