Camp Season

Summer break should just be called Camp break.  That's really all it is.  Especially since it has been several years since we have really felt "summer" here in the NW.  We never even hit 90 degrees this summer.  But we most certainly did some camps!

 Due to her growing class size and demand for more dates, Kennedy scheduled two Cheer Camp sessions this year.  While it was her record high year for sign-ups, I am not sure the second camp week was quite worth it.  Her first session consisted of 10 girls total, while her second session capped out around 37 girls!  Every year this camp just gets better and better.  Kennedy had to have her wisdom teeth pulled just before the final day of camp and parent showcase.  She was a little swollen, quite sore and had a really tough time yelling out cheers, but she somehow managed, and the showcase was a hit!

If Cassidy thought she was going to finally escape her big sister's shadow at dance camp this year, she was sorely mistaken!  Kennedy got hired on as a dance instructor assistant the same week that Cassidy's team would be at camp.  Kennedy had a great time seeing how the camp works from the perspective of an instructor and seeing her old teammates.  Cassidy had a week full of fun and no sleep, but the highlight would have to be making the Thunderbird All-Star Team!  Congratulations Cassidy, you truly are an All-Star!

This was Layton's last year at cub camp.  Which more importantly means, my time as his Webelos leader is coming to an end.  Surprisingly, I have really enjoyed my time in cub scouts.  Maybe that has been because I have been with Layton in this calling.  Well, on the bright side, I only have 3 weeks after Layton leaves before I see Will at scouts each week!

 Layton would say the highlight of his camp week was the nature walk.  Not because he became one with nature, but because the staff member did card tricks with his extra time.  Layton became a passionate student of card tricks from that day on.  He stopped anyone and everyone to show them his tricks.  He even skyped our neighbors in the Dominican Republic to show them his newest trick!

This was a big year at Girl's Camp.  It was Karsyn's very first year and Cassidy was finally a YCL (Youth Camp Leader).  We were one year off from having all three girls up at camp the same year.  Camp was help at a new location this year and it was really hard to call it "camping".  They got to stay in lodges and had a pool, a lake, canoes, water trampolines...it was more like Club Med than roughin' it.

As usual, the girls had a great time.  They enjoyed lots of silly times with friends, had lots of opportunities to serve and even had some spiritual moments that strengthened their testimonies.  

Once again, I got to go up with Scott on the last night of camp.  Bishops were invited up to bring a treat  for the girls and to preside at their final testimony meeting.  I put together a "worms in dirt" dessert bar for the girls and that was a big hit.  After testimony meeting, Scott and I headed back to a hotel in a nearby town.  Camp was a good 2 1/2 hour drive from home this year so we stayed nearby to help drive girls home the next morning.

And my favorite camp of the year....EFY!  Kennedy thought she was too old to go this year, and Karsyn is still too young, so Cassidy was the only one that went.  She went with Jenna Clanton and both came home with that angelic glow that seems to stick around with them, for at least a few days, after camp.  I always say, it is the best money ever spent.  They do such a great job of incorporating fun and spiritual activities and the kids love being around so many people with the same values.

Well, all the camps are over, so it must be getting close to the end of summer vacation!