Wrapping up the Fun

As I write this I am thinking of the fun we have had this week and all the work ahead of us in the next few hours. But I digress. Let us share what happened today before we talk about tomorrow.

We started this fantastic day with our traditional breakfast and flag raising before heading off to the days activities. With the trekkers making their way back to camp and the adventurers waking up at their camp site the rest of the campers had a special treat. A hay ride to the home of Betsy and Jeff Penn, our 4-H camp's namesake. Their historic home which is right around the corner from the camp is called Chinqua Penn Plantation. It was built by Betsy and Jeff Penn in the 1920's and is filled with artifacts from all their travels around the world. Photos can not be taken in the house but outside, around the grounds is another story. This is considered one of the top ten best preserved historical homes in the state. Both Jeff and Betsy are buried on the grounds of the home they loved so dearly. The Penn's had no children together but loved children so after Jeff's death Betsy ultimately donated the property for the camp we are attending this week. After touring the immense house, the youth took a hike back to camp which highlighted the farming operation of Chinqua Penn.

After the tour it was time for lunch. What more could a child want other than corn dogs at camp. After that it was time to go back to some of our favorite activities. Some people took to the rock climbing wall while others were horseback riding, swimming in the lake, or even line dancing. The day was filled with everyone's favorite activities. Of course we can't forget our final camp store session where everyone got to spend all their money left on their cards.

To wind the day up we had a special dinner. Barbecued chicken, fresh corn on the cob, carrots and peas, creamy scalloped potatoes and rolls were the first course of our final dinner. You would think it couldn't get any better, but you would be wrong. It was followed by fresh peaches served over yellow cake with whipped cream on top. It was so good some of the campers were begging for more.

After dinner we were begging for the rain to stop. It seems after a nearly perfect weather week mother nature decided right before the dance to open up and douse everyone with a much needed storm. Not that it seemed to dappen the campers spirit any becuase they were dancing up a storm. However Morther Nature must have been thinking of the campers because within an hour the storm had passed and we were still able to have our final campfire.
It wouldn't be camp without a traditional camp fire.

Then it was off to the cabins to shower and start getting their gear in order. Many campers were exchanging phone numbers and collecting addresses so they can keep in touch after camp. In the morning we will be tired of packing, excited to come home, and sad to leave all our new friends. It will be a long ride back but we will all have some new memories to share with our loved ones at home.

Stay tuned because there are still a couple of things left to do Friday before we board the buses and we wouldn't want you to miss them.