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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Grandma Camp 2017 - The "Big Kids"







































I wonder every year if the "big kids" in my group of 10 will appreciate summer days at Grandma Camp. The boys, twin brothers, will be nine on August 29th. Cousin Brielle will be seven on the same day. Will Boy Scouts, soccer, Minecraft, gymnastics, and the lure of dozens and dozens of friends preempt their previous enthusiasm for spending time with me alone, crafting, baking, play-acting, and hiking in the woods? Apparently not! My most soul-satisfying moment of the year is when I'm told, "All they talk about lately is Grandma Camp!" Whew! Good for another round!

This is an overview of the fun we had together last week!

Over the course of winter, I pick and choose from a myriad of ideas spanning creative construction, nature appreciation, and "showmanship." The latter prepares us for the backyard talent production* we perform for ticket-buying parents at week's end. We're currently fascinated with magic, so a new treasure trove of tricks is enthusiastically greeted. Oh, the looks we love on faces in the audience when a deck of cards disappears before one's very eyes! Or, when lengths of rope are cut in half and then unfold intact! Yep! We know exactly how to make those things happen - and we're not telling! (Well, actually, grandma is!....in a later post - so your kids can wow an audience right outta their chairs like we do!)
😉😉😉




The "big kids" never get tired of baking, so we gather 'bout the kitchen counter and take turns mixing and stirring and expertly cracking the eggs we need. Special requests are always honored; this year chocolate chip cookies filled that obligation - as well as patiently waiting tummies!

Our quarter acre backyard woods is an appropriate venue for exploring and seeking sights of scampering wildlife. This year we left tempting trays of treats in populated places and fired up a newly purchased trail camera to capture images of those mysterious creatures who only come out at night!*


I'm really most comfortable with artsy-craftsy stuff.* And not only do the "big kids" share my passion for creating, they adeptly grow the seed of an idea to grand and leafy proportions with very little help from me. My fondest Camp moments? Sitting alongside those intent young crafters, camera in hand, basking in reflected pride of jobs well done!













See those projects the "big kids" are holding? Glow-in-the-dark night lights! Clear plastic jars, craft moss, and a choice of ceramic wild animals (including dinosaurs) are basic ingredients. "Moon stones," stick-on stars, and spooky little aliens "light up" after a bit of time in the sun and accompany campers into their tents at day's end.


















Brielle is enamored with this busy raccoon. His habitat includes moon stones, wood chips, and carefully selected pebbles gleaned from a hike out back.












Boys envision starlit extraterrestrial vignettes. An aura of mystery inhabits their jars. What goes on here? Where does this event take place? I'm really not sure. I did ask, but the answers were as ambiguous as those pairs of unsettling red eyes!













More to come! 
*Additional info on these topics in future posts, along with details on "Ladybug Camp" for a trio of four year old little ladies that includes a very successful woodland hunt for fairies!

Here's part 2 of this series!

Previous Grandma Camp series begin here:

2015 - Part One of an 8 part series on my very first Grandma Camp, including a hunt for zombies, night hikes, and lots of (hard earned!) tips on the art of hosting your own event.

2016 - It's Magic! Part one of a 2 part series featuring kid produced magic and puppet shows.

20 comments:

  1. Your camp sounds fabulous! I can't wait to hear what you catch on your trail cam. I also worry about the 'big' kids losing interst since I have to spend so much time with the little ones. My oldest whos 11, has started spending more time at friends houses instead of mine during the week. Makes me sad but she gets tired of hanging out with so many little ones at my house so I understand.

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  2. It is just amazing how much they have all grown over the years - and how many more there are now! Sounds like everyone had a wonderful time, starting with Grandma! Glad they have come to visit. Enjoy every moment.

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  3. What fun - and such happiness that they love doing this. Your ideas are wonderful and perfect for summer camp. Our middle grandson is coming up (he lives 5 minutes away, down the hill) several times this summer and he is going to learn photography - I hope I have enough knowledge to help him. It has been a busy summer so far - first Don had surgery (successful), then a week and a half of recuperating - back to work for a week - then our son and his family came for 9 days from West Virginia - and now we are finishing out the two weeks of Don's time off with a little vacation of our own - I hope to get back to "normal" soon.

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  4. Can I be one of your 'Grands', looks like it so much fun.

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  5. There is nothing like time spent with Grandma. You are building special memories.

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  6. Clearly they are having a blast and while Brielles raccoon vignette is something I would do I cracked up at the aliens. Boys will be boys! :)

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  7. Oh my, this sounds so fun, what a terrific grandma you are! I want to come and camp with you :) I shared this post.

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  8. Grandma camp is a wonderful fun idea. I don't know anything about magic but could learn. Baking and cooking and doing fun stuff outdoors or making crafts I have that covered.

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  9. What wonderful activities!! I love that you have camp each year! 'Definitely finding some moonstones for my Grand Ones! ;-) -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  10. Cute things! What a fun idea Grandma Camp is. My oldest daughter has three little ones under seven and is starting some craft ideas of her own to entertain and keep them busy. It helps! Linking with you today from Grand Social over at Lisa's place.

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  11. Your Grandma Camp is so special. It's time well spent. Your grandchildren will be talking about your summer camps and reminiscing well into adulthood. This one sounded like a wonderful time! Teresa

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  12. I always love reading about your camp. Please share on NanaHood and when you write more about it....add that too! Big hugs! Teresa

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  13. It looks like your grandkids had a great time! Time spent with the grandkids is the best ever!!!!

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  14. Can I come to Gramma's camp too? I think I could use some tips on handling grandchildren.....and some great ideas for fun too....

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  15. Your Grandma's Camp sounds like such wonderful fun! I believe grandchildren revel in the special love and attention of grandparents, and that almost any activity that gives them attention and a sense of accomplishment is a winner. You certainly planned such nice and memorable activities and I love all your ideas!

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  16. So fun! Your really know how to host grandma camp. Always a plus when the big kids still like coming!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  17. Congrats Joyce! Your post is Featured at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. See here: http://grammysgrid.com/wednesday-aim-link-party-20/

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  18. What a wonderful photo of those two handsome boys and that beautiful girl of yours. And, it is a true tribute to your special grandma skills and their appreciation of them that camp is still a family happening. It looks and sounds like you had a blast, and what wonderful memories you'll have down the road as they get older. Maybe then you could have grandma camp, and we'll all come from far and wide and bake chocolate chip cookies and wash them down with a nice glass of fruity wine. :-)

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  19. This fantastic post is a GARDEN feature on the July You're the STAR blog hop: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2017/07/youre-star-week1-garden-july-2017.html
    Thanks
    Angie

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  20. You never fail to amaze me at your camp each year. Can't wait to see Ladybug camp!!! I'm sure that you will always come up with creative ideas for the older ones. Just think, you now have a new one to go thru all of your camps!

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