Dog Camp and Desserts

Well, I’ve successfully been through my first full week of camp, pre kids arriving. Here’s some of the highlights:

• We painted three cabins and I must say they look beautiful, it felt great working outside in the sun.
• I’ve visited Leavenworth twice. My favorite spots would have to be getting chicken apple sausage at Cured, the Cheesemonger, and the Tattoo shop where I got my ears pierced for the first time. And when they call Leavenworth a Bavarian town, you better believe it. Even the tattoo shop is “Bavarian” and there’s Bavarian music playing all day on the town green.
• I thoroughly enjoy not cooking, and instead being served in the camp dining hall. Especially since the cooks are so nice and have baked a cake and brownies so far. 🙂 Also, I’ve had four milkshakes in the past week. The 59 Diner down the street makes fantastic milkshakes and my contribution is going to help Camp Zanika win against the YMCA camp in the summer milkshake tally.
• Dog Camp, you heard me. This weekend the camp was rented out for Dog Camp, meaning dog owners and their pets came to enjoy the outdoors, ride in canoes, and have a good time. No, they did not keep us up barking into the night, yes they did object to being kept outside while the owners ate in the dining hall.

This week, we will most likely continue fuel reduction, which means we’ll be hauling fallen branches to burn piles to reduce the fuel in case of a large forest fire.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and a happy fathers day!

 

Camp Zanika

Well, we’ve arrive at Camp Zanika, outside of Leavenworth, WA. It took us two days to drive here, which meant we were able to stop at a hotel with a pool and hot tub, which was quite the luxury for us. Yesterday, we drove from Oregon to Washington. When we arrived in Leavenworth we discovered that it is truly a Bavarian town. Every building looks Bavarian, even the McDonalds and Subway.
Continuing on towards the camp, we passed through beautiful forests and by waterfalls. This part of Washington reminds me of Maine, just everything is bigger, from the trees to the mountains. It even smells like Maine, which is a big plus for me. At camp, we were welcomed and given a brief tour of the place, including our living arrangements. We had the choice between cabins that were a 5 minute hike away or platform tents in camp, half the team chose tents, half cabins.
Right now, camp is not yet in session, but for three days an Outdoor Education group of 5th graders is here. Today, we got to shadow counselors teaching activities from ropes course, leave no trace, outdoor living skills, and canoeing. Tonight, we’ll be making s’mores and watching skits the kids created. I’ve been loving our time here so far, it’s been like going to camp myself. Tomorrow, the kids leave and we receive our orientation. Then Monday, the real work should begin, chainsawing and hauling downed trees.
This weekend, we’ll most likely hike to a local lake and explore Leavenworth. So far, I’m very happy with this round.