Day One - CSP 2012

It's the end of day one of Camp Sweetie-pie 2012....and CSP Staff (me, Joe & Anne) are still standing. Barely. Eva, Ethan, Eliza and Gia arrived this morning, changed into their official CSP 2012 T-shirts and were given a tour of the Camp Compound. This year we've added a ping-pong table and a solar shower.  As the youngest and newest camper, Eliza raised the flag at this morning's solemn ceremony.  This year's theme is SURVIVOR!  (as in Man vs Wild).  So they'll work on the basics; finding food, water, shelter and under lots of supervision, making fire! 

 

This year the camp pool is surrounded by a wire fence to keep Eliza safe.  She spent the morning washing dishes.  

Eva, Ethan and Gia built a solar oven out of a pizza box with the Camp Staff planning to make at least one cheese quesadilla in it for lunch - but the kids were STARVING (!) and couldn't wait, so Gia made spaghetti dogs for everyone.

After lunch was the daily trek to the creek - the kids' absolutely-most-favorite activity.  They spent hours catching crawdads and having a great ol' time.  Eva caught 25 huge crawdads, which were (thankfully) returned to the creek. 

The happy campers headed back to CSP Compound, absolutely STARVING (again).   After dinner the Camp Store opened so the kids could spend their hard-earned bonus-bucks AKA 'attitude awards' which they earn by being kind and helpful.  This year when they earn a bonus buck, they're given a shiny mardi-gras bead which they string on a lanyard.  They all earned five beads each, which they spent on all kinds of goodies at the Camp Store! Can you tell that Eliza ate a chocolate cupcake prior to me taking this photo? 

After dark, the kids ran around in the dark with their flashlights, screaming and giggling.  I think they're having a great time.  The Camp Staff is dragging!

Forgot to mention that this year's shirt is neon orange which is great for keeping track of kids on the creek.  Another p.s.  As Eva and Ethan were going to bed tonight, they said they were STARVING - and were talking about what they were going to have for breakfast.  They've already placed their orders.