Saturday Fun and Christmas Eve
For those of you who don’t know me I’m Frances Lindsey, Camp Mom during the summer. I was a camper myself many moons ago with my sisters. My mom was a camper too back in the 1950’s. I even sent my children to Skyline. So as you can see Skyline means a lot to my entire family. I want to tell you a little about my day so you can see it through a mom’s eye.
We started this beautiful day learning more about our faith at Morning Watch. After Morning Watch we move on to Flag Raising then to a delicious breakfast. As always after breakfast the kids go back to their cabin to clean up. Every cabin at camp has a caper chart with jobs listed for each girl to help in the cleaning process. You would be amazed at how our mini campers to the Riversiders can sweep, take out the trash and make up her bed. Hopefully they will all continue this when they get home.
Club meetings begin at 8:30 and the girls are busy learning songs, talking about club spirit and even braiding hair. As you know the Mounties found the horseshoe yesterday so the Mountie Captain and I will be re-hiding it tomorrow night. The Rangers and Troopers still have a chance to find it and get the points. Whatever club has the horseshoe by banquet night gets a lot of points!
Something new that has happened this summer is we now have Summer Encouragers. They have the unique job of encouraging our counselors as well as our campers. As you will also see in pictures they have an “encouragement circle” by the dinning hall where all ages will gather together and just hang out. Sometimes popcorn is passed around or drinks or even popsicles but most of all they laugh. It’s really fun to watch and listen!
Arts and Crafts girls have been busy making all kind of crafts using nature as they’re main tool. It has been fun to see the creative juices flowing. We have a mom of one of our past camper/counselors that is teaching the girls and she really has them inthralled allowing them to use sticks, pinecones, flowers and maybe a little hot glue. Amazing!
Tonight’s activity was very special as it was Christmas in July Eve! I hope you have a chance to see all the fun activities that happened in the gym. Sally and I have the most fun job of handing out milk and cookies as the kids come by and watched a little of The Grinch. Now for what you all have been waiting for…A Christmas poem by our very own Larry Johnson!!
Twas the night before Christmas and all across camp the humidity was high, everyones clothes were all damp
The stockings were hung by every campers bunk In hopes that St Nick would leave something on their trunk
the campers were all nestled and snug in their beds While visions of ropes course and horseback swirled in their heads
With Sally in her PJ’s and I with my cap, Had just settled down for a much needed nap
When out in the camp there arose such a clatter I stumbled out of the bed to see “whats the matter?”
Away to the windows I flew like a jet if something was outside, I hoped it hadn’t left yet
The moon had a reflection on the river below If something was in the water, I wasn’t gonna go
When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh, pulled by some nice looking deer
With a little old driver so lively and quick I thought I was seeing things, perhaps I was sick
More rapid than eagles, he called them by name No matter who he was, this fella had game
First Driftwood and Joywood, Beetlebum, and Bevshack Then Bar H, Hot box and Brookwood, he toted his pack
Then on to Rosey Den, Edmae and Totem Hall Then Hillbillies and Deweys Den, he hit ’em all
Then across the river he flew in a snap He knew his way around, he didn’t need a map
Up on the roof, of Summerplace he landed And quickly left them all presents, and did it single handed
And then in a twinkling, on to Riverside’s roof He went straight down the chimney, in just a “poof”
As I drew in my head and was turning around Down Riverside chimney, he came with a bound
He was dressed in all fur from his foot to his head I though to myself “he’s gotta be hot, if that was me I’d be dead”
A bag was flung on his back full of toys it was presents for the girls, this trip had nothing for any boys
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry I hoped for just one present with a name on it for Larry
He had a broad face and a little round belly He obviously found the dining hall and had some biscuits and jelly
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf I thought when I saw him I was looking at myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, was a notice to me, its time to go back to bed
He stopped by the infirmary to visit our nurses and left something for them in each of their purses
Then laying a finger aside of his nose he was finished with his work so up the chimney he arose
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle He took off really fast, like a Patriot missile
But I heard him exclaim as he flew above the pines Merry Christmas to all, from Camp Skyline!!
