Summertime done, come and gone my oh my

As much as I like it at here, the transition of camp to home is never easy. Especially because I'm supposed to be packing what I need for the next 4 months but all I can do is daydream about the wonderful summer that just ended. My flight to Arizona is at 7 am tomorrow, and then my semester in the desert will begin! I'm excited now-- now that my time isn't taken up with tasks, goodbyes, cooking for 50 people (including 28 ridiculously picky ones), workshop planning/ teaching, and breathing in the last bit of Cove air.

Sunrise on the way down from the Bald. Plus the moon!

Junior session went well-- lots of adorable messy campers who really help you remember the wonder and awe that can be found at the Cove. Every mushroom they find is the coolest thing ever, and spotting a Red Eft can make their session. We found a Red Eft in the lodge while we were closing camp. Its toes were covered in lint and watching it walk was even cuter than usual!

Now that Junior Session has begun...

 ...I'm gonna do a blog post about 3rd session! It's so long ago that I will have to remember it through pictures, wahoo!

This is probably the thing that I was most excited about this session. I picked some carbon ball fungus off a log, and randomly placed it on a piece of paper because I thought it was cool (soooo coool). Then next day, it had released spores (bottom right)! And then it kept releasing spores!

Point is, I didn't expect a spore print on this already exciting find, so that was most excellent. I will probably keep the paper forever. Yes, I laminated it.

In other 3rd session news, we had the River Trip! During 2nd session there was a heat wave, so we couldn't do the river hike. No complaints there-- we probably would have gotten heat stroke. The hike along the Cacapon River is a favorite of many a camper. It's about a 5 mile hike and the highlights include climbing up to Caudy's Castle, and crossing the river and playing around in the swimming hole.

A gorgeous day on Caudy's Castle

Birding

And a buddy pic!

Another exciting event was teaching a poop/ camping skills workshop, focusing on Leave No Trace principles and methods for pooping in the woods! At the end of the workshop, after demonstrating cat-hole digging skillz, campers became Certified Woods Poopers! It was a proud moment for everyone involved.

Cynthia and I spent a long time being unicorns last session. We do an evening activity called Noah's Ark that focuses on predator/prey/food source interconnectedness. But as most camp activities go, you need some staff running around for comic relief/ causing a ruckus. So we ran around chewing on rainbow wigs (Raaiiiinbow clouds! We looove raiiinbow clouds!) and snuck onto the ark. After that night we had a lot of trouble because we couldn't stop talking in our high-pitched unicorn voices.

According to the pictures I took, that sums up 3rd session, and the end of the senior program. I will post about how adorable junior session is on a later date! Spoiler alert: Soooooo cuuute.

Satan, The Darkroom Rat

Roight. There has been a rat living in the camp darkroom that has been the bane of many a Dark Lord's (darkroom manager's) existence. It took the bait without getting caught in the trap, scared the campers, and pooped and peed all over the place. Charming, no?

Long story short, the girl's loo started smelling like death, and eventually the remains of the darkroom rat was found in the wall. But there have been many tales regarding the rat (aka Satan) so that his legend lives on.

1. Rat cake for Hilmi's birthday (in addition to various other rat-related presents)! I love this picture because the rat is next to the cheese. And the rat is wearing a party hat.

2. A folklore night tall tale of the pet rat who turned out to be evil.

3. Zombie-Rat themed final exam: The staff were brainwashed by the zombie darkroom rat and his minions, and their brains turned to mush.

4. Blowing up the rat cake!
and Hilmi runs away gleefully...

can-o-pee

We have a canopy walkway here at camp, 60 feet up in the trees. Otherwise known as the can-o-pee, campers can come up onto the platforms for afternoon activity or for their camper projects. Us canopy-certified folk have been working on zee gunz all summer long-- belaying and tying knots and twisting those carabiners.

Two platforms, one bridge

Climb up ladder and staples

Ooop don't drop the box

Jessie repelling

Look at her go, she's a pro

Hey, look ma, no hands!

Piling up that rope

Ingenious method, yes

One two three gimp hand!

In Soviet Russia, cup cake YOU!

It all started during first session with a camper who kept coming up with "In soviet Russia" sayings (eg. 'In soviet Russia, butter cannot believe it's you!'). This continued into 2nd session and now 3rd session among staff, with great gusto.


In soviet Russia, weather predicts you!
In soviet Russia, shower takes you!
In soviet Russia, closed-toed shoes drop knife on YOU!
In soviet Russia, rainbows taste you!
In soviet Russia, bath mat leave you on floor!


All these very witty sayings are usually a product of a winning combination: milk straws, Sarah visiting, and JessieSarahAnnie thinking they are more hilarious than they are in reality.

These are truly MAGIC.

And now a word from our sponsors:
In soviet Russia, run goes for you! -Jessie
In soviet Russia, bacteria breeds YOU! -Regan
In soviet Russia, plate pee on you! -Sarah
In soviet Russia, germs kill 99% of you! - Regan (she's a pro)

I get tired of cramped-up city life

So it's back to the country with me! Here is a photo story of my weekend in DC. It was really hot. I didn't do much.


Tourist watching never ceases to be entertaining. I love pretending to take pictures of the Washington Monument while actually photographing tourists being touristy.

One exciting and new experience was getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the Natural History Museum's mammal collection! Escort required!

I saw some... sunflowers! Nature!

I got some Thai iced tea and drank it on a bus. Also exciting! The bus driver let us on fo free.

Fro yo got eaten. Lots. 

Poop on fries. Oh... I mean.. chili fries! They were very yummy

People watching in the metro wins all the prizes. Hat!!! Look at it!

Aaaand that was pretty much all I did at home. More exciting blog posts later, I promise.

Seeing HP 7.2... the camp way

Seeing a movie with camp is probably different than any other way you could ever go watch a movie. Well, any way that I've ever experienced at least.


Jessie and I (+Sarah) took our burn-out day to go see Harry Potter on opening night in Winchester. Though being Winchester, there was no line to wait in so we ended up getting there ridiculously early and sitting in the theater. On the plus side, we each got 2 pairs of 3D glasses by going in twice (once in normal clothing, once in our house-elf attire)!

We needed a nap before it started.

Just a coupla Harry Potters!

When 2nd session ended, we discovered the HP 7.2 was playing in the drive-in! A trip to the drive-in (or anywhere) with camp involves costumes!

And sitting in the backseat of Ellie's car with D-rod involves insane pictures and many Harry Potter-ized songs.

 

"Act like you are Voldemort and you just found out that Harry destroyed four of your horcruxes"

Here is our Harry Potter-ized version of 'Thank God I'm A Country Boy':

Well life at Hogwarts is pretty laid back

ain't nothing a wizard like me can't hack.

Going to Hogsmeade through the witch's back!

Thank God I'm a magic boy!

Well a wizarding life here at Hogwarts,

learning how to live and fight the Dark Arts.

I just can't wait til school starts!

T-G-I-A-M-B!

Chorus: Well I got me a firebolt and damn I'm British,

when the sun's coming up I'm out playing quidditch.

I'm chasin' down horcruxes,

they're hard to finish!

T-G-I-A-M-B!

Well the cloak was my Daddy's til the day he died

Dumbledore took my hand and held me close to his side

He said 'fight the Dark Arts and vanish with pride!'

T-G-Y-A-M-B!

Using my wand to fend off a curse,

got knuts, sickles, galleons fillin' up my purse.

Got hit with cruciatus, 

nothin' hurts worse!

T-G-I-A-M-B!

See, Harry Potter is never over!!