Showtime and 1 final blog for 3rd Session
Hellooooo again parents!! I’m back and I’m here for the final blog of 3rd session. I get to start ya off with the first blog of the session and then finish everything up with the last one of the session with all that’s happened during the last 2 weeks and man has it been busy!!! (and hot). Today everyone one was getting in their last full day of rides down the zip line or on the circus, finishing up their arts and crafts projects, and in our CSR class we had to spend a whole period cleaning our clothes from the cave trip yesterday! We spent the next period learning about poison oak and ivy and learning how to start a fire without even using any matches or those long “needle nose” clickers. They just had a ferro rod and some cotton or dryer lint and I’m happy to say everyone of those girls got their fire lit and even helped it along by learning that potato chips of all kinds will act a tender if you need it too!! (although I’m pretty sure they hated to waste the chips on a fire!!) 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.
The girls at horseback had a pretty big day too!! Each period they all competed in the horse show and tomorrow the winners from each class will compete in the Grand Championship. All the campers will be there to see who and which club wins the Grand Championship! If you are into horseback (and who isn’t?), this is what you have been working for all session. The winner will get to take the traditional dunk in the water trough. 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 and winners. It should be up online around or before noon.
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 off everything they’ve learned the past 2 weeks.. This included gymnastics, cheerleading, dance and everything else the girls have been working on over the course of the session. Tomorrow circus will get to show everyone what they’ve been working on as they have their show on packing day.
I did get to enjoy dinner tonight with all the age outs as they all joined Sally, Frances, and Katie for a very unique age out dinner. 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 chicken and dumplings, mac & cheese, veggies or bread 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 blender full on nuts and blots in the middle of a steel barrel 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. It’s a powerful moment as every camper hears just what made Skyine a special place to these girls that have come back year after year.
Today as I was making my way around camp. one thing stuck out to me everywhere I looked. There were groups of girls (not that would be a strange thing at a “GIRLS CAMP” ) and every single group was doing the same thing no matter where I looked or what time of day it was. They were all sitting together in groups and actually talking to each other. And here’s what’s amazing about this simple feat, not a single one of them was doing it using their thumbs or fingers!!! Think about that for a second, I’ll say it again, They were talking to each other and not using fingers…. you see what I’m saying?? They were speaking, listening and watching each other as they talked. I was so excited about what may not seem like a big deal now, but think about the last time you saw kids or friends (or you) talking to someone and it didn’t involve their thumbs with a phone…….. go ahead, I’ll wait.
On closing day, heck… try it all of next weekend, enjoy what they’ve learned at camp. And while that may mean you get to celebrate the riding of a horse, marvel at the height of the zip line they mastered or be amazed at something that was created down at arts and crafts, what I’m really talking about is just that…..talking. Engage with your daughter and enjoy their attention as they speak and listen to you. While they may not be excited to leave camp on Friday, I promise ya, they can’t wait to tell you all about what all they’ve learned and accomplished while they were here. You can feel free to use your hands and fingers then to be surprised and make all sorts of faces and gestures as you’re listening to them.
This is the final blog for 2nd 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
