Day Three - We're Pooped!

 Artwork courtesty of Gia

The eldest and youngest of the campers (Eva and Eliza) were both asleep this evening by 7:45 pm.  Ethan and Gia are holding out - they're watching a movie but I noticed heavy eyelids at dinner.

We had another fun day!  It started with the raising of the flag (Gia's turn today!) and camp calisthenics lead by Poppa Joe.  

After flag-raising, the kids head to the bulletin board where the day's schedule is posted along with announcements, camp rules, mail and daily KP duty assignments.  Eliza discovers that today she is on KP duty which means she has to put the pepperoni on the pizza for tonight's dinner!  (We even have an official CSP KP apron).

"Don't Let the Rain Come Down' on the schedule, turns out to be a class on how to make a shelter if you're lost in the wilderness.  Earlier we covered the lessons the Hug-a-Tree program teaches kids - should they become lost.  Today's class carried it a step further....keeping things like wind direction and weather in mind when building a shelter.  What can they use for insulation?  (pine needles!) etc.   Conveniently, Joe and Anne have a giant spruce in their front yard which was perfect for the emergency shelter.   Eva is whittling a four-pronged fish spear so they won't be hungry tonight. 

 

Half the photos I took today have a mysterious blob on the lens.  Jello? My apologies for the blurry photos. 

The next class was 'fire making'.  After all, the theme for this year's Camp Sweetie-pie is SURVIVOR!   Joe shows them how to start a fire with a magnifying glass.....and even the little magnifying glass that came with the whistles that we gave the kids, had dry tinder smoking within minutes.  Eva showed how you can use a baggie full of water or ice, which works in much the same way as a magnifying glass - and finally Joe demonstrated using flint and steel.

Next on the schedule was "Use Your Noodle" - which is sort of like field hockey or soccer using pool noodles and a half-deflated ball - no teams - it was a free-for-all.   The goal was to get the ball into the bucket.  

The best money invested in Camp S'pie was the $50 I spent on the pool about four years ago.  It's small (12' across) as there isn't much level lawn for a larger one - but the kids love it.  It comes with a pool filter and I check the chlorine level twice a day. 

It's even more fun when they cram all the boats into the pool and do their best to sink each other.

Get him!

There's time for games.....

And projects at the creativity table....

Then a watermelon-eating-competition!!

Then a little more R & R and back to that all important question, 'Who am I going to marry'?

The annual Camp Sweetie-pie makes me painfully aware of how quickly these great little kids are growing up.  Twelve-year old Eva and ten-year old Ethan have said they'll keep coming to camp, even when they're 'old' (16 or 17) so that their little sister, Eliza, can have the experience too.  I told them that I hope they pass it on and do a Camp Sweetie-pie for their own grandkids. 

Tonight when the Camp Store opened and the kids cashed in their bonus bucks, three-year old Eliza was so excited when she bought a pair of swim goggles, 'so that I can hold my breath and go under the water'!  I didn't have the heart to tell her that this is her last day at this year's Camp Sweetie-pie though this is only day 3 and the older kids are staying for another 3 days.  But when I first started Camp S'pie, the length of camp was determined by the kid's age.  Every year I added a day.  Eliza is three - so she only stays for three days.  This is fair as it gives me time to spend with the older kids....but I will really miss her.  

It is Camp tradition that on the last day, the kids trace their hands on the flag.  It puts a lump in my throat when I see the accumulation of all the little hand prints, getting bigger every year.

Good-bye Eliza!  It was so much fun having you at camp this year!   You get to stay FOUR days next year!!

Day Two - CSP 2012

It's the end of day two.  Is that all?  The kids have bug bites, a bit of sunburn here and there where I missed with the sunscreen and a splinter or two from the swings, but they're having a great time! 

The day started with Eva raising the Camp Sweetie-pie flag,  accompanied by Camp Staff Anne playing reveille on the kazoo.

Camp Staff Joe is in charge of camper's physical fitness and leads the campers each morning in an exercise program.  If Ethan looks a little uninspired, I'll blame it on the large bowl of oatmeal followed by two eggs and toast that he ate for breakfast right before exercise.  Note to Camp Staff:  schedule breakfast after calisthenics, not before.

Mid-morning, Jiggle Giggle Slurp was on the schedule.  The kids were mystified until we brought out four plates of jello and whipped cream.  The rules:  hands behind your backs - first one done is the winner!  Gia prepares by tying her hair back. 

Camper Eva was declared the winner but it was a tight contest. 

I'm not sure how the contest deteriorated as it did.  I went into the house to get a camera battery, came back and there was jello flying in all directions.  Rumor has it that Camp Staff Anne played a part in this.  I will have to have a talk with her. 

Having seen the older kids in action, Eliza is learning the art of self-defense at CSP. 

As you can see, someone with a can of pink hair glitter got loose in camp. We're still trying to track down the guilty party. 

Just when the Campers were thinking the Camp Staff couldn't possibly have any more surprises up their sleeves, out came the Slip N Slide! 

 

The following photos prove that mature folks really can wear out little kids!

 

The day ended with Mac & Cheese followed by make-your-own-sundae.  By the time the kids were stuffed with ice cream, we completely forgot to have the 'lowering of the flag' ceremony.  Ah well - tomorrow is another day.

I don't know who is having the most fun - the little people or the big ones!

 

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.

Less Than a Week Away!

Time flies - it is less than a week until the start of the Fifth Annual Camp S'Pie!  The invitations and supply lists have been mailed and I'm stocking up on marshmallows and root beer.  The kids won't know this year's theme or activities until they arrive at camp on June 2nd.  My friends, Joe & Anne and their granddaughter will be joining us again this year.