Day One!
We started our camp on Monday, August 1st. The kids arrived at the Youth Odyssey office and loaded the van to head to our first destination. We started our camp at the ropes course where the kids worked on team building and problem solving on the low elements. It was a struggle in the beginning for the campers to figure out the challenges we had for them, but they all succeeded in the end. After the completion of the low elements, we had a delicious hamburger and hotdog lunch. The campers got to play some other games after lunch before heading to the second destination for the day.
Our next stop was at the Nueces Delta Preserve, where we took an informational drive through the area. We used binoculars and other resources to identify animals and plants in the area. After a short drive we stopped at a bird watching station where we used our binoculars to identify various birds and watch their behavior. The guides were super nice and helpful in our learning experience. Once we finished bird watching we drove to an area to test the water. In a lake like environment the campers tested the water and learned how to use a cast net to catch small fish. The campers concluded that the salt levels were off the chart and that there wouldn’t be much to catch. Their conclusion was correct and they only caught four small fish before releasing them.
After the water activities our camp day was over and we loaded the van and headed back to the office. Our camp ended a little early, so we played games and trivia in the office until the campers’ guardians could pick them up.
Day Two
On Tuesday, everyone arrived at the office and we loaded up the van to head to our first stop of the day. We arrived at the Keepers of the Garden where the campers took a tour of the beautiful garden and learned about some interesting plants. After the tour, the campers got to plant some fruits and vegetables to take home and donate to the garden to plant later. They had a blast planting and tasting some different vegetables, fruits, and leaves at the garden.
After our tour and activities we headed back to the office for a nice lunch in the air conditioning. We relaxed and played games in the office for a little while before heading to our second activity of the day. To end the day, we had a fun yoga session. We did some stretches and poses and even learned how to do a headstand. Yoga taught the campers how to properly meditate and use affirmations in their meditation. The whole experience was super relaxing and fun for the facilitators and campers alike. After yoga, we took the campers to sonic for a nice reward after their workout. We then headed back to the office and played a few games until their guardians picked them up.
Day Three
Wednesday was the campers favorite day. We started our day a little earlier than usual to make it to horseback riding on time in Refugio, Texas. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the instructors and the campers were given eggs to draw on for an upcoming activity. The campers were walked out into the arena where they discussed how to properly address the horse in a way that’s safe for themselves and the horse. They each got their own horse and started slowly riding them. As they got more comfortable, the campers rode a little faster and played games on the horses. The eggs they initially drew on were used in a game that involved balancing an egg on a spoon as they raced each other.
After a fun day of riding and games, our horseback riding experience ended with an awesome show put on by the instructors. We loaded up the van and headed back to the office for lunch. After lunch, we left for the farmer’s market to help set up booths and help various stations. The campers had a blast helping out and shopping at the farmers market. A few campers helped a vegan and gluten free baked goods booth and they even sold out by the end of the day. The campers were picked up by their guardians at the farmers market.
Day Four
Thursday was a super fun water day. Once the campers arrived at the office, we headed to Little Bay in Rockport where we started our morning with fishing. We taught the campers how to bait a hook and cast. Unfortunately, it was super windy so we didn’t catch anything. After fishing, we played volleyball on the beach and swam in the water. The campers were hungry so we had an early lunch. We were swarmed by seagulls and since it was so windy, our food would fly every once in a while and the birds would go crazy.
After lunch, the campers wanted to go to a new beach so we packed up and headed to north beach where we played sand volleyball with a net. The sand was so hot we had to wear shoes to avoid burning our feet. The wind also made our volleyball attempt comical due to the ball flying everywhere. We finished our beach trip with a quick swim and relaxed in the shade for a little while. Afterwards, we had our final sonic trip of the camp and rewarded the campers with a cold slushie after a long, hot beach day. We arrived back at the office and played our usual games before their guardians picked them up.
Day Five
We started our Friday morning at the Food Bank where we sorted various things and helped organize the goods. It felt good helping an organization like the Food Bank. When the campers reported back from their sorting jobs, they said they accidentally dropped some coke cans and got sprayed. Although the Food Bank was more work than play, the campers made it fun. After our time volunteering, we walked to the building next door for a cooking demo.
The instructors had each camper make their own dish. The facility was extremely nice and everyone was super nice and helpful. The campers made a salad with fresh dressing, chickpea pasta, stuffed bell peppers, quesadillas, and a peach dessert. They learned how to make easy, healthy recipes that tasted delicious. The campers had a fun time making and eating their creations. After our cooking demo, we headed back to the office for cupcakes. At the office, we had our program director teach the campers how to knit and one of our campers taught everyone how to crochet. We then played various games and ended the day with an ice cream party. Everyone said their goodbyes and went home.
Written by Lauren Sahadi
