Camper for Life

This week another of my babies embarked on their first solo adventure.  Eileen went to Camp Don Bosco for mini camp.  Linus never did mini camp.  When we first broached the idea this past winter, Eileen would start screaming and crying (not exaggerating).  The idea of sleep away camp terrified her.

In the spring we went to the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Bosco.  It served as a gentle reminder that Bosco is a safe fun place.  Eileen then asked to go to camp.  We were shocked!  Of course I had already registered Linus for camp at that point and it wasn't the same session as a minicamp.  Ugh. Thus I spent a lot of time the past two weeks driving back and forth along Woodinville-Duvall Road and Highway 203.

By the time the first day of camp arrived, Eileen was bursting with excitement. Randomly, she and I both put on the same pants that morning without discussing it.

Sometimes excitement is masked by a stoic sensibility.

It was a relief to know that the camp was fully prepared to deal with her food sensitivities.  I was surprisingly less nervous for Eileen than Linus.  Eileen loves life.  She is enthusiastic about everything.  Dave and I agreed that if anyone was going to love camp, it would be Eileen.

Joining Eileen by lucky chance was the daughter of the director, who Dave and I worked at camp with back in the day.  As we checked in, lo and behold another former staffer walked up with a mini camper!  We all worked the very wet, muddy, insane summer of 99 at Bosco.  Bosco 99 forever!  Rounding out the surprises was Linus' second grade teacher showing up with her daughter.  If this doesn't say something about the CYO community then I don't know what does.

Kiernan and Eileen excited about the Glacier Lodge bunks.

Eileen didn't bother to even say good bye to me.  I'm told she was never homesick.  While she was away, the rest of us basked in all the gluten and dairy we could stomach.  It was glorious and delicious.  Linus enjoyed his time with his brother. At the YMCA, Linus was stunned that while hanging out in the tween room, in walked two of his cabinmates!  They were equally surprised.  It just goes to show that CYO is secretly everywhere.

Robin missed Eileen.  I missed Eileen too.  I couldn't wait to pick her up.  Eileen wouldn't let me take pictures, but thankfully a friend managed to snap a few shots.

Eileen at the final night BBQ.  Burgers, watermelon, canteloupe, candy, and facepaint.   

G-L, G-L-A, G-L-A-C-I-E-R, Glacier! Lodge!

Eileen acted anxious to go home, but then could not stop talking and singing on the car ride back.  She loved everything--broomball in T-bird, s'mores, crafts, campfire.  Her favorite thing at camp was chanting, "In the Pool! In the Pool!"  when a staff member had to be thrown in as punishment.  Her favorite songs were "Rattlin' Bog" and "Yogi Bear."  I had no idea they still sang Yogi Bear.  Eileen enthusiastically performed the motions as I drove and we sang together.

Cleaning out Eileen's stuff was interesting.  I am pretty sure she did brush her teeth and she changed her clothes more than Linus.  Her hair was less of a tangled disaster than I anticipated. I think about half her stuff must be in the lost and found. Another trip out to Carnation may be in order....

Eileen plans to wear her Eagle (the special leather necklace you get the first time you go to camp) everywhere so that people will know she went to CYO camp.  I'm so proud of her for the way she embraced independence.

Tonight at dinner Robin gingerly asked, "When can I be a summer camper?"  I think he's a little jealous of all the fun his siblings have had the past two weeks.  He will just have to make do with family camp for now.

Next year the goal is camp at the same time for both big kids, drop Robin with the grandparents, and then take a mini-vacation with Dave.