For as long as I can remember, Madeline has made us promise to never send her to "sleep away camp." I have no idea where that fear came from--I'm sure it started with the Parent Trap or some similar camp movie--but any time she heard the word "camp" she wanted to make sure she would not ever be sent there overnight alone. This started to change about a year ago when we
forced coaxed her to go to her first overnight girl scout camp. Then she came home from outdoor camp for 6th grade last fall and casually asked if maybe, possibly, she could go back to Camp Orkila this summer for a week.
After spending last weekend on Orcas Island at Camp Orkila for the family preview weekend, I've decided this whole, "Please Momma, whatever you do, just don't send me to sleep away camp!" was all a very well designed plot to get herself to sleep away camp. "They'll never just let me go if I just ask. But if I pretend to be terrified, they'll be so proud when I finally work up the courage to go that they'll have to say yes."
This photo was taken minutes after arriving at camp. See Madeline leading all those smart children into the briar patch? "Bahaha! Born and raised in the briar patch! See ya later, suckahs!"
Madeline included Amelia in this plot. Amelia will also be attending Camp Orkila for a week this summer.
We love the ferry ride from Anacortes through the San Juans. It perfectly transitions you from our chaotic lives on the mainland to the slower paced island life.
That's Canada in the background. Good thing we remembered to turn our cell phones off or we'd be paying a mortgage-payment sized cell phone bill instead of camp tuition.
Couldn't believe how entertained the kids were with throwing rocks.
This is where they will have their camp fires this summer. Such a beautiful setting!
Gaga ball was Madeline's favorite thing to do at camp. It's a fenced in dirt corral for dodge ball, basically. Every time we lost her, we knew we could find her at the gaga ball pit.
We had a campfire on the beach, complete with s'mores, cheesy skits, and "repeat after me" songs.
Our cabin was right at the edge of the beach. When I came back from the bathroom in the morning, both girls were out on the beach in their pajamas throwing more rocks.
I asked Amelia if she thought she would be okay there without us for a week. She didn't even let me finish the question, cutting me off with a loud "YES!"
This last grouping of pictures is inland a bit--Amelia will be doing the traditional camp and will be in a cabin down by the water. Madeline is doing the horse camp and will be staying in this area by the barn.
And this is the climbing wall and zip line out in the field near horse camp.
After leaving camp Sunday morning, we drove 5-10 minutes into Moran State Park where we had camped with Kolby's family a couple years ago. I had forgotten what a beautiful, peaceful place it is. I immediately devised a plan to camp here for a couple of days before dropping off the girls at Orkila in August.
I wish there was a way to describe how incredibly serene the San Juan Islands are. Time just stops. Cell phones don't work. There's no sound of traffic. Water and greenery everywhere. Heaven. Honestly, I can't think of a less cheesy way to describe it. This is absolutely my happy place. Every time I go I have to have a plan for the next time I will come back or I sink into despair about having to leave.
Oh wait. What I really mean is, it's a terrible, horrible place, and please Brer Fox, whatever you do just don't make me go back to the San Juans!
