Half Way to Home?!?

We woke up this morning to a gorgeous 61 degree day.  Across the lake you could see steam rolling off as the warm water and cool air temperature came together.  There was no doubt this was going to be an incredible day at camp. As our campers woke up from some deep sleep they started, what is now a routine process of making their beds, getting dressed, and cleaning their cabins.

Before they knew it, our campers were headed to breakfast, probably the quietest meal of the day.  For breakfast our campers enjoyed french toast sticks, fresh fruit, and an array of other breakfast delicacies like cereal and yogurt.  After cleaning up from breakfast (yes they clean off the tables and wipe them down after handing over dishes, silverware,  and cups to the dishwasher it is time for flag raising.  Our campers say the pledge of allegiance and the 4-H pledge as the flags are raised each morning.  Then it is time to start their day.

Today's activities included fossils (not sure if they made them or if they were found), crafts, canoeing, swimming, archery, horses, and rock wall climbing.  Our trekkers loaded up this morning and headed to the Dan River where they would be canoeing down the river, climbing rocks, setting up tents, cooking over a campfire, and rock wall climbing before coming back tomorrow, late afternoon.  our campers also got to go to the boulder wall which instead of climbing up, they climb across.  Now a favorite activity, yoga and meditation were thrown into their schedules so they could have a little more down time.

It doesn't take long before it is time for the next meal and our campers are always famished.  Lunch time was a hit today with chicken sandwiches and potato wedges.  Our campers couldn't get enough.  When it comes to eating or activities, well at this point I think they enjoy eating but they are doing it quickly to get back out to the fun.

Afternoon activities had the addition of fishing thrown in.  Since there is no way to keep the fish and clean them and eat them, everything got thrown back in and the kids had a ball.  To better explain the camp is fairly large so as groups travel around they see each other at places like the camp store or meals but it is unlikely that they see each other on activities and unless you know where to look (which obviously our agents do) it is going to be hard to find them around camp during activities. 

Camp store is the mid afternoon break to get a snack and a drink.  Campers come to the rec hall where this "store" is located.  They can get a water bottle (because we do like them to stay hydrated) one snack and one drink each day.  On the last day they can spend out their card and get souvenirs, etc.  Campers will also receive this year's camp t-shirt when we get home.  Camp store and the camp t-shirt are all included in the cost of camp.  We want to make sure our youth have something to remember camp by.  After getting and consuming their treat, campers have a little free time in the rec hall for dancing, playing four square, talking, reading, etc.

After camp store it is back out to activities and finish their days events.  Already lots of talk is swirling around the camp about the evening event.  I would tell you more but you will have to wait until you get to the paragraph just like our campers had to wait all afternoon and through dinner to experience this event. 

For dinner tonight we went with an all time camper favorite spaghetti and meatballs.  It was accompanied by breadsticks, salad, and for desert????? Vanilla cake!  Campers throughly enjoyed this meal and there were lots of folks filling bowls back up for seconds and even thirds.

Our adventurers were out at the outpost pitching tents for a night out and cooking dinner over a campfire.  They got to go on a night hike and have lots of fun at outpost before coming back into camp for the end of the talent show and a bathroom break.  Then they went out for a night under the stars.

The end of diner means flag lowering, thoughts for the day, announcements, and then.....evening activity.  Wednesday night that means the camp talent show!  We had gymnasts, singers, comedians, dancers, instrumentalists.  The abundance of talent in this group was amazing.  Intermission for the event was the evening snack and drink.  Then they went back to the rec hall for more acts before concluding the evening a little after 9 pm.  At that point it was time to head back to the cabins for showers and to get some sleep for what will be our last full day at camp!

To check out the fun of the day please click this link.