Thunder, Hot Metal and Dragons -somewhere there’s a connection!
Dear Parents & Friends,
It’s been an exciting day here at camp. It was a cool morning working its way into a hot steamy afternoon and a big thunderstorm just before dinner tonight. It was a good night to attend the theatre and that’s exactly what we did. The day was perfect for almost any kind of water activity. Rope swing, zip line, and tension traverse were quite the hit today before the showers rolled in about 5:00.
You can also escape from the sun by stomping through the creeks and springs here on our property looking for the rarest of the rare, the speckled fin warble snapper. Now I’ve never seen one, but the old fellers say they live in all our creeks and streams and are quick as a cat and like to leap out of the water and right over your head. That’s what they were looking for today in Camping Skills and Nature. Our predominately forested land is a mega shaded area where bikers, climbers, and young explorers search for the rarest of rare and can escape from the midday heat.
Of course, if you like hot activities, blacksmithing takes it cues from the legends of molten and bent metal, Scotty, Sarah, and Riley. They are soot-faced happy teachers who take our children on a journey not made by the average Joe and Susie camper. How often does a child have the opportunity to use tools that are meant to shape hot metal in order to sculpt it into fine art or a useful device. That’s why we wear leather aprons, gloves, safety glasses and closed toed shoes. It’s exciting and adventurous.
On the artistic side of camp, I did mention the play tonight which was called the Paper Bag Princess. Anne and I remember reading the book to our daughters when they were young. I had forgotten the story until tonight and it’s a moving tale about a princess who plans on marrying Prince Ronald, who is practically perfect. However, a dragon arrives who destroys her castle, kidnaps Ronald, and burns all her clothes, so she must look for something to wear, and her only option is a paper bag. Elizabeth follows the dragon and Ronald, and seeking to rescue her fiancé, challenges the dragon to burn forests with fire and to fly around the world. The dragon completes the tasks but after flying around the world a second time becomes tired and falls asleep. Elizabeth rescues Ronald, who is ungrateful and tells her to return when she looks more like a princess. Elizabeth calls Ronald out for his ungratefulness, rejects him as a worthless bum and goes dancing off into the sunset to live her own life. It’s a good example of the recent movie themes that have been coming out lately relating to “Girl Power” (Wonder Woman and the latest Star Wars Movies). Debbie, our pianist wrote the music which included some cute songs and of course our campers did a great job of acting. Kudos to Haley for her directing.
Another endeavor that captures campers imagination is our own Tajar Times Newspaper. I just read the June 22nd edition tonight after dinner. It contains some great articles about everything from our Farm to How to Weave on Cardboard Loom to 10 Questions You Probably Can’t Answer (like Who Invented Smiling and Why Can’t You Tickle Yourself?) These reporters and writers are just beginning their stunning career writing for the Times!
More of the same and more await your children tomorrow in our land of simple joys! Stay tuned!
