This is a quick update because, with Visitor’s Weekend coming up, it is unlikely I will be able to do a Sunday posting.

As I type, three of our Big Trips have arrived back safe and sound.  The kayak, Hunt canoe and sailing trips are busy getting gear and left-over provisions taken care of, enjoying much needed showers and greeting friends.  The Alpine and Baker trips are in the ferry line in Anacortes and the bike trip is enjoying a leisurely ride back to  Roche Harbor.  The barge will bring all three trips back to Johns just in time for our famous “Killer Mac” dinner.  Reports from all the trips are very positive.  After a blustering departure on Sunday the weather was perfect – not too hot, not too cold and no rain!

Those of us left behind had a great Nell Robinson Day – all the watermelons were found and subsequently eaten.  Each of the five teams presented a skit at the camp fire that night – a great potpourri of topics and costumes.  Our sleep-in breakfast the next day was sparsely attended.  Most of us enjoyed a few extra minutes of sleep and swung through the lodge to grab a muffin just before the buffet closed.

All but one unit stayed close to home for the third overnight.  The Foresters ventured over to Satellite Island – an adjacent island owned by the YMCA and generously made available to us through out the summer.   Back on Johns the Ranger went to Read’s Point, Pioneers to Chapel Rock, Mariners to  Eagle Rock, Vagabonds to Cottonwood and Voyageurs were at Rocky Top.  Check out the attached map to learn more about the property.  CNW Map 2008

Tomorrow night we will gather at the Bighouse to witness North West Coast Native dance performances by Bill Holm, his family and some of our staff.  This will be a very memorable evening – button blankets, masks, drumming, all by fire light.

Then Visitor’s Weekend will be upon us.   From noon until 5:00pm each day we will have families and friends enjoying the property, peeking into tipis,  and joining us in singing.   It may appear that most of the campers have visitors the reverse is true.  Less than a third of the campers actually have guests.  The program will run as usual, with units going to activities through out the day.  Families will bring picnic lunches (and contraband! which they typically share with the entire unit)

I’ll touch base again early next week.  Although it happens every summer, I continue to be amazed at how quickly the time passes.  It’s almost time to say goodbye…