Secret Shoaler

Number of People: 1

Budget: $0

In 1987 the tradition of the Secret Shoaler was invented. It has traditionally been a secret friend concept wherein a person receives little gifts and clues from the SS and by week's end, the identity is guessed or revealed. In order to have a SS you must be one, which makes it tough on a parent who must help little children with their SS.

It will then be your job to make sure that every child who signs up for a SS will get one. You should try to match younger kids up with adults or teens. You should not match adult with adult. A master list is essential in case there is a child whose SS has dropped the ball.

Consider submitting a brief and welcoming description of this activity for inclusion in the Dockside Press so everyone, especially our numerous New Shoalers, will feel enticed to join in. At Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch make a brief an announcement to explain what this is all about. Describe the purpose of the Secret Shoaler, i.e.. to secretly leave little gifts for the assigned person. They can be poems, stones, treats at the snack bar, feathers, etc.

Have printed sign-up sheets so that every child or adult that wants to participate put their name and room number on a slip of paper, which should be available at every table. The slips should be collected mid-meal by the S.S. coordinator. Once the names have all been collected, the S.S. coordinator should write down all the names and then at the next meal go through the dining room and give everyone the name and room number of their Secret Shoaler. Be sure to emphasize that the idea is not to spend a lot of money buying things for your SS. You may want to set a limit on the amount spent (i.e. $5.00 to $7.00 for the entire week). A postcard with a nice note, a gift certificate for an ice cream at the snack bar or other thoughtful gestures are the ideal SS gifts. Encourage people to give something small every day.

Give out Secret Shoaler assignments on Tuesday. Make sure you know who has who, as there can be hurt feelings if a Shoaler doesn't get anything from their SS. You may end up with a few slips of paper left in which case you need to recruit someone.

C&C 1996, K&D 2000, R&S 2003, T&I 2004, B&J 2005, S&J 2006