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June 12th, 2018              

The first scheduled activity of the afternoon was kayaking. The kids had beautiful weather for kayaking this afternoon - it wasn't too hot, and the lake was nice and smooth. The kids were pretty much free to paddle around wherever they wanted (within a certain section of the lake). All of the kayakers grouped together a couple of times to talk and they played a game or two, but it was difficult to make out what they were doing from the shore. All of the kids seemed to have a great time, and Marissa and Jayden ranked this activity as one of their favorites.

 

Kayaking

Jayden's classmates listening to directions from the kayaking counselors.

Patterson's 2018 motto: "Great things never came from comfort zones."

Jay showing off her Strawberry Shortcake-like life preserver.

Jay and Marissa posing for a picture.

Jay posing for a picture with her paddle as her friend Allison looks on.

Jay posing for a picture with her paddle.

The kids getting ready to climb in their kayaks.

Jay cruising out onto the lake...

...and working on her paddling.

Jay looking back to land to smile for a picture.

Jay and a couple of her classmates trying to avoid a collision.

Jay's class coming together on the water...

...and trying to stay together.

Jay paddling across the water once again.

The second afternoon activity after kayaking was Living Science at the Teva Nature Center (the building that Tyler and Samantha's class was in, the Environmental Education Building, apparently burned since I was last here). This building was located just a short distance from the kayaking beach and the dining hall. While we were in the Living Science classroom, the kids were able to pet or hold a tiger salamander, a painted turtle, a corn snake, and a skunk. Jayden thought the snake felt really weird, and she loved the skunk!

 

Living Science

Jayden and her classmates listening to the instructor.

A look at Jay's class in the Teva Nature Center.

Jay was getting bored with the speeches...

...but was excited when the animals, like this tiger salamander, came out.

Jay touching the painted turtle, which was a little bit bigger than our former pet Mia.

Jay braved petting the corn snake...

...and she thought that it felt pretty weird...

...but I was proud of her for touching it!

Lord knows I wouldn't!

The counselor bringing out the skunk.

Jay petting the skunk.

Jay was pretty excited by this one...

...as she thought it was really cute!

This poor skunk was kept as a pet in someone's basement, and fed poorly. It fell into poor health and lost it's sight as a result.

The entire class (parents and teachers too) was enthralled with the skunk.

A list of the animals that the kids could see today.

The red tailed hawk wasn't brought out as we ran out of class time, but we were able to see it in it's cage.

Our last dinner at camp... Tonight we were served spaghetti and meatballs, along with a vegetable medley thing, which neither Jayden or I touched. The noodles were fine, though they were definitely on the cold side. I didn't brave the meatballs, though I heard they were undercooked.

 

Dinner at the Dining Hall

Spaghetti and meatballs, along with a vegetable side dish was our meal for tonight.

Today's final activity was the "Minute To Win It" games. This is the lone event that parents are welcome to come to camp and see their child participate in the activities of the evening. With Tara out of town, Grandpa Gary, Grandma Terry, Samantha, and Uncle Steve came to see Jayden. Although this is different than the Mock Olympics that Tyler and Sam participated in, it was still held in the gym, and like last time, the floor was dusty and covered in bird crap. I was disappointed in the switch from the Mock Olympics to the Minute To Win, as it didn't give as many kids the chance to participate. Jay, for example, didn't get to compete in any of the games until the final one, which everyone participated in. Though the kids had a great time, it was more the chance to interact with their parents that they were thankful for!

 

Minute To Win It

Jayden helping out her classmates during one of the games.

All of the kids gathered while listening to directions.

Jay with an Oreo on her forehead...

...as she tries to slide it down into her mouth...

...but having it slide off to her cheek...

...before she tried to grab it (it slid off her back and onto the floor - she was so hungry she blew it off and ate it anyway!).

 

After the "Minute To Win It" games were over, the kids could take their family back to the cabins to show them around. After that, it was time for the parents to leave. Both Jayden and Marissa were tired, hungry, and a little bit homesick at this point, so Grandma Terry graciously ran to McDonalds for us to get some food for the girls. The three of us snuck off to my car to sit and eat as the other campers got ready for bed. We casually returned to camp once they had eaten and settled themselves back down. The rest of the night they were OK, but that was a tough hump to get over...

 

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