Thursday & Friday, June 7-8, 2018

Hello everyone!  I'm updating late again today!  We get so busy that I forget to sit down and do it! I'm going to do a 2 day post, but I'll make it up to you by adding some pictures!
Thursday was another great day at Camp Grassick!  I'm not just saying that - things have been going really well and the campers are having so much fun!  It was a little cooler, so the campers didn't have swimming lessons in the morning.  Instead, they tried out some fishing.  It seems that every time a cabin goes fishing, someone catches a fish.  I can't believe how lucky these kids are!  
We did go in swimming for general swim in the afternoon.  It was warmer and the die-hard swimming fans are always willing to go in.  It was also so calm on the lake, so lots of boats went out. 
Our evening activity was Minute to Win It.  We had many different games: bouncing a ping pong ball on a paddle, hitting a croquet ball into a can at the other end of the rec hall, popping balloons, stacked cups and a few other games.  Everyone takes turns participating and it is fun to see the campers' faces when they succeed at a challenge.  
Friday has been a strange weather day.  It was cooler this morning and we thought it might rain, but as I write this in the afternoon, it is warm and sunny out.  You never know about North Dakota weather!  Our friend Tom was out this morning.  He worked here for several years and still comes out to visit when he can.  He was able to give each cabin group a ride on the pontoon.  It is great to be able to do all these fun activities and give the campers a true summer camp experience!
I was taking some pictures this morning to put in the Elks newsletter and I was thinking maybe I would share a little bit about a typical day at Camp Grassick.  The campers get up at 7 AM to get ready for the day.  At 8, we have flag raising and sing our morning song before breakfast.  The day is broken up into half hour sessions. Each cabin group has a session of swimming, a session of crafts and 3 sessions of recreation plus some times for free time and half an our blocks of free time to change in and out of swim suits.  We have lunch at 12:15 and then have "rest hour."  Everyone goes back to their beds to lie down and nap or rest.  This really helps because we have long days out here and our bodies need some down time.  After rest hour, we continue classes.  Some campers also have therapies such as reading, speech or occupational therapies.  During this camp session, these are individual and campers are able to work on their personal goals in these areas.  In the afternoon, we also have trading post where the campers use the tokens they earn to purchase pop or candy.  Our new picnic shelter makes a great spot to hang out in the shade, visit with friends and have a snack.  Our general swim time is from 4:30-5:30 each day, and then it is time for supper.  After supper, we have an evening activity until about 9:00 and then it is time to get ready for bed!  You can tell why we are tired at the end of our full days.
Tonight's evening activity is a kickball game.  That should be lots of fun.  We are also hoping to have the first camp out tonight.  Each cabin group gets to stay over night in our camp out area complete with a campfire, songs, s'mores and maybe even a ghost story!  Sleeping in a tent may be not be as comfortable as their beds, but it sure provides a lot of memories!