2nd Session Highlights

Sometimes my schedule lends itself to frequent blog posts, and sometimes I barely have time to get all my postcard writing checked off. Which is more important? Postcards, duh. But I have been unable to share about each camp session fully in just a short postcard, so the time has come to bloggy.

I'll share a few pictures/ highlights from 2nd session, which ended about a week two weeks ago:

Perhaps even winning the honor of Best Nerdy Nature Camp Moment of the Summer, this was certainly a session highlight. To set the scene: It was the end of morning project time, and the table setters bell was about to ring. Suddenly a Barred Owl flew up the stream and landed in a tree, and few people saw and called out. They got the attention of everyone around the lodge, and one by one the entire camp gathered near the stream with binoculars and cameras and quietly stood admiring the owl. The bell rang (lunch for the day was Pizza Bagels, an alltime crowd pleaser) and no one moved. We all just stood and watched the owl. Many teachable moments were had-- nature nerd camp in action!

Another great event of 2nd session: Monongahela! Everyone at 2nd session goes backpacking here for 2 nights and 3 days, but in small groups. My group was named BEAKN'JAMMS, and then we all yelled THUNDER COUGAR FALCONS after our countoff because obviously that's what BEAKN'JAMMS spells! Our theme: Classic South North Blueberry Traverse aka we did it all! Great views, great poos, blueberries, relaxing on epic rocks, all the mud, all the farts, and rock club. I discovered that my new favorite trail in the Dolly Sods Wilderness is the Raven Ridge Trail. The mud is plentiful but the views and field-y spruce-y bits are spectacular. And we found a digging turtle.

Best turtle of second session: Mushroom Turtle (although digging turtle was a close second). We found Mushroom Turtle during project time. We were out by the stream searching for sweet mushrooms to paint, but instead we found this guy with mushrooms ALL over his face. Tell me, is there anything cuter? Nope.

Girls night with Cory 2k15!!! Ok I guess this was after 2nd session but it involved nail polish, sweet tunes, drawing, candles, and table dance parties while everyone else was off watching some movie. Our night was way better.

Getting heat exhaustion while doing the end of session burger cookout. Well I guess it's not a quite a highlight, but it's still something that happened. My advice to you: Don't stand over a really really hot fire for hours on a heat index day and then hike up to the Bald to do final ceremony and awards. It's terrible. Disclaimer: This picture is from the 3rd session cookout where there was zero heat exhaustion involved and I actually had to put on a sweater to serve burgers because it was so cool out.

Now third session is over-- it really took me almost 10 days to write this one blog post.  mark of how busy this summer has been! Maybe I'll post something again maybe.