Camp

Setting Up Camp, Part 4

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Camp isn’t camp without tie-dye.

A view of the gallery from the gallery

I don’t think I’ve ever attended a camp and not tie-dyed something. Our annual family vacation is held at a beach along the Carolina coastline in October. We all participated and tie-dyed some piece of apparel. It was a colorful and creative way to wrap up the summer outdoors before the cold weather forces us inside and onto smaller, less messy activities.

My daughter and I packed in quite a bit since the disheartening news that her camp was not going to take place as planned. Coincidentally, our camp-at-home experience was wrapping up when I received an email notifying me of the date to register for summer camp 2021. My daughter is again registered for the Christmas in July week of sleepover camp. Our hopes will remain high, but guarded, regarding what 2021 has to offer.

Now on to the holidays!

How will your holidays change this year? How has your outlook on the future changed?

Red Fox & The Fifth of Firsts

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Y-Guides, previously named Indian Princes and Princesses, is a program organized by the YMCA that aims to nurture mutual understanding, love, and respect within the father-daughter relationship. It was inspired by Native American culture and their practice of fathers raising and teaching their sons. The program began in the 1920s for fathers and sons, but incorporated father-daughter programs as the years went on.

My father and I participated for a year when I was in elementary school. He and I didn’t need this program to bond, because although he was out of the house before I woke up and returned home just in time for dinner Monday through Friday, he found many ways to bond with me on weekends. Even so, I’m happy we participated in this program together. Thinking back, it was probably my mom’s idea, considering she worked for the YMCA. And now that I’m a mom, I’m guessing her true motive was securing some alone time by getting us out of the house more often. But I digress…

When we joined the program we were told to give ourselves an Indian name. My mom used to have a red fox fur coat that I loved to pet, so I named myself Red Fox. That became funnier once I learned about the comedian Redd Foxx! My dad named himself Hollow Horn Eagle. His name had a lot more meaning as it was the name his grandfather was given from the Oglala Sioux Tribe as Honorary Chief.

The most memorable and culminating experience of the program was the camping trip at Camp Woodstock in Connecticut. We participated in relay races, egg tosses, and variety shows. My dad’s a fairly conservative guy, so I was slack-jawed when he and the other dads pulled their shirts up to cover their heads and reveal that they had painted faces on their bellies. Then they performed a bellydance by rolling them along to music so it seemed as though their bellies were singing. I still laugh knowing there is no way that was his idea, but I love that he went along with it anyway.

And as for the sixth of firsts, I caught my first fish on that trip. An 11” Rainbow Trout. I won first place for that fish, and I selected a new pole as my prize so my sister and I wouldn’t have to share anymore. My dad and I cleaned and deboned, and grilled and ate that fish together. I’ll never forget it.

These memories came rushing back about two weeks ago when my daughter caught her first fish. We were at a local farm for their fall festival, and fishing was one of the many activities we were able to participate in. She actually caught two and I caught one, but we threw them back. By her excitement and the look on her face, I’m sure she’ll always remember that moment, too, and I’m so happy I was able to share it with her.

Setting Up Camp, Part 3

Jeanna G2 Comments

My daughter and I continued our summer camp ‘at home’ experience yesterday. As a camper, one of my favorite activities was completing the ropes course and zooming down the zipline at the end. We are lucky to live close to a park in Raleigh that is home to Go Ape.

A friend joined in along with her kids and another friend’s kids to traverse our way through the Treetop Journey course. (Note: If you don’t have an adventure buddy, you need to get one. What’s an adventure buddy? That one friend who always says yes to all of your crazy ideas.) The little monkeys flew through the first loop and then spent most of the time going down the zip line repeatedly. My friend and I went through the first loop slowly, finding our bearings and taking photos. Then we attempted the second, longer, much wobblier loop. Some of the passes required a lot more muscle control than I was anticipating having to use, but we made it through and then did the whole loop again. At some point I caught up with my daughter and she and I completed the first loop together.

Tangled Up With My Love

The rain stopped for the hour we were there, and there was a nice breeze rustling the leaves. Despite the pleasant weather, we were sweaty and covered in wood chips by the time we left. We all had fun, and my friend and I felt accomplished and determined to attempt the longer, more difficult course in the future. Another successful camp-at-home experience is in the books!