Noah had the opportunity to go to his 6th Grade Science Camp at the beginning of the week this week. It was a 3 day camp for the entire class. They needed chaperones to volunteer to help with the trip, and I was able to do so. We packed up our sleeping bags, and other necessities we would need for the next 3 days, and went on our way. The camp's name was Camp Willson a little over an hour away in Bellefontaine, Ohio. I knew from chaperone meetings that many of their classes would actually take place outside. So, I was hoping that the weather would cooperate, and not get snowy, rainy, or cold. As you saw from the previous post, that wasn't the case. But, on we trudged. The first thing they did when they arrived at camp was to unload all of their gear, and haul their own stuff up to their cabins. Noah was in Ottawa and I would be chaperoning in one of the girls cabins, Kenton. Chaperones weren't allowed to help the kids carry their gear, because "It is part of the experience." 
I had envisioned. I'm sure Noah had an easier time, because he's taller than I am at this point! The weather wasn't cooperating at that time either. Very windy and snowy. My horse wasn't enjoying this either. In fact, he was pretty jumpy, which made me nervous. The stable lady was a bit irritated, but not at the horse, at ME! She said, "The horse just bit me. (Funny, maybe we shouldn't be riding him!) So, Ma'am, you don't have to do this." I was a bit confused. But, I just said, "I DO want to do this, I'm just not sure this is the horse I should be doing it on." Regardless, I stayed on the horse, and stuck it out. Of course, not without noting here, that my horse was very jumpy the entire trail ride. Noah said his horse was a little like that too, and in fact took off at a gallop at one point. I didn't see this, because he was about 6 horses behind me on the trail, and I wasn't going to turn and look at him for fear I would be bucked off the horse! LOL! Ultimately, once we got going, it was beautiful. Snow, softly falling, beautiful setting, QUIET. It was almost like a Christmas Card. Very pretty. And, we saw doe running through the snow laden fields. Very pretty. Glad I did it, and very glad to get off of that jumpy Erik when all was said and done!
The last class of the day was ROCK WALL CLIMBING! Again, in the freezing temperatures, late in the afternoon. I was a bit surprised they were doing some of these activities, considering the weather conditions, but off we went! Noah really wanted me to do this, but I told him that there were 17 kids to get through, and only 1 hour to do it in, so the chances were slim! But, I was very impressed that HE wanted to do it! He was one of the first kids to volunteer. He must get that from his dad! LOL! The rock Climbing Wall was 25 feet in the air, and the kids had to get harnessed into their gear. Noah got about 1/2 way up the wall, and then decided he was done. I think he'd have gone the entire way it the weather would have been differrent. All of the kids who came off the wall said their hands were like ICE and they couldn't feel their fingers. I wish that he could have gotten to the top. Maybe we'll get another chance, when he isn't a human popsicle!
That ended our classes for the day. We ended up having a parent/chaperone meeting while the kids had some much needed recreation time. Then, it was time for dinner, back to cabins for a bit of quiet time where they worked on their journals, etc. This was also a time where they could write one thing they were thankful for each day on a strip of paper, and then fill up a posterboard with a bucket drawn on it. By the end of camp, we glued each strip on for the girls (and boys in the other cabins) onto the bucket, and at the end of camp, they got to see how "full" their buckets were. It was a great activity, and I really enjoyed that! Quiet cabin time was followed by an evening activity again as an entire HUGE group. Over 100 students, 24 chaperones, and 4 teachers from Miami East attended! This didn't include the camp counselors from Camp Willson! Evening activity included a snack & drink, a group game of Balderdash, where parents tried to convince the kids what various items were. Hillarious! We had a "campfire" inside since it was FREEZING outside. They camp counselors did some hillarious skits where we all laughed, and laughed. The evening was closed out by a really cool interactive activity, where we all were SUPER QUIET, and then with only the sounds of our hands, and legs, were able to creat an entire rainstorm effect. That was the neatest thing! Then it was back to the cabins, and lights out at 10:00....well it should have been 10, but a cabin full of giggling wound up girls, didn't get into bed until after 11:00!!!!
The next day, the morning started with flag raising, and a hot yummy breakfast as a group. Then, we broke up into our study groups, and off to our classes we went. On the morning of our 2nd day, we had a team challenge class where the kids were challenged to solve various logic problems. In order to solve them, they had to have their communication and listening skills in top form! If these didn't happen, then it would be difficult to complete the challenges. I was most impressed by how well the kids did together. And, even more pleasing, was the fact, that Noah is a natural born leader! His peers really looked up to him, and listened and trusted what he had to say, and he was right about how to solve the challenge! They were excited by their collective efforts, and I was pleased by my son's accomplishments. How wonderful to get that opportunity to see him in action!
Next it was off to an Aquatic Studies class. This class made me laugh out loud when I realized that it was exactly the same, but on a more advanced level, as Daniel's field trip to Stillwater Preserve. Oh how exciting, another opportunity to dig in the water for BUGS, and LEECHES, and other little nasties. EXCEPT this time, it was FRIGID lake water they were digging in, instead of a river! Joy & Rapture! Needless to say, the kids had fun, and no one fell in this time! I wasn't required to go near the water, or in the water, and I was pretty glad bout that! I have to say, that it was here that Noah said something completely hillarious to me. He asked me, "Mom are my boots waterproof?" I replied, "Yes, they are." He says, "Oh Good!" It isn't about 5 minutes later, that he is STANDING in Lake Mac-O-Chee water, and says, "Hey, you said these boots were waterproof! My feet are starting to get wet!" I reply to him, "Um, let me explain.....Waterproof means, being in the rain, snow, you know that sort of thing. It doesn't mean STANDING in the lake! You might get wet then! Freak!" LOL! He says, "Oh, I see."
This activity is followed by LUNCH! The camp put on an indoor weenie roast, again, due to the frigid temps outside. The kids seemed to really like this. In fact, they had a choice of regular chips or "extra crunchy" chips with their lunch. When asked, if they replied "extra crunchy" then the person giving them the chips, would get a handful and "crunch" the chips over their plate by squeezing them into smithereens! Very funny! I didn't fall for that one, thank goodness! I didn't want to eat potato chip dust. The looks on their faces, was priceless, like, "Um, they just smashed my chips, but I don't want to bulk authority, so I'll just quietly walk away!" Hee hee!
Next, we got to go to a class called Instintcs. Basically it was a class about the circle of life, and how there are herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. So, the rest of the class was going to be a game of "circle of life tag", where you could only "eat" or tag a species below you in the food chain. Of course, that would mean that carnivores would be the victors, UNLESS a hunter (a.k.a. chaperone) tagged you, and then you were OUT and had to give up a life line. The kids were also required to accumulate food sources and water sources for survival. I got to be "POISON" the first round, and I stood by a water source, and got to get kids out if they
drank from my polluted water. It was fun! But, more than funny were their initial responses. They said, "Hey! No fair! I didn't know the water was poisoned, there wasn't a sign!" What?!?!? Of course, there wasn't a sign! Have you been in nature, and there is a sign posted around everything tainted, dangerous, or poison? Freaks! LOL! I told them, "Your "instincts" must be better, because your "instincts" should have told you that a chaperone hanging around in the middle of the woods was a bad sign." Hmph! Seriously! Anyhow, the next 2 rounds I got to be a hunter, and that was the most fun I had had in quite a while! I got to run around and play tag with the kids, and it was fun, Fun, FUN! Noah & I both agreed that this was our very favorite part of camp!
Noah & his classmates also got the opportunity to make their own water rockets in another class. They got to make inferences about what they thought was going to be the outcome, and then record what the actual results were. I think they really had a good time with this one. They got to learn about volume, and shape and size, and many other things. Then, after they did this, they hooked their "rockets" up to a mini air compressor and set them off! What fun to watch! They had a ball setting their rockets off and occassionally getting each other wet! That was the last class of day 2, and then they were off for more free rec time, dinner, journaling, and then a nighttim
e activity. 
After that being the last class of the day, they were off for more free rec time, dinner, journaling time, and then the evening activity. The 2nd night's activity was pretty entertaining. They had the kids have a square dance. They were a little apprehensive at first. But, of course, the counselors broke that for them, by having the teachers, and parent chaperones pair up and do the Virginia Real in front of the entire 6th grade class. I was thrilled! LOL! At least it was fun and wasn't some jive hip hop crap! LOL! Then, it was the kids turn. They could dance, boy/girl, girl/girl, or boy/boy. It didn't matter. But, they were told, if they were asked, they couldn't say no, and that they couldn't say yes. Instead, they couldn't say no, so, since yes was the only option, they had to say (LOUDLY) "I would LOOOOVVVEEE to!" Seeing as how Noah has a few admirers, I wanted to see how this played out. Unfortunately, he didn't ask any girls, and he and one of his best friends opted to hang out together. Joel and Noah made quite the adorable pair! LOL! But, at least they had fun! Then, after several rotations of the Virginia Reel, they pumped up the jam with the Cha Cha Slide, and Noah was in Heaven! Many of you know that I enjoy this little dance as well, however, I was busy taking pictures and opted out this time. I didn't want to embarass myself or my son! Too bad, cause it looked fun! I am glad for my kids sake, that they can all bust a move pretty well. They must get that from their dad, because Lord only knows I don't have much skill in this department! That's why I like the Cha Cha slide, it's a song/dance that comes with specific instructions! LOL! This fun activity was followed by camp version of "Are You Smarter Than a Camp Willson Naturalist?" The kids loved this game, and I thought the trivia bits were enjoyable too!
Back at the cabin, lights were supposed to be out at 10:00 p.m., but of course, that didn't happen, once again. It was more like almost 11:30! Girls! But, I do have to say, that despite all of that, the young ladies in our cabin were quite delightful. They were respectful, and nice, and good to us and each other. Very sweet young ladies.
Ashley and Miranda
Allyson and Taylar
Taylar (again) and Olivia (who by the way, I was informed by many of Noah's friends, is his girlfriend! Goodnight!)
Emma, Danielle, and Michaela
Each day at every meal, the staff would measure and weigh what they called "Piggy Waste", which was basically anything left on anyone's plates. The goal was to weigh the piggy waste at a 1/2 lb., or less. Every time they were going to do this, they would get a few "piggy" volunteers, and then the entire camp would have to yell "SOUEEE PIGGIES!" and the kids would run out with these pig costumes on, stand by a friend, and have that kid guess what they thought our totals were going to be. At our first meal, we had a collective total of 2 lbs! Then, 1.5 lbs., and then, when it was Noah's turn to be one of the "Chosen Ones" we only weighed in at 1/4 of a lb! WAHOO! 
Tonya and I enjoying a minute of solitude before our final class at camp.
Joel, Matthew, Trey, Adam, and of course, Noah!
Here, Noah & Adam disprove the theory, "You can Pick your friends, You can Pick Your Nose, but you can't pick your friends nose!" This musn't be true, because, note the position of Noah's finger! LOL! Now THAT'S what I call a close friend! LOL!
All, in all, I was most glad to get to spend a little one on one time with my oldest son. He is a delight to hang around with, despite the fact, that he is my child! I would enjoy him even if he weren't mine. He is handsome, responsible, smart, kind, funny, and so many other things. It is a delight to know him, and it such an Honor to be able to say I am his mom. I always see his potential as my child, but these past few days, I caught a slight glimpse of the man he will too soon become. I love you Noah!
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