Happy Camper Comes Home

My son came home from church camp Friday. When he got off the bus he was smiling. Honestly, I've never seen him so happy and content. He had an amazing time, and he was full of stories. I was probably more excited to hear them than he was to tell them though.

Jackson was at the same camp I grew up going to. I had some of the best times of my life there. I was seven the first time, and went back every summer until I graduated from high school.

I couldn't wait to trade memories with him. So I took him for snow cones, and made him to spill the beans.

He said they didn't do Mud Mountain this year, but he got to wrestle pigs instead. There wasn't any pig wrestling when I was there. He said he chased the pig and it was really big, and he grabbed it's back legs and the pig squealed really loud. He thought it was hilarious.

He said that Push Ball was the funnest game, and I told him I agreed. He liked horseback riding, and played a lot of tether ball.

I asked him about walking up Glory Road. (Glory Road is a trail that leads to the top of the Arbuckle Mtns, there are three lighted crosses on top. Service is held there one night, and traditionally boys ask girls to walk up Glory Road with them. It's kind of a big deal.) I asked him if he asked a girl to go up with him. Evidently he only did it because he was triple-dog-dared to, so he had no choice. He said he asked her, and she said 'no' and walked away, and he glad he didn't have to walk with a stupid girl anyway.

I was trying to pull as many details as I could out of him, and he obliged. But, just when I thought he was done, he opened up and gave me the best camp story I've ever heard.

There were 14 little boys in his room, and they had two adult counselors. One night, after lights out, Craig and Steve announced their mission. O.F.H. aka Operation Frog Hunt was about to begin. They snuck down to the creek with buckets and collected as many frogs as they could find. One of the counselors had a master key, so while the rest of the camp slept, my son and his friends deposited frogs in all the other boy cabins. Mayhem ensued, and it was hilarious... until the Deans came.

For punishment the boys, and their two fine counselors, had to 'march 'til dawn.' He said they marched in a line around the campgrounds 24 times, and it was the best time he's had in his life. At around 4 am they stopped marching and went swimming in the creek. This was actually the best time he ever had in his life, he clarified. They had breakfast K.P. duty at 6 am. Jackson said he almost fell asleep while working the slop bucket. I told him that I always did the serving line at K.P., but he told me the slop bucket was way cooler than that.

He said he was still hearing the songs from service in his head. He sang them to me, and did the motions. He loved the speaker, and said that learning more about the Bible was really cool. He read the entire 91st Psalm all by himself, over and over. He said he is trying to memorize it.

My old-school-camper-Mommy-heart was so swollen with gratitude. Going to this camp is a legacy in my family. My Mom even went to that camp when she was little. I know first hand the kind of impact camp can have on a little life. And being able to watch my son experience it might be the sweetest blessing ever.

Jackson was so happy that he willingly kissed me. This alone was worth the price of camp, if nothing else.



When we got home I unzipped his bag to find lots of dirt, soaking wet clothes, and perfectly folded underwear and socks.

Noah will be going to camp when he turns seven too. I must instill better hygiene habits in my sons before then. I have a new mission.