Monday, August 10, 2020

Happy Campers

Last Sunday Dave and I dropped all three kids off at Sky Ranch for their favorite week of the year.  We registered them almost exactly a year ago when we picked the boys up from their 2019 session and they've been counting down ever since.  We are forever grateful to Sky Ranch for handling this summer with such tremendous care and keeping campers, counselors and staff safe and healthy while providing my kids "the best week EVER"!




We got there Sunday afternoon for drop-off and said our masked goodbyes on the porches of their cabins since parents couldn't go inside this year.  Typically parents go inside, help the kids get settled, meet other parents and campers, etc. and this year there were staggered drop-off times and no one except for the campers could go in the cabins.  It was FAST and a little weird feeling and I know Luke was so relieved that one of his buddies from school was already there (he had a couple in his cabin which he was so excited about!  Mason and G had friends from school there as well - but not in their cabins)


I didn't even get a picture of Mason at drop off because he essentially ran up to his cabin, high fived his counselor and threw up the deuces at us on his way inside :)  

Griffin was our last drop off and I could feel any anxiety she was having melt away when we started walking up to her cabin and she could hear high school musical playing on a speaker outside and as we got closer the counselors had the other girls who were already there come outside to meet Griffin and take her in to show her around.


I swear that she grew while we were walking up to her cabin!!!  She handled it like a champ - not a tear or hesitation in sight and I think the fact that Mason's cabin was right next door may have helped with that a bit as well.


There's no communication throughout the week but the camp does an amazing job of taking photos and posting them a couple of times a day.  Definitely puts your heart at ease to see them having a blast every day!  


Pickup was essentially a huge (and extremely well-organized) carpool pickup and we never once goto out of the car.  Sky Ranch logistics have always impressed us but this year they blew it out of the water.  We pulled up, they loaded all three kids luggage and then stuck stickers on our window corresponding with their cabin numbers.  Then counselors directed us to pickup points where the kids were waiting with their counselors.  They talked to us briefly about the week, gave us each of the kids awards and a group photo and loaded them up!



Griffin got the You Go Girl award and Mason got the Genuine award.  Hearing their counselors talk about the kids characters and listen to how well they obviously get to know each of the kids is my favorite part of the week.


Luke received the Honor Camper award (essentially it's a character award they give out to one camper per session) and I managed to hold back tears but MAN are we proud of this kid!

We laughed so hard because when he got home we saw this honor camper photo with his counselors and he goes, "ohhhh... they told me that my mom had paid to have my picture taken with my counselors and that's why we had to take it" - hahaha   Perfect cover, counselors! 


Loaded up and ready to head home!  I had about 1000 questions for them but they had to wait because it had been a week without talking to each other and the first hour home was spent with the three of them retelling all of the fun they had to each other and then they all passed out :) 


When we got home it was time to clean out the trunks - alllllll the camp snacks and treats for them...



.... and alllllll the laundry for me ;)  Thank GOODNESS for the Speed Queens!  I managed to wash and dry all their clothes, bedding, towels, etc. that afternoon.


I know I've talked about Sky Ranch before and I really can't say enough great things about the programming, facilities and staff - but really it's the counselors that make the program what it is.  The opportunity for my kids to spend a week with college kids who fun, engaging and confident in their faith is priceless.  Yes... there's the blob and Mission Impossible and water slides and jet skis and a carnival and allllll the things - but the conversations that my kids had with their counselors are what we're most grateful for.  

We're also so grateful for the opportunity for our kids to get to go to camp in the midst of the covid pandemic.  We discussed the decision at length with our pediatrician, friends who are in the medical profession including ER physicians and friends who sent their kids to earlier sessions and felt confident in our decision to send the kids.  Sky Ranch communicated with us throughout the summer as cases popped up and kept us apprised of possible exposures throughout the week that my kids were attending (there was a counselor in one of my kids cabin groups who had a camper from the previous week who tested positive after getting home from camp - as soon as they found out about that case they pulled the counselor, gave them a rapid test and communicated those negative test results with us parents).  The camp closed for two weeks mid-summer when they had several staff not feeling well and the camp didn't have time to test the counselors and get results back in time to host the next session and knowing how cautious they were being with monitoring and reporting added to our comfort level when decision making.  It was encouraging to us that at a camp of this size there were minimal cases and minimal cases spread among campers while at camp.  Since returning home from camp we're following the advice of Sky Ranch as well as our pediatrician and have been monitoring the kids for symptoms and limiting their exposure to people in high risk groups. 

So all of that above is a post in itself, but I'm going to share a little bit about getting the kids ready and packed as well as some details about G's trunk because several of y'all asked and it's FUN!


Her one request was purple and we waited until the last minute to order just in case camp didn't work out and  this was the trunk that we could get in time for camp.  It's comparable to the boys (it's taller but a little shorter in length) and seems to be about the same as far as quality.  I was able to use a 20% off coupon which made it the least expensive as well!


My friend Amanda made the stickers - I'm not sure if she does this on the regular but I'd for sure send her a message if you're intersted!


Inside her lid she wanted cork board like the boys but the price of the cork boards went WAY UP this year so I found  these hexagons that just stuck on and looked so cute.  We painted the lid purple (because of course!) and added  a fun little letter board and stickers and she was done!



And here's the inside...


She packed  this light-up hedgehog in case she got nervous at night but came home talking about how she wouldn't need it next year :)


I bought the same car trunk organizer that the boys have and we used the same ziplock bag system that has worked well the past couple of years.  I label bags for each day and the various night events and then the kids fill them with the items they want for teach day/night.



If I have little "extras" I'll add those to the bags after they've packed.


The big compartment held all the ziplocks and then the side compartments had extras like a fan, her Bible, shoes (she packed 3 pairs and only wore Natives), water bottle, pjs, swimsuits, towels, snacks, etc.





One thing that's not on the packing list but that all three of my kids take is a small backpack.  We pack their sunscreen, sanitizer, etc. in there and then when they get to camp and their counselor tells them to get their things for the lake or pool or other activity they can throw their things in their along with their water bottle and it makes it so much easier for them to keep up with their stuff.  


I also label EVERYTHING with  these labels.


Griffin took a little bath caddy from the dollar store...


... and this  baby bum detangler helped keep her hair from getting too tangly.


The boys use the same system - I let them pack however they wanted and they both asked for the ziplocks.



The boys still love sticking photos up inside their trunks.  They like showing them to their friends and counselors and looking at the other kids photos as well.


Mason was a lot more minimal - he only brought Natives and the extent of his toiletries were everyone soap and toothpaste/brush.


These are the kind of backpacks that my boys take - easy to pack and lightweight to carry around camp.  They mentioned this year that they liked that they could throw their snacks and/or things that they bought at the camp store in there as well.



Same stuff for Luke!



We put their bedding in these giant ziplock bags and squeeze the air out and we're done!


The last part of packing are car packages :)  This year we could drop off packages for Tuesday and Thursday and notes for Monday/Wednesday.   I try to pick things that they can play with as they wait for activities, use at night events and share with friends.





The big hit for Griffin this year was the package of scrunchies that she passed out and shared with her counselors and girls in her cabin.


I steered clear of stickers for Luke but Mason specifically requested I "make his packages look awesome" so I tried :) 


The boys boxes looked like this and I got everything for all of their boxes at the dollar store (except for the scrunchies).






So there you go! The world's longest camp post :)  

HAPPY Monday, friends!!!

PS - this post contained affiliate links.... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!

36 comments :

  1. I always love seeing your recap of the kids camp! It looks like another great year! :)

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  2. Andrea, I have no words. None. From the trunks to the smiles...every single detail was PERFECT! I'm so happy your kids had fun!!!

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    1. Thanks, friend! If I pack ashby next year can she come with griffin?!?! ;)

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  3. Always amazed by your creativity, but you knocked it out of the park with their trunks and packages. Too cute! Best feeling: when you pick up your happy campers :)

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  4. THE HONOR CAMPER!!!! GO LUKE!!!!!! You know I could bawl!

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  5. How awesome and amazing that your kids had a camp experience. My kids... 2 boys and a girl are just a few years behind yours. Looking into something like this for them. On the labels - do they come off when you want them too? I think I need these for school.

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    1. They last in the washer and dryer and you could probably peel them off if you tried but they’re designed to stay put.

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  6. So funny that the packing list for Sky Ranch doesn’t include a backpack! I’m a former fifth grade teacher who took my kiddos to Sky Ranch many years for their 3 day school programs and the drawstring backpacks were always on their packing list!

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    1. Oh gosh! Maybe I missed it?!?! I wouldn’t put that past me! Hahaha Regardless it’s an essential item!

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  7. Sky ranch is the best! All three of my kids went this year and they are already looking forward to next year. My daughter said it was the best week of her life. My son was in the cabin when one of the bunk mates tested positive. We were notified immediately and everything was handled so well. I also love the focus on the Bible and learning more about Jesus. So awesome!

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    1. Agree on all of this! So glad that your kids all had such a great week!

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  8. Did everything come home this year? And did you ever find the lost jacket from last year?

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    1. Griffin left pjs and a hat but other than that everything returned! The jacket from last year never turned up - but that’s what I get for sending a brand new jacket!

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  9. Your packing skills are AMAZING!!! We just got back from a 3-week camping trip so I feel ya on ALL.THE.LAUNDRY!

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  10. You are seriously the absolute most creative mom I have ever seen. I love, love, love, the details you put in to everything from birthdays to back to school to holidays and now the camp trunks! Where do you find those adorable stickers for the surprise boxes?

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    1. Thank you so much!!! The stickers were from Dollar Tree!

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  11. It’s so clear that you are not taking this pandemic seriously. Hoping your kids will quarantine for 2 weeks before starting back at a school. I’ve lost quite a bit of respect for you these last few months but I’m afraid this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’m quite frankly shocked that you are so blatantly selfish.

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    1. So sorry you feel that way - we have taken every recommended precaution and are taking it seriously. A two-week quarantine was not recommended/required by camp, our pediatrician or our school.

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    2. Shame on you for your rudeness. She doesn't need your respect. You, however, could use her grace.

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  12. How did you decide on Sky Ranch over another camp? I think my incoming 1st Grader would LOVE this.

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  13. I love your camp posts! Henry is way too little, but I can't wait until he is old enough to go to Sky Ranch. It looks like such an amazing week! I'm glad your kids love it.

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  14. It looks like such an amazing week ! I always wonder if our kids would love sleep away camp. It is also mind blowing to see the difference between different parts of the country and the pandemic - I am no expert so I don’t know which is right ! But here in Maryland , everything is still cancelled ... school, camp (unless it’s like a daycare )- I really look forward to normal experiences again . We’ve even had a couple of friends refuse to have safe outdoor play dates because my husband works outside of our home and I guess could maybe be exposed ? It is interesting to follow along and see how different states handle things .

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  15. I loved this post sooo much!! This is such an awesome camp, and your creativity and organization are TOP NOTCH!! Can't wait for my daughter to get to go to camp one day!

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  16. That sounds wonderful!! What a great week and I just love how organized and personalized their trunks are. Love their camp pictures, their awards, and their smiles.

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  17. Memories for a lifetime! How fun!

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  18. Thanks for your honesty regarding the camp experience this summer - glad they had fun, by the way! As much as we’d love things to be normal, they just aren’t, and we as parents are faced with the huge challenge of navigating what we are and aren’t comfortable with. I enjoyed reading your take on it and thank you for including that when I’m sure it would’ve been easier to just focus on the fun parts of the experience. Best of luck with your return to school - I’m a teacher too and it’s a surreal feeling to be going back after being home since March!

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  19. I love their trunks so much!! And thanks for the shoutout to my shop. ❤ Also, I want to go to camp again!! We should find some sort of adults only camp around here and get a group together and go. How fun would that be?! That Inspired Chick

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  20. What did you two do while they were at camp? Maybe next year take the week in Colorado and do some fun stuff!

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  21. I am so happy they had such a great time! I was a sky ranch camper for 6 years and this was going to be my sons 3rd year. We were session 2 and chose to sit this one out with so many unknowns still being the first week they opened! Everyone I have talked to said this year was amazing and proved sky ranch is truly the best!!! Can’t wait to be back next summer!

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  22. Love this post! So happy your kids got to go to camp this summer. I totally would have sent mine too.

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  23. GG's trunk is literally the cutest thing ever! So happy your kids were able to have an amazing camp experience this year in spite of everything going on.

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  24. As in everything you do, your attention to detail is amazing! I am so glad that the kids had a wonderful time and I bet they look forward to seeing what is in their boxes and notes from home:).

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