Everybody Knows There's a Place Called Skoko Lodge

Everybody knows that the best part of summer is summer camp.  And one of the best summer camps around is Camp Gallagher.  My family snagged a coveted spot at Gallagher Family Camp again.  This weekend we endured much traffic in order to bask in the magic of camp.

Gallagher is different than other camps--it's very rustic with no electricity in the cabins or flushing toilets, you don't have to wear shoes,  the dining hall has a sand/dirt floor.  What it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in other ways.

Thanks to our week at Cama Beach, Linus quickly went and found his pack of boys and we didn't really see him much after that.  He was so happy.  Linus led songs at campfire, wrote and sang an entire cheer by himself, and played hard.  I appreciate that the boys didn't mind the fact that he was three years younger.  Linus played the most with two boys only a year older.  Dave and I were excited because one lives across the street and yet somehow they haven't connected as buddies--until now!

The first thing Eileen wanted was to go visit the mitten (a driftwood log at the campfire circle that has one end sort of shaped like a mitten).  I was a bit surprised to find other kids called it the mitten as well.

Astride the mitten.

The kids quickly went to work playing in the sand.  Eileen and Garnett, a boy from Linus' class at school, delved into the construction of a driftwood fort.

Playing in the sand continued through Sundown.  I bathed them before we left for camp to establish a base layer of cleanliness.  Within 15 minutes of being at camp, it proved a useless exercise.

The next morning was full of playing on the beach and a little standup paddle boarding.  Paddling with two kids on your board is not the easiest thing.  Luckily, later in the day I got to take out a paddle by myself.  I really enjoy paddle boarding.  I'm beginning to think I might be ready to invest in one.  There is just something about the ease of getting out on the water that it allows.

In the afternoon, a bunch of the moms took the big canoe out to Heron Island.

It was so cool to connect with such an awesome group of women.  The big canoe is no joke.  Despite being awesome women, reinforcements were still needed to get the canoe off and on the beach.

The evening Luau was pretty fun.  Even Linus relented and got into the spirit.

    

I think it's a tragedy I don't get more opportunities to wear my coconut bra.

In case the kids weren't dirty enough, burial in the sand trumped Sundown for the kids.

I tried to keep an eye on things while enjoying Sundown.  Sundown at family camp is a little different.  Kids under the age of 10 seem to have less interest in watching the sunset, listening to people share reflections and feelings, and sing songs.  Behind the sundown log was a whole other scene full of a different kind of joy.  Some kids found the sundown log better suited to being tunneled under.  I looked over at one point and saw Robin astride poor Garnett, pushing him into the sand. I was worried until Garnett's parents assured me he was happy, even if it involved a mouthful of sand.

A surprising highlight of the weekend was the Great Heron Challenge.  A series of cooperative challenges.  Linus abandoned us in favor of joining the group of boys led by former staffer, Murph.  We joined another family from school, the Martins.  We had so much fun.  Team Wookie (our chosen name) dominated the challenges.  I was impressed by our ingenuity.  The kids did awesome.  Linus was just impressed later when I told him that his dad and I actually were friends with Murph.

Eileen didn't like me taking her picture much.  By the end of the weekend she had the cutest little dirt freckles.  This picture doesn't do it justice.

The weekend was way too short.  Next year I hope to try the vertical playpen.  I also want to try sailing.  I haven't done a small sailboat since I was a camper.  Family camp was the absolute best way to end summer.  Today was the first teacher in-service day.  Now I'm just left with happy memories of camp and a longing for next year.  In the meantime I need to remember the implicit messages of Gallagher -- to find joy in simple things, make time to play, admire beauty in nature, and put down your phone.

***My phone was down most of the time except for the few pics I took.  With no electricity, I could not charge my phone and it does not hold a charge well.  Photos were taken sparingly.