CAMP ITI KANA

 Cora's most favorite thing to do as a Girl Scout is attend summer camp! There is hiking, swimming, canoeing, singing, archery, games, crafts and more! When she's a little older, we'll likely let her attend one of the week-long Scout-only camps, but for now Troop Camp is where we're at. Our Troop had 7 girls attend this year (with four moms and only one set of siblings - we had a couple of Juniors attend without their moms, under our care, and they were perfectly well behaved examples for the younger girls) and upon our arrival, I was surprised to learn that Cora is now a Brownie (no longer a Daisy). I didn't realize she'd be moving up this year (as our Troop did not have a Bridging Ceremony, or any end of the year event - hopefully we can get something together this summer). So, we had 2 Brownies, 4 Juniors (we had 2 Brownies move up), and 1 brand-new Daisy in our group. Since they didn't want to split up (this camp had activities planned by age group rather than by Troop), we lumped them all into the Brownie activities and while that group was by far the largest at camp, they loved being together all weekend, so it was worth it (to wait in line for their turn to shoot arrows or paddle a canoe).

Camp Iti Kana is bigger (more hiking) and newer (brand new lodge and multiple pavilions) than Camp Wahi (where we went last summer), but going at the start of summer rather than the end is probably what made it a win over Camp Wahi in my book (the food was better, the counselors were still full of energy, and everything was super organized - my biggest complaint from last year was all the standing around we did waiting on things to happen). Now that we're experienced, it also helped that I knew exactly what to pack (and what to leave home). Jay was so proud - we each had one plastic bin of clothes and other miscellaneous items (including our fans!), one bag of bedding (too hot for sleeping bags, so we just brought mattress pads and twin sheets, and Cora's shark stuffie, of course), and a daypack for each of us to carry sunblock and water bottles around in.

 The first order of business after check-in (which included a fever and head lice check) and setting up our Unit (pretty quick when all you have to do is dump a plastic bin next to your cot and unroll your mattress pad and sheets) was to take the swim test. We arrived with Sally and her girls, but the other moms had to wait until midday to get off work and drive down, so they met us at the pool.

But a thunderstorm rolled through as soon as we hiked over...

 The CITs got the girls organized for some games while we waited out the storm (something that we ended up doing over and over throughout camp, since the storms rolled through regularly - yes, everything was wet and muddy all weekend long, but it didn't stop us from having fun!)

These poor girls who passed round one of the test had to sit in a line along the edge of the pool in the cold rain, shivering, while they waited their turn to do the 1-minute treading water portion of the test. By this point Cora's lips were blue and she gave up at 45 seconds because she was so cold. She didn't care that she'd been relegated to the shallow end because most of her Troop was anyway.

Once our whole Troop had arrived and tested, we walked back to the Unit in a torrential downpour to change back into dry clothes for dinner and evening activities.

 Our Unit was Lakeview, which had the furthest hike from the lodge (over the lake and through the woods!), but the prettiest view!

 Cara Beth (the other Brownie and one of Cora's favorite friends), Maggie Bell and her little Daisy sister Lily, Ruthie, Abby, Addison, and Cora on the bridge

 Before each meal, we sang songs, including a prayer song at the end. Since the theme for this camp weekend was "What's Your Super Power?" (in regard to The Girl Scout Promise, not jumping tall buildings with a single bound), their first prayer song was superhero theme ("Thank you Lord, for giving us food!" sung to the Superman jingle). Every song has hand gestures (of course). Due to all the rain delays, I'll likely be singing these in my sleep for weeks!

The after dinner activity on Friday was a superhero obstacle course (followed by a late night showing of Trolls), which had to be moved under the pavilion due to the rain. This meant that the girls had to take turns and relay teams were shortened, but it seemed like they all had fun.

The next morning started bright and early in my cabin (Tiffany is an early riser every day of the week), but we let the girls sleep until 7:15 (the flag ceremony was at 8:00 and breakfast was at 8:15, and don't forget our half mile hike to the lodge). Sally cracked me up because just like the girls, she covered her head with her pillow when we came in to wake them up!

After breakfast, we headed over to the Archery range.

 The older girls were very patient with the little ones (tolerating all their hugs and questions and demands for attention). Cora and Addison were playing "Mama and Baby" here (Addison was "teaching Cora words" when she pointed to things), under the pavilion due to another thunderstorm delay. This game lasted a surprisingly long time...

She impressed me with her jump-rope skills:

 Cora did a great job at archery. Her confidence and strength helped her shoot her arrows further than most girls (even the older girls). Those muscles are the real deal and she had good form too.

While we waited our turn at archery, the girls got together to sing Happy Birthday to Cora's Grambot and they were so cute! They loved hearing that Grambot is part robot!

 The nature lesson about plants and how they live and breathe and help keep animals healthy was followed by a tree ring craft (counting rings to determine the age of their cutout, then decorating it - Cora's necklace slice was from a 13-year-old tree).

 We swam every day, despite the rain. Cora adores Addison and hung on her every chance she got.

 On Saturday afternoon there was a lengthy thunderstorm (2 hours) that overlapped with Turtle Time (a couple hours where there are no planned activities, so that Troops can return to their Units for rest, showers, or Troop activities). Rather than hike the half mile back to Lakeview in the pouring rain, slipping around on mud and the "river of grass" (my knee was bothering me by this point due to all the slippery footing, and jump-roping with the girls earlier in the day), Cora and I parked ourselves in the rocking chairs on the side of the lodge overlooking the lake. It was beautiful and peaceful. She was upset at first that the rest of the girls chose to go back to the cabins, but I offered to do her new crafts with her (purchased with her Cookie Dough money at the camp store) and let her eat the candy Cara Beth had given all the girls as a special treat yesterday, so her smile quickly resurfaced.

 After a half hour or so, a couple moms and girls from another Troop joined us. While I was initially bummed, I vowed to "make new friends". But they turned off the fans, turned on the overhead lights, and talked incessantly. I could see that even Cora was annoyed, and when one of the moms mentioned the lakeside pavilion below us filled with Adirondack chairs, Cora immediately asked if we could go. And she didn't have to ask me twice! (Yes, it was still thundering with lightening at that point, but it was worth the short, wet walk to regain our peace.)

This was honestly my favorite hour all weekend. I had Cora all to myself! We finished her crafts, she performed the entire Production Number (all the other kids' and teachers' parts included) from spring recital (I had cell reception, so I played the Kingdom Glory song for her), and just sat together talking and snuggling. It's so hard to carve out one-on-one time when you have two kids (especially when they're in pretty much all the same after school activities), but it's truly needed (for us parents as much as for them). The way she smiled at me made my weekend.

 The after dinner activity on the second night was a Scavenger Hunt where we searched for little paper Girl Scouts, each representing one of The Girl Scout Promise "super powers". It was fun, and luckily wasn't raining during the hunt.

 (Sarah, me, Tiffany, and Sally - we had a wee bit of fun together this weekend too!)

 Since the girls all wanted to bunk together (8 beds per cabin) and Sally knew that her girls needed her with them, she offered to bunk solo with the kids while the other 3 moms slept in the adjoining cabin. As they say in the south, Bless Her Heart! She is a teacher though, and has patience to spare. She let them get out their final wiggles and giggles each night with a "glow dance party" and they loved it so much they were kicking us other moms out so they could do their thing.

We missed the flag ceremony on the second morning because we were packing up camp in order to be able to leave right after lunch and not have to stay until the closing ceremonies at 2:00pm (they included an hour in the schedule to clean cabins after lunch, but we were able to get everything in order by 8:05am).

Heading down the muddy trail (for the last time) to breakfast...

After breakfast, the Brownies took to the lake to canoe and paddle board and kayak. I helped Addison give Cora and Cara Beth a tour of the lake, after Sarah inadvertently scared off the older girl from another troop who was initially sitting at the helm by telling Cara Beth not to drown (oops). Cora tried paddle boarding for the first time (she refused to go out with me on one last year) and I was very proud of her! She didn't want to try standing, but happily sat and paddled herself around solo (there was only one mom on the lake at that point, in a kayak, since all the girls were cold from the rain and swimming along the shoreline).

 Cora's favorite CIT at this camp, Bowtie

 She ran to the front of the line (as always), grabbed a life vest, and climbed into a canoe while the rest of us were still figuring out who was riding with who...

 Pretty sure Cara Beth and Cora were trying to tip the boat here...

 The Brownies had one more trip to the pool before lunch (and it was so nice to cool off and get a little clean before heading home!)

 Cora's final request for our girls weekend was to stop at Starbucks for coffee (well, hot chocolate for her) and cake pops. She found a pirate themed treat and asked for a picture of her drinking her "coffee" to send to daddy and "tell him I'm drinking coffee like you!"

 Oh such a fun weekend with my girl! There's nothing quite like Girl Scout camp and I'll be happy to stay in Scouts year-round simply for the opportunity to get away for a little GIRL POWER once a year!