Camp Tales - Flooded

In honor of the recent heavy rains...

At the first camp I spent my summers in the Craft Hall, the camp was divided into two sides and connected by a driving a bridge and an iconic walking bridge. The boys cabins were located on one side, with the pool, a Recreation Building, and a scattering of other buildings. This was usually refered to as the "Boys' Side," for obvious reasons. The other side, included the multi-purpose building (that housed the staff), the camp offices, the dining hall, the Craft Hall, and of course, the girls cabins. (This calling it the "Girls' Side.) Each side had bathrooms and showers and a road to get in and out (although the one side was less used and needed a vehicle capable of rougher terrain.) The bridges were very important to movement back and forth connecting camp, as well as for non-resident staff to get to the staff parking and for delivery trucks to the dining hall.

Boards were placed in the car bridge regularly to dam it for canoeing, a feat that often took multiple staff members to achieve safely. We had to be careful in times of rain, especially rain as the water would rise a start to lap over it. With caution some vehicles could get over this like going through a puddle, but after one very heavy rain driving over the bridge became impossible for ANY vehicle, not matter how high they sat. The high water flooded over the driving bridge and onto the bank, too fast and deep to risk any vehicle, and leaving access to the two sides of camp to a higher sitting walking bridge. (Where all these pictures were taken from.) Extra caution was taken and food delivery trucks had to be unloaded on one side of camp and carried across the foot bridge and across most of the camp to get to the kitchen/dining hall. The real adventure was seemed to be on the smaller cars "trapped" on the other side of the bridge, unable to leave without using the back road, a rough one through trees and up a steep hill. With caution, it could be done, but there was a very real fear of bottoming out or getting stuck.

Camp life was rarely boring and one never knew what might lead to the next adventure, even heavy rain and a low lying bridge.

Beaded Rings

Sometime ago I was wondering through our local Dollar Tree looking for candy and treats to put inside my carrots for Easter and I came across a 'Bead Ring Kit' for a dollar. It came with over 2500 beads and about 120 inches of memory wire. I figured for that I couldn't lose, even if the instructions were horrible or non-existent. Well, I was right on the instructions, but I am now armed with new wire and little beads. (Oh, the possibilities!)

I came up with a way to make a couple beaded rings. (A red flower with green band & pearl-like center, a pearl cloud burst on blue, and a fiery peace sign.) It took a little bit of trial and error, some creativity as I laid the beads out on a re-used black tray (from my recycling bin). The tray gave me a work space that I didn't have to worry about beads rolling away. It took a little playing, but I managed to figure out a way to make them. The rest of the wire and beads will be used... just not exactly sure what for yet.

Flower Ring

Fiery Peace Sign Ring

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Looking for some ideas for Cinco de Mayo?

You could get a pinata' (or make one, of course), or find a number of festive things at many stores. Here are a few things to try out of things you might have on hand (tissue paper, yarn, string, embroidery floss, string, stick, twisty ties, or bits of fabric:

  

God's Eye 

(A camp favorite! Hang on wall or spice up your serving table. You can make them in all shapes in sizes.)

Festive Tissue Paper Carnation 

(Mix and match colors to add color to any table setting or as festive gifts for friends. Layer tissue paper to create more festive blooms.)

Worry Doll/Quetzel Dolls

(Make a few or a whole bunch for yourself or share with friends. You can make them to look like yourself, your friends, or or family.)

Rain Stick

(Bring the soothing sounds of rain to your control.)

Enjoy the day!

Rain Stick

"Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day." At least that was the rhyme from when we were kids were stuck inside because of rain. The Rain Stick was made at summer camp, something that was done with older kids and smaller groups.

A rain stick makes the sound of rain using a tube with nails hammered into it and filled with assorted beads, seeds, & pebbles that run down across the nails to make the sound. Then decorated with any assortment of paint, sand, yarn, feathers, and beads. It can be a very soothing sound.