Last day of classes and pick up day request
Well helloooo parents!!! I’mmmm baaaaaackkkkk!! It’s been a few years since they let me on here to write the blog, but after a few not so subtle hints that I have been writing the blog for more years than our media staff has been alive I was able to convince them to let this old dog have another shot. If you haven’t read one of my blogs (first called the “news letter” before the term blog was even evened…) this is Larry and I have all sorts of information for ya about everything your daughters have been doing this session and specifically today. So without further ado, lets get on with the news….
The day started out just like all the others the session, way too early but comfortable, at least for the first few hours of the day. It was the last day of everyones activities so all the campers were getting in their final rides down the zipline, climbs on the tower, tennis seemed to be having one giant water balloon fight all day and who can blame them? Horseback was getting serious with their rides to determine who will ride in the Grand Championship tomorrow (Thur) afternoon, drama was putting the finishing touches on their play and the girls in the class I teach, Caving Survival and Rappelling were enjoying our last day of class finishing our final knots and learning to start a fire with a ferro rod, cotton ball and a pack or Doritos, yea thats not a typo!! Chips make great fire starters with all the oil in them, (even the “baked” ones!!!) The girls were really excited to see them burn so well.
Tomorrow will be a different day all together here in camp. Everyone will appreciate a little later wake up call for breakfast and then after cabin clean up (not everything is different) it’ll be time for our Grand Championship out at the horse barn where the campers will compete for club points and the distinguished title of “Grand”. Its a great honor to win the championship, a whole lot of points for you club and most importantly a friendly dunk in the horse water trough for the winners!
After that it’ll be beli deli time and I’ll sneak my CSR class out of camp for one last tip to the edge of the mountain for their final big rappelling trip. Just wait till you see the pics from where we go, you’ll love them.
Back at camp the rest of the campers will be going through county fair where they can try any of the activities and even some special ones that are only offered during this time. Think of it as your one last shot to play in your favorite activity or maybe a chance for you to try something new just one time. All the campers love it!! After county fair its awards time and then time for our end of year banquet. This is where all the girls come to dinner and sit with their clubs. There will be awards for years and achievements in each activity followed by the coveted Honor Campers and Honor Counselor awards. These are voted on by all the counselors and its a really big deal to win one of those paddles. If your daughter comes home with one be very proud! And finally it’ll be time to announce the club winners of each of the 3 cups they’ve been competing for for the whole session. Its a time of celebration and loud screams of joy followed by a cries and tears of “its over” as all the campers stand together and singe their friends song for the last time this session and for some of our older campers it’ll be the final time as their time as a camper. The tears and hugs are real and its a very moving moment here at Skyline.
As you can tell, its been a great session here for all your girls. As you know in reality, its been a terrible week for those of us not protected by the fragile “camp bubble”. Thank goodness this week, we have been able to keep the camp bubble in tact. None of the campers here are aware of any of the devastating events in Texas last weekend. Any emails that mentioned the events were pulled and not distributed. Our focus this past week has been to protect the girls time and allow them to enjoy their own camp experience. There are many connections between our campers and counselors and the campers and counselors at many of the Texas camps. Your campers this week didn’t need to have the pressure and anxiety from what happened in Texas on them.
It’s not only the campers or counselors, the director at Heart O the Hills camp, Jane Ragsdale was a friend of Sally’s, Ivy’s and mine. We have visited all the Texas camps that you’ve heard of last week and Jane was here visiting Skyline last fall. Its been a difficult week to keep everything quiet and still go out side to be with the girls as if noting was wrong. Believe me, we can only imagine what’s been going through your (our parents) heads as you were forced to deal with the same harrowing events knowing your daughters were also here at camp. I’m sure many had the urge to drive to camp to either pick up or at least just lay eyes on your daughters. We thank you for trusting us with their safety and allowing them to finish out their session here at Skyline.
Theres no doubt you’ve already planned a hug that’s tighter, longer and means more when you get to pick up your daughter Friday morning. (if not you’d better!!!) We would like to ask you to help keep the protection of the camp bubble in tact during pick up time and as difficult as it may be, not mention the Texas events while you are here. Not all campers will have their parents with them at the same time and this is a conversation where each camper will need and deserve their parents full attention.
Once you get to your daughters cabin, please just take a min to slow down and listen. Listen to her tell you all the things she learned the last 2 weeks, listen to her while she introduces you to her new friends from the session, listen to her as she walks you around and shows you every part of camp thats important to her and why its important to her. Theres no doubt you will be taught her club songs or even her dance or gymnastic routine, please just take in that moment to hear all the things she loved about camp and enjoy it.
As you get your tour of camp or end up stopped at T shirt Corral, be on the lookout towards the bottom of the office. I’ll have the “Dad Pad” (although everyone is welcome!!!) going with a griddle full of sausage, coffee and a TV for any dads or moms that want to stop by. I’d love to see and meet everyone if you have the time. I’d love it if you can stop by with your camper and she has a story for me about camp. Trust me, I’ll happily take the time to sit down and listen to them.
Thats something I’ve been much more deliberate about in the last week……
Have a great night and I’ll see ya Friday morning
thank you again………….
LJ
