Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp offers a unique opportunity for future campers to give their summer camp a try with their families. It is a 4 day and 3 night experience at their location in the mountains. The camp includes chances to zip line, swim, canoe, ride horses, fish and sleep in a bunk. This is one of my longest posts ever, but we did so much fun stuff that there were millions of pictures!
Here's a video, too.
This was our bunk. It was a little cramped for the four of us but we made it into our home away from home for the 4 days of camp.
Camp Day 1
The first day of camp was an introduction to the facility and mostly free time to get settled.
Our family helper, Martha, worked with the girls to make their camp name tags.
Kurt and the girls chilling out on the deck.
Waiting for the evening activities to start. There were songs and skits that captured Jocelyn's interest.
Both girls loved this sign. Kathryn would trace the sun and the moon every time she walked by.
Camp Day 2
Day two was filled with new activities. Our first stop was the zip line. We got the girls in their harnesses, but they didn't want to wear them long enough to try the zip line. Instead, we sat at the bottom of the course and cheered on the other campers. Then we went horseback riding, tried our hand at fishing and then went swimming in their heated outdoor pool. The day ended with a costume dance party.
The team getting Jocelyn into her harness.
Waiting to get the last part of put together.
All harnessed and ready to zip line.
This is as far as we got with Kathryn's harness. She doesn't like to wear anything that is constricting and the harness had to be tight.
Kurt and Kathryn waiting for the zip line rides to start.
The camp photographer snapped this shot of us watching the zip line.
Jocelyn on horseback.
She loved her trip around the horse corral.
Kathryn liked the ride but hated the helmet and other riding gear.
The camp Gator was a big draw - we sat in it every chance we could.
Another shot by the camp photographer - Kurt and Kate fishing.
Kathryn fishing with Martha and Randy.
Jocelyn with a creative take on holding the fishing pole.
FISHING!!
Communing with the fishes.
Kurt and Kate in the pool.
Smiling and swimming with daddy.
Kathryn's favorite item in the pool was in this spring float.
She also floated around in this ring for a long time.
Jocelyn above water for a change, but with a fancy hairstyle.
Joce and Kurt having fun together.
More swimming smiles from Kathryn.
Costume Dance Party family photo.
Jocelyn has been obsessed with horse masks for months. This unicorn mask was the thrill of her camp days, especially with JoJo underneath.
She followed him everywhere.
Kathryn got in on some of the unicorn worship, too.
Kurt and Joce trying on hats.
Kathryn dancing at the bubble machine.
Cowgirl Jocelyn.
Camp Day 3
Day three started with parent respite in the morning and a trip to Trillium Lake for canoeing and campfire fun in the afternoon and evening. The camp counselors were going to take the kids for the morning so the parents could have a break, but since we were only assigned one person for our family, we opted to spend the morning with the girls instead of taking a break. We did an obstacle course, visited the horses again and just enjoyed the day around camp. After lunch, we loaded up into the buses and were taken to Trillium lake for the afternoon. Our lake experience was cut short because the girls got antsy, but we did manage to take a quick canoe ride and wade in the lake.
Jocelyn flirting with the biggest horse we have ever seen! Even Kathryn looks amazed in the background.
Was the horse posing for his close up??
Me and the girls at Duke's Corral.
This is one of my favorite camp pictures. Kurt looks like the only one who is having a good time. Jocelyn looks bored and Kathryn looks skeptical.
Kurt and the girls.
Canoeing with our instructor. I love that Kathryn chose to canoe facing backwards!
Trillium Lake has a gorgeous view of Mt. Hood.
One of our extra special surprises at camp this year was running into Becky, Charlie and Max! Even though we live near each other, we haven't seen much of each other since the kids were born.
Camp Day 4
Day four was just packing up and heading out. There was a goodbye ceremony at the fish pond which was very sweet and all the kids got camper awards. No great pictures of that day but it is in the video. What a great summer treat!
My dad got a fancy new red bike this summer and Jocelyn and Kathryn took great interest in it. One afternoon, Jocelyn asked for "red bike" so he lowered the seat and took them both for a couple of rides. They liked it so much that he went out and got them their own bike, complete with a bell and handlebar streamers. We spent many of our summer days zooming up and down the driveway with an assist from Grampa.
