Showtime and 1 final good bye

Well hello again parents!! A lot has happened since the last time we spoke. For starters i was scolded (rightfully so….said Sally) by an 8 year old for wearing a shirt that said Camp Laney but she wouldn’t even say the name, she just let me know I shouldn’t be wearing a shirt that had the “L” camp on it. I promised her I would try and do better the next day. She found me the next day at lunch just to make sure I was true to my word, thank goodness I happened to put on a Camp Skyline shirt that morning and for at least a day or two I was out of the doghouse. Beside me being on parole from the shirt police, there have been all sorts of other accomplishments by all the campers this week. The girls at horseback competed in the Horseshoe today and tomorrow the winners from each class will compete in the Grand Championship tomorrow. Be on the lookout tomorrow (or today if your reading this on Thursday) on our social media platforms as they will have all the latest updates.

Today was the last regular day of classes and you could tell each girl was doing their very best to get one ride down the zip line, on the circus or put the finishing touches on their projects in arts and crafts or pottery. Canoeing made it all the way down to Desoto Falls and would ya believe that trip takes them right past the Camp “L” boys camp we were talkin’ about before. For some reason our older girls always enjoy that trip each year. I’m sure after the dance with them last week they were able to say “Hi” to one or more of their campers as they drifted past. Our CSR class got to do a guided rappel across the river and today took their final cave trip. They do so well they were able to go to places in the cave no other campers have been to before. They love the caves and it may be because its always 58 degrees in them every day of the year. Tomorrow I’ll take them on one last special trip that will have amazing views and be the largest rappel/climb out they’ve ever done. You don;’t want to miss the pics even if your daughter isn’t in CSR class, you’ll love the views I promise.

Speaking of temperature, I had to take a quick trip off the mountain today and my gosh!!! It was warm up here on the mountain, but down there in the flatland, once I got to of my truck the heat took my breath away. I guess were spoiled up here with the warm days and nice cool nights! I’m not sure if its the weather or all the activity but your daughters have been going right to sleep this session. As soon as as campfire is over there isn’t a light on or a sound being made. (or if they are making any noise, its after I go to sleep which is just about 3 or 4 minutes after campfire so there’s always a chance I’m just missing it).

Tonight we had Showtime at Skyline where all the campers came to the gym and got to watch all the campers strut their stuff as they showed out with everything they’ve learned the past 2 weeks including the drama class version of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, gymnastics, cheerleading, dance and many more.

I did get to enjoy dinner tonight with all the age outs as they all joined Sally, Frances, Katie and me at our house. Sally always cooks them a special dinner on their last day of classes and that includes some of her famous homemade ice cream. They must have loved the meal too cause there wasn’t any ham, mac and cheese, zucchini or brerad left when they finished. (of course there wasn’t any ice cream left either, that just goes without saying…….)

Tomorrow we’ll have the Grand Championship I was talking about earlier followed by club meetings and packing day, awards day and finally well end the session with our banquet where all the girls will find out who won what awards in each activity and then finally which club won the point cup, the horse cup and the Eloise H Temple Spirit cup. When they announce the winners of the cups the girls cheer and yell louder than anything you’ve heard. Picture it kind of like hearing a train wreck while in the middle of a tornado and then make it a little louder…

After the banquet each club will head down to the river for our official end of competitions called River vespers where the club leaders will light the final campfire of the session and then well hear each cabin wish and my favorite part of the whole session. The age out speeches. Its my favorite part not because the session is finished but because you get to hear the campers who have spent their final days as campers here and they make a short speech to everyone else about what their time here at camp has ment to them. There’s no filter or app to make it look cool or funny, its just straight from the heart feelings that they’re wanting to pass on to all the younger campers who still have time left here at camp. Its genuine, its honest, its heartfelt and quite emotional as these young ladies talk about all the lessons they’ve learned while being at their home away from home for the final 2 weeks. To hear these ladies speak straight from the heart is more impressive than anything you’ll see or read on social media nowadays, trust me. Be proud of your daughters, if your daughter is an age out ask them to read their speech to you, if your daughter is in her first year or anything in between, ask her to tell you what she accomplished or enjoyed while at camp this session, you’ll be impressed, trust me.

This is the final blog for 1st session, tomorrow (Thursday night) will be crazy with everything going on so this is the last chance I get to talk with you before I see you on closing day. Its been an honor and a pleasure to have your daughters here at camp and for you to trust us with your most prized possession. I hope you enjoyed their time at camp as much as they did. (but I doubt it!!).

On closing day we’ll have a special area that has been deemed “the dad pad” next to the office. It’ll include coffee, sausage and something interesting on TV. Don’t worry moms, you are always welcome there too!! Don’t let the name throw ya off, its a great place for everyone to gather.

Thanks again and please everyone be safe on your way to camp Friday to pick your daughter, Its been a great two weeks and we’ll see ya friday morning!

thanks again, LJ