our camping trip... mostly in pictures

Last week was vacation. A much need vacation. We went camping on Piseco Lake.  It was peaceful and refreshing if a bit rainy.

It was beautiful!

I love being by the water.  The dogs had a blast swimming and splashing.

This is the trail from the road to our site...it was very steep.

Wednesday we all went out for ice cream...

I did a lot of reading 💖📖

It rained almost every night...

Chance does not like the rain and was not the biggest fan of camping in general.

Puppy Snuggles

Encampment '17

Here we go!

We arrived approximately 2 hours later...

Our Yurt was at the top of this hill...

 

The inside was actually quite nice. It was too dark inside to get pictures Friday night but there are some farther down in the post...

 

Building a campfire

 

We made popcorn and of course s'mores

 

There's just something about sitting around a campfire =)

Breakfast Saturday morning- we made eggs in a bag again-

 

Yummy~

The campsite-

 

 

After opening ceremony we did a little yoga-

 

 

 

And then a nature hike-

 

 

View from the lookout-

 

 

Group Picture-

 

We picnic-ed in the field for lunch.

The girls played some more group games after lunch- tag, red rover and some variation of kickball.

In the afternoon we learned about geochaching and found 4 geochaches around camp.

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.
A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and sometimes a pen or pencil. The geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name, in order to prove that they found it. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (Tupperware or similar) or ammunition boxes can also contain items for trading, such as toys or trinkets, usually of more sentimental worth than financial. (Wikipedia)

It was actually pretty fun. Hopefully we can do some this summer.  Hannah said she liked letterboxing better- which is similar, we did that at our first encampment. Its the same basic idea but instead of treasures the box holds a log book and a rubber stamp. You stamp the log book with your stamp and stamp in your book with the stamp from the box. we always intended to try it on our own but never have. Maybe this summer (if it ever stops raining).  We need to make a summer bucket list soon!

 

The girls had fun swapping rocks they painted for treasures in the geocaches.

 

After geochaching we had supper at our campsite- hotdogs and hamburgers (& a couple veggieburgers). Then we headed off to the group campfire- lots of songs and skits. The girls had a blast.

We then had a campfire at our site with a little more popcorn and campfire cones- icecream cones, filled with marshmallows, chocolate chips and nutella and peanut butter (or any combination). Then roasted over the fire- only problem it was really hard to tell who's was who's when we were done. Oh well, still delicious!

Karin took the 11 younger girls on the night hike they'd been begging for- I stayed back to mind the fire with the 3 seniors.  Then bed! 

Sunday Morning-

Cleaning up to go home-

 

The Seniors

 

Closing ceremony-

I'm thankful the rain held off until we were about half way home.  We had beautiful weather for the weekend.

HOME! Chance missed us! We missed him!

We all took naps. ;-)

Winter Camping

It was another bitter cold weekend in CNY.  Friday evening the girls and I left for the winter camping trip with their Girl Scout troops. I was thankful as I drove that there was no snow storm, the roads were mostly clear. I drove the "Brownie Van". Mostly I think Julia came with us just so Hannah had company. It was quite amusing listing to their chatter on the drive down to camp.

Everyone arrived safely.  We were soon unpacked and settled in for the weekend.

My bed for the weekend.  I shared this room with another mom, Two others in the adjoining room.

Hannah's Troop Room, 8 girls total here. Mikayla's troop was in a similar room across the hall.

Playing a little Go Fish

Friday night, since Saturday was Valentine's Day we made up Valentines for everyone.  It was one of the highlights, both the making and opening the next afternoon.  The girls encouraged to write one nice thing to each girl.

Hannah's Troop made breakfast in the morning.

Pink Pancakes with Strawberries and Bacon. Because after all it was Valentine's Day.

After breakfast, they worked on various badge activities.

One of Hannah's projects was to choose her favorite line from the Girl Scout Law, they then made posters with the line and found quotes to support it.  Hannah choose the line- "Respect myself and others." One quote she found was from Taylor Swift.

"We don't need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful."

After lunch the girls shared their posters and quotes.  I was so proud of Hannah, how confidently she shared aloud before the group.



Mikayla's troop worked on a variety of spa treatments, and also their Textile badge. They made dye from carrots, beets, blueberries and raspberries Friday night, then Saturday morning used them to dye T shirts.

Here they were making bathbombs.  They also made a sugar scrub and lip gloss. As well as sewed little pouches to keep a manicure set in.


Mik's group made lunch...Tacos...Scrumptious.





The moms/leaders hanging out during free time....I actually got quite a lot done on Owen's quilt.

The girls also spent an exorbitant amount of time writing out clues, sending each other on extensive scavenger hunts.  To what end I am not quite sure, but they had fun! ;-)

For dinner the older girls in Hannah's troop made pizza.  It was fantastic.

Hannah's Troop

Saturday it snowed.  A lot.  The wind blew.  A lot.  I tried not to be nervous about leaving/driving on Sunday morning.

Fern Lodge

Now worries though, the ranger plowed and shoveled us out. The roads were passable, the highway, not terrible. The girls and I made it safely home. I am slowly getting over my intense fear of winter driving. Mikayla and I chatted happily as we ventured home. It was a great weekend. I told Mik how happy I was to "get to be a Girl Scout" now. ;-)

We both are looking forward to SPRING and hopefully much warmer weather for the Spring Encampment.

I love these girls, {and their moms}.  I feel so blessed to be part of the group.  I am so thankful for Judy, Keri and Karin, who work so hard as the girls' leaders.

Oh P.S. Its COOKIE Season!!! Want some Girl Scout cookies?? I know two of the best girl scouts around.