I was picked up at the Miami port by a member of the South Seas Recreation staff, who filled me in on everything I’d need to know about working in their department. It felt a little surreal—South Seas had dorm-style housing for staff (much bigger than ship cabins), while others commuted from Ft. Myers. It reminded me so much of ship life, just on land. Before dropping me off, she told me to be ready at 8 a.m. the next morning—the Recreation Director’s son was turning one, and we’d be setting up a birthday party on the beach.
My roommate turned out to be very kind, though our worlds didn’t overlap much. She worked in one of the restaurants, so our schedules were completely different. It felt a lot like moving into the dorms freshman year of college all over again.
The next morning came quickly, but I was ready. I met Kathy, a fellow Illinoisan, tall like me, and instantly we clicked—a huge relief. She had a degree in Education, and her sister had done her internship at South Seas, stayed on, and worked her way up to supervisor. Kathy filled me in on the Recreation Director, Jean Baer, while I had already met the Manager, Stacy, who had been my cabin mate during my first week on the S/S Norway.
The party was for Jean’s first son’s first birthday, and our job was to provide all the fun and entertainment for kids and families. I mostly observed at first, jumping in where needed, but it was a fantastic day. Jean lived up to her “mama bear” reputation, making sure everything stayed on schedule. The team and interns knew exactly what to do, and the day went off without a hitch.
Meeting the interns reminded me of my Amelia Island internship days. I peppered them with questions about how South Seas ran things—what was the same, what was different. I also took lots of notes on new games, crafts, and activities. Some ideas wouldn’t work on ships, but others could—with a few tweaks to make them even better. I loved sharing my ship life stories, games, crafts and different events that I was able to be a part of while onboard.
One thing that never seems to change, no matter where you work, is storage. Recreation departments never have enough of it. Even on ships, space was always tight. That’s why games that need no supplies are lifesavers—and why recreation departments, often on smaller budgets, need to be extra creative. (But I’ll save that for another blog!)
My time at South Seas gave me such a valuable perspective. I learned how another recreation department functioned—whether they ran everything in-house or used outside vendors for areas like the pool, beach, golf, or tennis. It broadened my view of operations beyond what I’d seen at sea. I knew Jean Baer would become another mentor in my life, and I was truly grateful for both her and Stacy’s guidance during my time at South Seas.
It was also my first time in a mascot costume. South Seas had a pirate character, José Gaspar, and the interns thought it would be great for me to play him at one of the sessions. They told the pirate stories while I posed for photos with the kids. It was fun, but also very hot—an experience that prepared me for future roles as Tom the Turkey, the Easter Bunny, Mrs. Claus, and more. I’ll never be a Disney pro, but I learned that stepping into character, even briefly, can be a fun way to connect.
I picked up so many games during that time. One that still sticks with me is Huckle Buckle Beanstalk. One of the interns called it Huckle Buckle Butthead and told the kids it was their secret not to tell their parents. I still wonder if that was the right call—but the kids loved it. Now, when I work in different parts of the world, I often adapt the names to fit the local culture. For example, in Seychelles, there’s a Takamaka Tree, so we renamed the game around that. It adds a sense of place and gives kids a cultural connection while playing.
That’s the beauty of games—they exist everywhere, sometimes with different names. And why not rename or theme them to fit your location or event? I’ve always loved a good theme day, with every activity tied back to the concept.
What makes it all even better is the spirit of sharing. “Sharing is caring” may sound cliché, but in our industry it’s true. Sharing ideas doesn’t mean someone will steal them—they might not be able to pull them off exactly as you do. Or maybe they’ll add their own twist, and you’ll learn from that. This exchange sparks creativity on both sides.
That’s one of the reasons I love being part of an association like Recreation Experience Community Network (REC Net). At conferences, you bring together Recreation Directors, Directors of Fun, Activity Managers, professors, students, vendors, along with so many other titles and the room just buzzes with ideas. You leave inspired, energized, and ready to bring those fresh ideas back to your own team. Just a quick plug in case you haven’t heard… this year’s REC Net Annual National Conference will be held this November at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Be sure to check out their website for all the details! www.recnet.org.
One more example that I’d like to share and a little more recent comes from my friends at Wildly Different, a company that specializes in awesome team building events and more. (www.wildlydifferent.com) They are a member/vendor of REC Net. Before hosting a large event—the biggest I’d ever led—I shared my concerns with them at a conference. They gave me some amazing twists to make it work, and it turned out to be an incredible day. Later, I even stopped by their Orlando office for a little inspiration boost, and once again, they shared simple but brilliant ideas that became game-changers for me.
Having that network of people to call, brainstorm with, or sit down alongside at a conference has helped me push through challenges and turn frustrations into opportunities.
Looking back, I feel lucky to have had the chance to step off ships for six weeks and immerse myself in South Seas. It was just enough time to meet another great group of people—many of whom I’m still friends with today—learn new games, crafts, and see another side of recreation operations. In many ways, that experience planted the seed for my future as a consultant. (But more on that in another blog!)
While at South Seas, I got a call from Sally Evans inviting me back to the ships. This time I’d be heading to the M/S Starward, a much smaller ship, for two weeks over Easter. I’d be the Lead Youth/Teen Coordinator—WOWZA—just me and one other person running the whole program. I was excited: new ship, new ports, new friends. But also nervous: being the lead meant more responsibility, new crew, and new challenges. Still, with everything I’d learned on the M/S Seaward, S/S Norway and now South Seas, I felt stronger, more confident, and more prepared as a recreation professional.
Favorite Quote: “Here’s what is exciting about sharing ideas with others: If you share a new idea with ten people, they get to hear it once and you get to hear it then times.” – Jim Rohn
I had to include this second quote—I love it! If you swap out “food” for “games/events,” it works just the same for me.
“What I’ve enjoyed most, though, is meeting people who have a real interest in food and sharing ideas with them. Good food is a global thing and I find that there is always something new and amazing to learn – I love it!” – Jamie Oliver
Next up: Next Level Responsibilities