Camp – the Perfect Recipe
We had another great day here in the Valley with beautiful weather, brilliant blue sky, sunshine, and a lovely breeze blowing. Even when it’s hot outside we seem to have a great deal of shade to cancel out the heat. I would say about 90% of our trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding are shaded. It’s a great piece of property with lots of water to help cool things down. Activities for B day of Discoveries this morning, came off without a hitch and campers had a chance to take their other 2 morning activities. 
Mountainside continued participating in more of their mini adventures: mountain biking, climbing, paddling in canoes and kayaks, and hiking today. They ranked their adventure choices this evening and will learn which adventure they will participate in tomorrow. They looked great out on the lake learning their pry and draw strokes, learning to paddle tandem and practicing their teamwork and the bikers enjoyed riding here at camp and on the flow track. Tomorrow after breakfast and cabin chores, they will be doing sign-ups, consisting of Tye-Dye, Soccer, watermat at the Lakefront, free swim, and friendship bracelets. I went up to their campfire tonight which is right next to Carson Creek. The Mountainside Cove is a great spot to live and play in. Riverside has had two full days of climbing so far and having fun on their adventure at Foster Falls.
Another third of Main Camp camped out tonight and fixed dinner over an open fire. It was the perfect night for sleeping under the stars with no rain and lots of dry wood to collect in the forest. Actually the campers and staff sleep in shelters that are three sided platforms up off the ground. It can be difficult to get a fire going when it’s been raining but with all the sunshine we have had I’m sure they all had a roaring fire in no time. Good food served outdoors and topped off with s’mores ends the perfect evening for some who are maybe going on their first campout. It’s always fun to smell the campers when they come back from camping out. They smell like smoke and woods and showers are a welcome way to enter the land of camp civilization again. 
For the past couple of days our WaterMat on the Lake has been a popular activity. It is so much fun and you can get as many as 15 or 20 small folks on it at once. Everyone wears a PFD (personal floatation device) and it’s quite fun to run the length and perform your best jump into the lake. It builds confidence for those who have never been in deep water on a lake. When one can’t see the bottom it can be a little intimidating. The WaterMat is like a floating island sanctuary for those needing that safe place above the fishes and turtles.
Our wonderful days give way again to the cool of evening and we topped off tonight with Mountain Dancing for Brookside out doors on the soccer field and firetime with marshmallows for Hillside. Debbie played the piano and I called the dances as she played. We danced the Bluebird Dance, Virginia Reel, Sasha (a Russian Folkdance) and Going to Kentucky. There was a lot of laughter and fun had by everyone.
It’s a full day here at camp and my guess would be if our campers were puppies they would just sleep in a big pile in the middle of the cabin floor. We’ve all been there and it’s such a good feeling to sleep that well. The counselors in our youngest boys’ cabin, Chipmunk Hut said they are sound asleep at bedtime and don’t wake up until the bell rings at 8:00am. Rest and good food is the cure for almost anything. Top that off with fun programs and you’ve created the perfect recipe.
