Friday Five: Summer Camp

Friday Five: Summer Camp

The RevGalBlogPals had the Friday Five last week on summer camp. I’m not a member of the group, but reading the entries sparked a lot of memories for me, so I thought I’d join the camping fun.

1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?

I attended Camp Mt Morris, a Lutheran Camp, in Wisconsin for two summers when I was about 6 or 7 years old because my mom was asked to be the camp nurse, so I got free camping. I can’t find this camp on the ‘net, so I don’t know if it is still there or if it has changed names. I loved the activities: campfire singing, worship, swimming, horseback riding, archery, shooting BB guns, crafts, etc. I was way too young for the socialization part, so I was lonely, but sometimes I’ve visit my mom at the nurse’s cabin.

I attended Lutherdale in Wisconsin when I was about 13. My only memory was that I got inspired to be a missionary someday. But again, the social part of camp wasn’t the best because nobody else from our church went.

2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?

Our family never camped out when I was a kid, but I remember trying to sleep out in my friend’s backyard, and it was so scary. But my husband and I and our kids have camped out in various US Forest Service campgrounds, State parks, and especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness a number of times. We've camped at Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier, and Olympia national park way back in BC (before children,) but also at the Grand Tetons with the whole family. These are great memories. Since we’ve been (somewhat) empty-nesters, my husband and I have been visiting Minnesota State Parks and camping in a tent or sleeping in the back of our van. I’m no longer thrilled about having to crawl out of a tent to attend to the call of nature.

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?

I thought about being a camp counselor, but I realized that I don’t have the right chipper personality for that. I was on the personal committee for Camp Vermilion for five years before it merged and became Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry. As an adult, I’ve attended numerous retreats at Camp Vermilion, but mostly for a non-faith-connected group.

My kids all went to Bible Camp and loved it. One went 4 years, one 5 years, and one 6 years. The oldest has been a camp counselor at two camps and met her husband there. She has lived at three camps since she has been married.

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?

Two interesting memories: 1) Camping on Knife Lake with our family when the wind was so strong that we stayed put for an extra day. The only canoes on the lake were only going in one direction because of the wind. Then the next day, we heard and saw numerous fire-fighting planes (tankers) flying overhead on their way to fight a forest fire. 2) On Emerald Lake in Canada, the kids shouted for us to come see something in the water. There was a seagull swimming that was literally snatched whole by a large fish, which we didn’t see. There was a bit of a struggle, some bubbles, and no more seagull.

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.

Too many to think about; too slow internet to find links.