Day One!
Youth Odyssey’s six-day backpacking camp started on Monday, June 13th. We loaded the van around 7:45 am and started our drive to Huntsville State Park. The drive took a little over four hours, but we took stops along the way for snacks and restroom breaks so it didn’t feel too long. We arrived at our campsite around lunchtime and whipped out the ice chest to prepare sandwiches. After everyone was nice and full we started setting up our tents and unloading what we needed from the trailer.
Once the kids finished setting up their tents and packing their backpacks for the trail, they played a little baseball and got to know each other. A little later in the day, the kids wanted to see the swimming area, so everyone got dressed in their swimsuits and we headed out for a relaxing swim. We spent about an hour there and the kids had a blast jumping off the dock and playing in the water. If you stood too long in the same position, tiny fish would nibble on you every once in a while.
After swimming, we came back to camp, showered up, and got ready for dinner. For dinner we made hamburgers and after the kids ate they worked on starting a campfire. They did an awesome job finding things in the area and working together to start the fire. After their hard work, they got to relax and enjoy roasting marshmallows on the fire they built. After some delicious ‘smores it was time for bed. The campers retreated to their tents for a good sleep in preparation for the hike the next day.
Day Two
Everyone woke up bright and early in excitement for the first day of hiking. We had breakfast and prepared our lunches for the trail. Next, we loaded into the van and drove to our drop-off site. We were dropped off at the trailhead and the kids took a picture carrying their backpacks and we started walking. Although seven miles of walking didn’t seem that hard, it was a bit of a struggle while carrying a heavy backpack.
Backpacking was new to almost all the kids and they didn’t anticipate how hard it was going to be, let alone a six-day backpacking camp. After a few miles and a few short breaks in between, we stopped for lunch. We spent exactly thirty minutes eating lunch and relaxing before heading back on the trail. Shortly after lunch, we saw a small water snake nearby. We observed the snake from a safe distance and continued on the trail. The rest of the trail was a challenge, but the kids pushed through. Once the kids were aware we were getting to the endpoint of our first day of hiking, they took off and finished the last mile strong.
We finally arrived at our next campsite and started to set up our tents. After setting up camp, we began making dinner for the hungry campers. The kids ate their food, relaxed, and finally called it a night after their long day of hiking.
Day Three
We started our second day on the trail with a light breakfast. After the kids packed up all of their gear, we headed onto the sand trail. After hiking through the sand for about half a mile, we reached a dirt road and hiked on that until reaching a trailhead at the end of the road. We entered the forested section of the trail and hiked through the forest for several miles. Every mile we would take a short break for water and rest.
As the trail continued we began hiking on the water and could see a lake through the trees beside us. We hiked along a creek bed until reaching a fork in the trail. We continued straight on the trail until the trail disappeared, it was then that we realized we had gotten off trail and had to backtrack to find the correct trail. Once back on the trail we had to cross over the creek bed by walking across a log bridge. We continued on the trail until reaching our destination at Stubblefield. The kids then took a long break and ate their lunches. The kids knew what to expect and did extremely well on the second day of hiking.
Once lunch was over we began setting up our camp and sleeping arrangements for the night. After camp was set up, everyone showered and the kids started playing cards. We taught them how to play spades and after that, they played go fish until dinner. We made pasta for dinner and everyone ate. After that it was bedtime and everyone got in their tents to sleep.
Day Four
On the third hiking day, we woke up and had bagels for breakfast. After bagels, we packed up and headed out of Stubblefield. We walked along the road and crossed a bridge before finding the trailhead. We entered the trail and hiked along a pond for a while. Once past the pond, we continued straight, having to maneuver over big logs fallen along the trail. As we continued down the trail, we strayed off of it due to improper trail marking.
Once backtracking and finding the proper trail, we continued hiking until we crossed our first road. Across the road, we continued on the trail through the forest. As we continued on the trail we eventually encountered a second road, we crossed that cautiously and picked up the trail on the other side. As we hiked on the trail, we eventually encountered a barbed wire fence and walked alongside it until encountering a horse ranch. Past the ranch, we came out at the end of the trail and hiked along the road until reaching our pickup location. When the van arrived we loaded up all of our equipment and drove back to Huntsville State Park.
Back at the park, we unpacked the van and showered, then went swimming in the lake. After swimming everyone set up their tents and we made potato soup for dinner. We hung out and relaxed at camp for the rest of the evening. The kids enjoyed playing baseball and go fish with cards, and after several more hands of cards, it was bedtime.
Day Five
The fifth day of the trip was our rest day before returning home. The kids woke up, had breakfast, and played card games and other activities. We walked a short 1.5-mile trail in the park, then took a trip to the swimming area and played in the water for about an hour. After swimming, we returned to camp and the kids took showers and continued to play at camp.
We took the kids to the nature center to learn about the wildlife in the park, and the kids got to pet baby alligators. The park ranger said a storm was heading our way, so we went back to camp and put our rain covers on the tents, and packed up camp. It never rained, so we took a drive to the playground and hung out there for a while. We went by the lake’s edge and spotted a turtle and two alligators. After our little adventure, we returned to camp and prepared for bed.
The Final Day
On the sixth and final day we got up bright and early and made breakfast. We were on the road by 7 and our first stop was at Bucees. The kids got to do a little shopping and use the restroom before returning to the van. After Bucees, we got back on the road and arrived at the office around noon. We gave the kids their camp shirts, and they all said goodbye to their newfound friends and went home.
Written by Lauren Sahadi
