What We Did On July 17th

What We Did On July 16th

The Area Around Sunny Hill

These pictures were taken on Sunday, on the trip down to Skarnes town center, and on the trip back to the camp site. We thought you might want to know what it looks like outside our camp site!

Skarnes is situated "in the middle of nowhere", with big potato fields and farms all around.

Norway's longest river (Glomma) runs through Skarnes, and there's a bridge across it for pedestrians: 

On the next few pictures you can see the camp site in the distance; the big, white building among the trees up on the hill:

Our camp site is situated in a really peaceful area, and we love it! :)

What We Did On July 12th

What we did on July 8th

Planting a Tree for Peace

Today, July 22nd, all the kids, leaders, JC's and staff walked from the camp site down to Skarnes Town Hall, where we participated in the memorial ceremony to commemorate the innocent people who lost their lives in the bomb attack in Oslo and at the Utøya shooting one year ago.

We were welcomed by the Mayor, and she said in her speech that by looking at us, she was reminded of how bright the future looks, as these children gathered at Sunny Hill are our future. 

After one minute of silence, we all gathered by a small field next to the town hall, where we planted a tree for peace. Each delegation read a short statement in their language, and it was an emotional and beautiful ceremony. Underneath is a video clip from the planting of the tree:

I Love My Monito, Yes I Do!

One of the traditional games in the CISV game-book, is The Monito Game. It works like this: each delegate, leader, JC and Staff get a little paper note with a name on it. The person whos name is on your paper, is your monito. For the next couple of days/weeks, your task is to be extra nice to your monito, give him/her small gifts, write nice cards to them, etc. It is a really nice activity, as long as you plan it well!

This week, we have started the Monito Game here at Sunny Hill! Here are a few pictures from the preparations:

Everyone made a little envelope with their name on it, and we hung them all on the wall. This is where we will place our secret monito-gifts when nobody is watching!

Let the game begin!

CISV History Lesson #1 - The CISV Song

The CISV Song is being sung at all CISV programs while rising/lowering the CISV-flag. It was written during the first ever CISV-camp in Cincinatti in 1951, and the original song contained a first verse where all the countries present at the very first CISV camp was mentioned:

Here in this village you may see

children living happily.

French, Norwegian, Swede and Dane,

British, German, American,

Mexican and Austrian too,

learning through the things we do,

how alike am I to you.

The next year already, new countries had joined CISV, and the song had to be re-written. Here are the lyrics for the song the way it has been sung since:

THE CISV SONG

[C] Here in this village [F] you may [C] see

[G7] Children [C] living [G7] happily

[G7] Different [C] race and [F] different [C] land

[D7] Here we come to [G7] understand

[F] One anothers [C] point of view

[D7] Learning through the [G] things [D7] we [G7] do

[C] How [D7] alike am [G7] I to [C] you

Here we live and eat and sleep

Talk and laugh and sometimes weep

Here we share our hopes and fears

Build a bridge across the years

Sow a seed and plant a tree

Beneath whose branches there may be

All the nations gathered free

That our children so may grow

In a world we did not know

Sharing all they have to give

Learning how to love and live

In our hands the future lies

Seize the moment 'ere it flies

[C] Stamp the [F] present [G] with an [Am] act

[F] Dare to make our [G7] dream a [C] fact

Danish Lagkage



The Danes had prepared a fun activity for their National Night - a scavanger hunt where some of the stations involved preparing the ingredients for and making a Danish Delicious Lagkage! Lagkage means layer cake, and by the look on Morten's face, it is pretty tasty!



In the arts&crafts room, the different teams had to make wipped cream!

 Everyone got to try it, and boy was it harder than it looks!

 Anna went crazy and wipped cream all over the room! ...almost! :)

 After a job well done, the teams got to taste the cakes!

Thank you, Denmark, for a wonderful activity and delicious Lagkage!





Open Day Performances #5 - Sweden and Spain

The Open Day show was a really long one, but a really good one, too! Today we have the clips showing the Swedish delegation and the Spanish delegation! Sweden danced around the Midsummer pole again, and the audicence loved it! We have to also mention that Pauli, the Swedish leader, had his birthday on Open Day! We surprised him on stage with the Norwegian birthday song, it was great fun! Happy Birthday, Pauli!

Here are the videos:

Sweden in action!

The Spanish delegation had prepared two little skits, one about the Spanish beaches, and one about the WC finale in 2010! Both skits were followed by music and great dance moves. Enjoy!