First Full Day of Camp

Been home just over a week, so "back-blipped" this on Monday, July 6 -- Sorry, lots of photos to view and sort through, as well as catching-up with all the other stuff when I got home.

Monday is the day to get acclimated to the camp schedule, which is fairly easy. The highlight of camp of us is . . . well, it is everything.

I was going to write that the highlight is the early morning (see upper left corner of photo). We like to wake as close to 5:00 as possible. We love being at camp during the longest days of the year and the last full week of June provides those. Since we always request an open-air cabin (that means it has walls but they stop a foot or two before the ceiling. The other two options are enclosed cabins or tents), this allows the first bit of daylight and the sound of the waking birds to seem like we are sleeping outdoors.

Once we are awake, we both quickly dress, walk to the bathroom pavilion, (guys on their side, gals on the other). Then the two of us meet-up at one of the picnic tables on the shoreline. Mr. Fun always has a cup of coffee waiting for me (it's not like our home brew, but it is good). Watching the water, which has few waves because we are on the leeward side of the island, is a favorite activity of ours. We always hope to get to see a sunrise but because of the clouds, a sunrise over Saddleback Mountain on the mainland is a rare sight. At 6:00 the waterskiing begins for those who choose to brave the water temp and the fishermen (& women) also head out in little boats.

At 7:30 a "wake-up" bell rings and can be heard throughout camp. For us when the bell rings, it feels like we've been up and enjoying the day for hours. So the bell is our signal to walk back up the camp fairway to our tiny cabin to see if Desiree is awake and if she needs any help with little Tristan. If she has him ready, we take him and start toward the dining room. Breakfast is served at 8:00, but people with little ones that sit in highchairs are invited in 10 minutes early to get seated and situated.

Another camp highlight is mealtime because the food is delicious, and it is always fun to eat when someone else does the cooking.

After breakfast there is small group age graded activities. We were surprised and delighted that Tristan always went willingly and eagerly to the nursery or playground. He loved everything about camp.


Monday afternoon's freetime always begins with "the swim test." This is mainly for the kids to prove that they can swim and for everyone to hear the rules about the beach activities. So the lifeguards gathered everyone in front of the boat-house (pictured) and did a crazy little skit; then in groups people swim out to the float, tread water, and then swim back to pass the test (pictured). Years ago we took the swim test, so we don't bother with that anymore. Once the swim test is completed the "Water Front" is OPEN! Woohoo!

I wrote earlier that Tristan loved everything about camp . . . well, except maybe getting into the ocean during the afternoon free time, but I think Grandpa Fun even helped Tristan lose a little of his fear of that by taking him and his little bucket out to dip it in and fill it. They made dozens of trips to do that.

The Water Front closes at 5:oo p.m. and everyone starts preparing for the evening meal. The bathroom pavilion fills with everyone cleaning-up, showering, dressing--the girls' bathroom is crazy with blow-dryers and curling irons and folks crowding in front of the mirrors. I usually shower early afternoon to avoid the rush.

Evening always includes lots of singing and usually begins with lots of songs that the children love; songs that include hand-motions. One of those is the Butterfly Song. At first Tristan was excited to see all the kids on the little platform stage or in front of it, but he wasn't sure he wanted to join them (he's pictured with his mom watching). By the end of the week he wanted to be there with them, but he hadn't quite mastered the hand motions. He was starting to repeat the words and phrases of the song. Later in the week in our cabin we could get him to "sort of" sing the song for us and he wanted to use tree twigs as drumsticks and tap on the floor as he tried to sing for us. It was so funny.

This first full day of camp was a reminder of how much we love this little camp. We had not been to camp since summer of 2006.

Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol