In one month we head back to the east coast to volunteer at Camp Sunshine again and this time to spend a few days in New York City beforehand. It’s been an exciting year full of college plans and senior year activities. We’ve spent most of our time as a troop making money to pay for this trip but we’ve had a lot of fun together too. We ran a Day on the Bay boating day at Crown Cove Aquatic Center, led a Songfest for the service unit, we ran an encampment at Whispering Oaks where Juliette Low met and talked with the girls.  We went caroling, hosted Thinking Day, ran a council-wide Sunset Celebration to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts. We took 50 girls to Joshua Tree National Park for rock climbing and horseback riding and organized another encampment at a local regional park called Sweetwater Summit. In May the girls went to prom and learned to make boutonnieres and now it’s time for graduation.  Haley earned her Gold Award; we’ll celebrate with her and then we’ll fly to New York at the end of June.

Friday  It’s hard to switch gears and to set our sights back on going home but I’m sure the girls are ready. We woke up at 7am and ate breakfast at 8 and loaded into the Camp Sunshine van. Gave lots of kids and parents and volunteers hugs and hit the road at 9am. Bobby drove us to the Portland bus stop through the back roads of rural Maine. It was beautiful and green with lots of water! We went through an old covered bridge and past St. Joseph’s College on Lake Sebago. It was a lovely drive. 

In Portland we boarded the bus at 10:15 and watched On Golden Pond. We arrived in Boston and met Carol at South Station at 12:45. She found a parking place close to the stop and we loaded our pillows and towels into her car then went back in and took the T to Haymarket and Carol drove over to meet us for lunch. Haymarket was in full swing so the girls got to see the finest Farmer’s Market in Boston. They parked their bags and I gave them $20 each to get lunch at Quincy Market and to get a sandwich for the plane. Some opted to buy something in Houston on the way. I enjoyed a cup of Lobster Bisque with Carol and told her all about camp. 

Before we knew it it was time to head to the airport. We hugged Haley and Carol and Carol stayed with Haley to wait for her friend to come meet her from Boston College. We rolled our bags to the Aquarium T and rode to the airport. 

Now we’re through security and waiting to board. We’ll see Tracy, Kerry and Marissa in Boston at around 10:45. We can text you when we land so you can wait at the cell phone lot and meet us at the curb. We’ll see the rest of you at Casillas at 11:30 or so! 

It’s been a wonderful adventure!

Thursday I can’t believe that our week is almost over! Today is the last full day. Tonight is the big Celebration with the wishing boats. On one hand I feel like this has been a really long 10 days, we’ve packed so much into each day and each day has been so terrific, on the other hand the time has flown by.

This morning we had pajama breakfast and it went for an hour and a half. The kids were zonked after the late night last night and this lets them all sleep in this morning. Do you like hearing the menu? We had scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, waffles with ice cream, tater tots, oatmeal, yogurt, fresh fruit, bagels and sticky buns! 

After breakfast there is a 3 hour “Family Time” when the waterfront, activity center and climbing wall will be open. We’re going to prep for our afternoon arts and crafts classes.  We’ll finish up any sponsor letters, put candles on the wishing boats and make autograph books and maybe another camp sunshine memento like a refrigerator magnet made out of a tongue depressor or a yarn doll. Not all classes will be coming this afternoon and most have split the hour with a celebration performance rehearsal.

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Wednesday Today was clear, warm and beautiful. We had omelets and sausage and croissants for breakfast, with yogurt, fresh fruit and an assortment of sticky buns. 

This afternoon is “Family Time” so we have 3 classes in the morning and then girls who are counselors have a few hours off and girls who are watching the waterfront will be very busy all afternoon.  

In the Arts and Crafts room the 3 morning classes worked on their wishing boats. They are amazing creations covered with paint, glitter, silk flowers, stickers, foam pieces, wooden spools, feathers, buttons, pipe cleaners, paper, shells….just about anything is fair game! They are as unique as the children who created them.

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