Term 2: Special Activities, Girls' Cookout, and Team Competition Day!

Last week on another rainy day, the boys camp took part in an epic fort-making contest. Beticek won narrowly for a Gatorade-lined pathway that led to a multi-room fort casino with separate enclaves for poker, uno, and black jack.

Rain or shine, campers have also been participating in some unique minor classes when not in their pre-selected majors. The oldest boys got to play paintball in our wooded enclave, while Garner cabin learned how to operate a trolling motor on tiny boats.

Meanwhile, this week in survival skills, campers participated in the simulation of a giant storm to practice safety techniques regarding shelter. For the demonstration, instructor Mr. Adams throws ice, squirts water, and simulates thunder while campers put into practice the survival skills they have been learning so far in the term.

Friday night Girls’ Camp enjoyed Cook Out at the Thicket! Campers and counselors cooked hot dogs, cheesy pita pocket pizzas, and s’mores. After dinner, girls enjoyed an evening swim in our spectacular new pool, followed by the Chili Cook Off! Each cabin selects ingredients that range from freshly chopped garlic and chipotle pepper flakes to skittles and Dr. Pepper. Creativity abounds in both the chili and the cabin cheers that accompany the official tasting of the chili by the judges (Girls’ Camp Leadership staff members). This term, the award for the best tasting chili went to Ney cabin who presented a delicate savory chili with onions topped with crunchy goldfish and cheddar cheese. The worst chili award unanimously went to Gonzales cabin who prepared a gut wrenching concoction of black pepper, cayenne pepper, and tobacco sauce. The best overall cheer and chili was awarded to Counselor Caroline Walker’s (the chili queen) cabin – Coleman cabin.

Saturday morning, all of camp got to sleep in before enjoying a meal of breakfast tacos on the grassy knoll. Team Competition Day began shortly after, as the Work Crew set up a tailgate behind the end zone, cooking bacon on the grill as the oldest girl campers warmed up for their flag football game. A pregame Gatorade relay with the Work Crew girls decided who would start with the ball, and the Lone Stars were victorious.

The game itself was a back and forth thriller, featuring a halftime performance from the Goodnight Cabin dance class and four lead changes in the last 2 minutes! The Silver Spurs took the lead with 23 seconds left before the Lone Stars scored the game winner with just 2 seconds left to win 32-28.