This year marked our 10th year of attending Mount Hermon. While most of it remained the same as it has been the past 9 times we've gone, a few new changes made this year feel different and special. The biggest change was Ella graduating out of Day Camp and into the Middle School Youth Group. She LOVED this! Her favorite parts of the week were the more intentional opportunities for spiritual growth-- a dynamic worship service each day, a speaker, and a Time Alone With God, quiet devotion time built into each morning. She loved her small group and their leader. And she loved hanging out with her friends on her own and being a bit more independent from us. I was recently telling a friend that Mount Hermon is a good way to mark the passing of time/aging of children. While Ella FINISHED Day Camp this year, it seems it was not that long ago that she was thrilled to START it!
This year I will chronicle our Mount Hermon week with a daily journal...
After settling into our cabin and attending Sunday night's opening carnival/picnic/program, we jumped into Monday's activities with vigor! We started playing the whole-campus scavenger hunt right away, searching in all places, from the welcome sign to the cafeteria, for numbered balloons.
I love doing this right away, because the hike across the grounds is always one of my favorite parts of camp. We were excited to encounter 5 banana slugs hiking on this first day. Never caught sight of one after this day, though. We joked that as the camp filled up and got busy, a warning went out to all their slimy friends, "HIDE TILL FALL! THE CAMPERS ARE HERE!"
We were also able to snag a spot on the ropes course on this first day, so as we waited our turn, we played a little shuffle board.
This year's turn on the ropes saw the least amount of tears and threats to turn around than we've seen in previous years! Ella flies across (which is why I have just this one picture of her), but Delia still gets nervous. She showed the most bravery and determination ever this year and we were proud.
Tuesday afternoon our group always drives down to the Santa Cruz beach to meet up with kids and leaders from our church family who are at Hi Camp for the week.
Per the custom, books were read (Ella rigged up this clever shade to see the words on her Kindle), crabs were caught, bodies were buried, and waves were jumped. Delia did not know I was behind her taking pictures. I love this collection of images I caught of her frolicking, dancing and leaping for joy in the surf!
On Tuesday night we Zumba with the whole camp! Both girls delighted in getting up on stage again with the dance instructor.
Wednesday is Train Day, which starts with a little hike down to the train station. Once we board, those wacky Day Camp counselors come to sing and high-five us off!
On the Boardwalk this year, we chose to go on a few rides. We were able to finally talk Delia into trying the famous Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, a ride we suspected she'd love if she was brave enough to try it. Sure enough! It got a big thumbs up! That is actually her and Dave pictured above in the third car. Fun facts about this historic ride: it used to cost just $.15 to ride and it is the country's fifth oldest roller coaster.
Ella does not care for roller coasters, but not because it's an issue with heights. She chose to ride the Sea Swings and loved feeling like she was flying over the beach and Boardwalk.
Rides on the classic Sky Glider and Merry-Go-Round completed this morning for us. The girls were concentrating hard on catching rings that they could toss into the clown mouth.
Dave still had to preach on Sunday, so much of our down time, while the kids were in their programs, was spent like this. Dave had all his sermon research along and I had a magnificent 500 page book that I could barely put down. A table by the creek, a donut, and a cup of green tea added to the pleasure of this unique time Dave and I got to spend together.
Thursday had us on the climbing wall, where each girl made it to the top to ring the bell this year!
Thursday afternoon we all split up. Ella met a friend for ice cream, but played some "Dodge and Arrows" with Dave before she left. And Delia and I headed down to the pool. Hotter temps than usual and the strength the girls gained in their swimming last year had us spending a lot of time at the pool this year! Delia especially loved the water slide.
On Friday we took a creek hike with our group of friends. For maybe a mile or so, we hike along the valley floor, right through the bubbling (sometimes rushing!) creek to a sandy shore with a waterfall. This hike is adventurous and fun! About 5 people in our group slipped and went all the way into the water this year! We moms on the hike managed to stay on our feet (a good thing since we were the photographers holding the phones!).
At the end of our hike, we happened to notice that the boats were open-- an unusual thing for those us who attend this first week of family camp. Ella was already off with some friends, and we had Delia's friend Tessa with us all afternoon, so we took the girls out on first a row boat and then a canoe ride.
Saturday is the day to pack up and say goodbye to our friends and our beloved Mount Hermon home. We know the year will go fast, as it always does, and before we know it, we'll be back making new memories in this same setting!
