Summer camps

This summer, in addition to our holiday trip and two weeks of swimming lessons, the kids each took in three weeks of summer camps.



Mustang loves animals so when I discovered in spring that a nearby zoo offers summer “Junior Zookeeper” camps I knew she would love it. Indeed I was right – they got to meet the animals, learn about their habits and how to care for them, and participate in preparing food (chopping lots of fruit & veggies!), feeding, cleaning some of the cages, and also playing games and doing crafts. The final Friday afternoon there was a graduation ceremony after which campers could show their families around the zoo, so I took the afternoon off and we all headed out to take it in – even Button, whom we picked up early from his camp.

Unfortunately for Button, campers have to be 8 to attend the Zoo camp so he was too young to go this summer. Instead he went to a Science and Technology camp at a local museum that same week. They learned about gadgets and gizmos – made a rocket, a real working model lighthouse, and some goop – as well as the usual camp crafts and games. He enjoyed it but wants to do zoo camp next year!


The second camp they enjoyed was overnight church camp off the shores of Lake Huron. As it’s a fair distance from home – and to provide a “security blanket” for Mustang in particular – I stayed the week to volunteer in the kitchen. The kids both enjoyed themselves immensely, with evening campfires, after-supper games, archery (a hit with both), Gaga ball, Quest, and other activities. The food was also awesome (if I say so myself) – we worked hard from 7 to noon every morning and then had afternoons off before heading back for final supper prep at 4:30. MoMo came too and spent the morning relaxing on the deck while I worked, and afternoons on walks with me or resting in our cabin.



The final day-camp, back home, was the week after we returned from church camp and was again all about animals, this time at a local agricultural research station / farm. The younger kids, Button’s age, get to look after a cow and help feed and care for it all week. Mustang’s group helped to care for the rabbits and sheep. Both groups also had water games and crafts. They also spent time in the kitchen making their afternoon snacks – and getting another perspective on how the food we eat has its origin on farms, from the earth we tread.