Canyon Camp Week for Non-Campers

 Patrick and Mike headed out to northwestern Illinois to spend the week at Canyon Camp.  We at home had to do something to pass the time!

 Mary figured out how to pedal her tricycle.

Cecilia was chosen to help the magician at the summer reading program.  You could feel the eye rolls from the back of the room.

George got bored at Becca's softball game so I took his picture.

We made the almost 3 hour trip (with 4 kids in the Hyundai Elantra!) up to Canyon to see them.  We stopped at Union Dairy in Freeport.

Union Dairy is right next to a park that was the location of Freeport's Lincoln-Douglas Debates.  Being me, we had to look around and George had to be George.

Despite the rain, Mike and Pat showed us around the camp.   Mary enjoyed the iguana.

 Here we are waiting to watch Pat climb.

Because of the weather, they decided to have the campfire inside.  There was some wait time so I took some more pictures.

Those crazy Hatton chics!

I have been to many BSA campfires (thanks Dan!) but this was the first time I could really see what was going on.

 Then they had the Order of the Arrow tap out.  I knew ahead of time that Patrick had been elected.  Here is Mike telling the dancers who to grab.

Big hug or just trying to communicate?  Who's to say.

 This is the group Patrick was part of.

 

 

 All the elected being taken away for their ordeal.  Only Patrick had to wait and do it in council.

We went back to a clean, dry hotel room where a warm breakfast awaited us the next morning.   To get the kids excited about the trip, I may have execrated how wonderful hotel breakfast can be.

There are tons more pictures from camp but I wasn't there so ask Mike.  I really do try to keep this blog up to date but 5 kids and a slow processor make it difficult.