Day 2 of Camp
Day two of Camp is underway and we’re off to a quick start. The weather has been a little warm, but beautiful and sunny and perfect for Camp!
Last night was a lot of fun. We had after supper free time, followed by the famous, famous, MOST FAMOUS game of Capture the Flag (CTF). As usual, our crazy counselors dressed up in their silly costumes. Mandi and I spent a good bit of time at CTF; the counselors really were hilarious and made a fun night extra special. I continued to be amazed at our counseling staff. They once again gave 110% to make last night a memorable one. Then, after CTF, everyone headed to the pool deck for Sing Song. We always have our first Sing Song on Monday evening after CTF and the kids are amped up. We sang You Are My Sunshine, When I First Came To This Land, I Still Do, Soldier, Wagon Wheel, Summer, and the Camp Song. Campers were anxious to hear more, from which I promised to play more at tonight’s Sing Song at Fishing.
Today has been chalked full of activities, and we surprised campers with the option to watch the U.S. vs. Belgium in the World Cup! We usually don’t promote watching TV, but because we have the ability to do so and since the World Cup only happens ever four years, we decided to make it available. Soon campers will be cheering in unison in the Dining Hall. We’ve also opened up all other water activities for those campers who’d rather be outside.
One thing that has really struck me this session is how many campers we have from out of state. Last night during sing song I had kids raise their hand if they were from some state or country other than Texas. Of those kiddos, I had several come up and give me a big old yell so that we could hear the echo in the Pinson Creek Bottom. How neat is it that the Huawni experience is so unique and special that kids from all over the world come for two weeks? I was talking after supper to Mary Katherine, who lives in Washington DC, and she was telling me how much fun she was having and how Huawni meant a lot to her family (her mom came to Huawni for a long time). Even my God daughter, Hunter, is here this session and she’s from Colorado. She brought her friend Maggie. And on and on it goes with stories of kids coming from literally all over the world. My heart is warm.
For you alumni parents, I’d like to extend a special invitation to be inducted onto a Tribal Competition team this coming Thursday evening. If you’d like to come, please arrive at 6pm for an alumni video interview. The ceremony will begin around 9pm and you’ll need to head home promptly afterwards. If you’d like to come, you must reply to this blog below or email me at by 5pm tomorrow, Wednesday, July 2nd. Even if your child attends another session, you may show up. We’ve never done this before, but we’d love for alumni parents to officially be inducted into either the Caddo or Tejas tribes.
As far as homesickness goes, we only have a few cases, none that are beyond stage 1 at this point. I will keep you parents updated that need to be if/when we need to. For the most part, campers this session have hit the ground running and homesickness has not been a major issue at all.
Tonight we’ll head to the Initiation Pond for cane pole fishing, s’mores, campfire, and Sing Song.
Until then….Go USA!
-Travis
