Lets go Exploring...It's Week 1!

Week one. Lets go. Waited 9 months for this and it was finally here. As I sat down on the picnic bench waiting for those car campers, waving in the buses and chatting with the ULs, it finally hit me we were back. There were kids on camp. The staff that week in Sherando with a full unit of explorers were: Me, Eskimo, Fizz, Bear, Rabbit, Tangle and Gizmo. We were joined half way through the week by Frosty.

The first night of camp we experienced the interesting and creative route that counselors go down to ensure that the Tooth Fairy comes to visit at camp too. Tangle and Gizmo sat and rather creatively came up with the letter design and words. Mo attempted to draw the tooth fairy rather successfully might I say. And the note was left along with a small gift for our camper to find in the morning.

First week of camp. First week of canoeing. I was good. We all went in shifts. One group in the morning, one in the afternoon. Doing water activities while the other were away. We went to Elkorne this year due to rangers wanting to conserve Todd. It was a lot prettier, not as lovely as Switzer but still lovely.We played water games and raced around while learning strokes and chatting with the kids. They seemed to have fun!

That week Thursday it was Disney day. Mo used my (now her) dinosaur onsie, and I dressed as stitch! We had a talent show that day that Splash and Red came and judged. Mo and I sang a song about camp that we had written during Archery. The girls all participated which was lovely. We had spinning light shows, singing and the cup song, with everyone winning a 'most likely' award. That night included the infamous staff boding where we maid scrambled brownies...that was actually meant to be dough boys, so we effectively had scrambled dough boys. It was an interesting experience to say the least...

Preeeeecamp Madness

It's the best feeling ever driving back through Bridgewater, feeling like you're coming home. Past that pirate ship, the rescue squad, Harveys. May have decided that on the first drive I was going to try come back next year. When we all first rolled up on camp we were greeted by a sign with instructions saying we had to do something to enter  camp. Splash and Red were sat off, in the background, watching us from the golf cart. This involved us singing the hippo song as a collective. Which we were all slightly rusty with. That day we moved into our Cabins, me and Mo were together with Skittles and Natters (who I named). They were arriving the next day. That evening we spent milling around camp, catching up with each other, meeting the new specialists and sitting on Shawnee bridge, swaying our feet over the high river.

Kayak through Camp? Yes that did happen...

Precamp went really well. Everyone is great. Everyone seemed to be getting on really well. We learnt a lot about camp. The basics of a typical day, safety, programmes, roles etc. Of course Sparky visited and told her infamous story. We all were first aid trained and I made Unit Leader. We all did lawn initiatives and bonding games, and everyone was up for it. It was great. It also included many chats, laughs, games, running around, beating people in races wearing crocs, making friendship bracelets, doing hair wraps as well as the odd dance part or two. I definitely managed to put a hair wrap in Reds hair. No photo evidence, but it was definitely an achievement! We also did round robins in the program areas which included doing challenge course and climbing tower. We also hiked out to pioneer.

We also went to reddish knob! It's lovely up there. We all rode in the vans or cars. I went with Mermaid and we all chatted and all bonded a little more. Managed to talk to a lot of people up there too. We all enjoyed ourselves. It was nice to see the views again, but like the last time I was up there, we were chased away by a thunderstorm. So we spent the whole drive back watching the lightning flash down as the music blared out.

Smiles and a view...

We also went to a baseball game at JMU. That was pretty fun. The players all danced to the birdie song for us and Google and Pixie won some money from a raffle. Because there were so many varying accents being chaperoned around the game by Americans, the University were informed we were a cultural exchange program, which they loved.

Take me out to the ball game...

We also ended up doing a scavenger hunt which was masked as a fired drill where we all stood around the flag poles in the pouring rain, on the flooded green. We were split into groups and were given instructions before we were off. Our tasks included posing for archery outside target, having all the vegetarians stand outside little grill, be pirates by the pirate ship in Bridgewater, having our mascot (lady liberty) in every picture, thrifting for the dress-up box and getting a topping for ice cream. Mac decided that while the toppings were being found she would dance outside Target in that lovely dress. It was possibly one of the funniest things I've seen her do...

Race against time...in the rain

The weird thing about precamp, apart from not experiencing it last year, was not having the kids there. Not hearing their little voices and chants and laughs. I found myself excited for them to come. For camp to begin in full swing, and June 23rd was when it would finally start...

Last day of precamp...

We're Back!

So after and 8 hour flight yesterday, Sophie and I touched down into Washington. We had clear skies, and when we didn't we skimmed along the clouds. They great thing about window seats is that you avoid awkward "can I just get out" situations and you get a brilliant view.

We spent the flight chatting, humming along to Les Miserables and I finally got to watch Skyfall. We talked about what we were looking forward to this summer. I'd say my top three are the new programmes, seeing all the staff and being back in the little bubble that is camp.

After we'd arrived and Fluffy presented us with cute little signs, we headed out of the airport!

First stop, Walmart! This Walmart was HUGE. I mean, 'get lost for days' huge. Anyway after a few purchases we made our way to IHOP! A pancake diner, so I naturally ordered onion rings. Like most things in the US, compared to back home, they were giant. Bracelet sized giant! (as shown by Fluffy).

Anywho. Today we'll be off the camp. And the summer can begin!

It's the final countdown

So in 24 hours i'll be boarding my plane. I'm sort of wondering where on earth the time has gone. I'm finally packed. Well. There's a few last minute things that will be thrown in. I.e phone, iPod, tablet; once they're all charged they'll disappear into the bag along with everything else.

Can't believe camp has come round this quickly. Its a little insane. Hopefully this year i'll actually update this weekly. I mean i have my journal but it would be good if I updated this too.

We'll see.