minicampers

An ordinary day… not really

The three-weekers were quite busy with their GLPs all day as the mini-campers had an ordinary GRP day… wait, did I just say ordinary? There’s nothing ordinary about a day at GRP.

After a hearty breakfast (oatmeal, sausage, biscuits, cereal, fruit and juice), the campers headed off to their mentor hikes singing songs on the bus. During one of the hikes, one group had a microslam at Hemlock Field where they saw all sorts of little creatures such as a toad, millipede, slug, minnows, butterflies on fresh otter scat, grasshoppers and a female crawdad with babies underneath her tail.

Other campers went to Uncle’s Falls and became polar bears which means you stand under a cold mountain waterfall and say “polar bear, polar bear, polar bear.” (If that doesn’t wake you up, I don’t know what will…) The children love it! Another group trekked to the Balds and saw spectacular mountain views and some even crawled into the center of an old tree and became itchy bears.

After lunch (brown meal – chicken tenders, curly fries, salad, pears), the campers and staff had a well-deserved rest hour, then enjoyed an afternoon filled with activities – bb skeet, archery and canoeing. During free time, they painted their spirit stones for the council fire tomorrow evening. (Wait, they’re leaving already?!?)

Campers then enjoyed a delicious meal of pork tenderloin, Greek potatoes, broccoli with cheese, cinnamon apples and cheesecake at dinner. The evening program was the Variety Show which was quite entertaining. Ordinary? Not at GRP.

Opening Day: Session 4/Mini Campers

We had another beautiful opening day here at GRP. Staff wore their brightest smiles as they greeted the mini-campers. A couple of our camp dogs, Moose and Bear, were also on hand to greet folks.

Before lunch cabin photos were taken which you can view via your CampIn Touch page. Lunch today was pizza, sliced peaches, salad bar and chocolate chip cookies.

After lunch the campers gathered for the Respect Circle at the gazebo which is an opening day tradition. Sandy talked about his time at the preserve when he was a child… how he learned from the mountain folks who eventually became his mentors. Then both Missy and Sandy talked to the campers about respecting themselves, respecting each other and respecting all living things. Afterwards each camper and staff agreed to do so by saying, “I will.”

Next came swim review where campers also learn about waterfront procedures such as the buddy system, the need to wear shoes to and from the lake and more. While one group was at the lake another played games on the front field, then they switched. Activity skits/orientation came next. (The activities the mini campers will do this session: arts/crafts, pioneer cabin, climing, archery, bb skeet and canoeing.)

Dinner tonight was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and for dessert – yellow cake with chocolate frosting. (Vegetarian options were also available.)

The day ended with the Upper Council Fire where Sandy reads “Chief Seattle’s Letter,” the campers and staff sang songs and listened to stories. (Here’s a link to a reading from a couple of years ago.)

Now they’re fast asleep in their cabins. A day of fun, adventure and friendship awaits!

An ordinary day… not really

Opening Day: Session 4/Mini Campers

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