Kicking Off Camp :: Mason Edition

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Summer is officially here now that Mason is headed to his first week of summer camp at Ondessonk.  He was so eager to get there and get started that we left our house before 8 am. It’s a two hour drive and the gates open at 1 pm promptly.  That meant that we had a number of hours to spend in car line and walking the long and winding camp road.

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We have done this so many times that we know the drill and we have our check in down to a science.  One of the nicest things about this camp is the staff.  Whether it’s a camper’s first time or his ninth (as it was for Mason), the greeting is warm. 

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Mason was so happy to get housed in Amantacha, his first choice.  It’s one of the farthest units from the camp entrance and accessed via the Amantacha swinging bridge. 

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We headed there first so Mason could check in with his unit leader and lay claim to his bunk.  We dropped the sleeping bag and trekked back to Lake Echon for the swim test.

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After he is cleared to jump in again, Mason (second swimmer from the left) will swim across the rest of the lake and back and then tread water for two minutes. 

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While we watched Mason swim, Walker noticed he had a visitor with him on his shorts.

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After the swim test, we trekked back to Amantacha to hang Mason’s bug netting and settle him in with his trunk. 

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This is Bill’s forte.

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Mason’s Unit Leader is Bush, a former camper and long time volunteer.  We met him first several years ago at family camp.  He’s a zany joker who likes to laugh.  I can guarantee Mason is going to have a mischievous week at camp.  There was still plenty of check-in time before Mason had to meet with all the campers at his unit so he walked up to say goodbye and play at the ga-ga pit. 

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Have fun!

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