It was a beautiful Friday evening in Boomer NC as 226 dads and kids start roll into Camp Harrison around 6pm. Those that had arrived after 6pm were able to take a dip in the pool that had amazing water slides until 8pm. By 8:30pm pretty much all 226 were on site and ready for the orientation meeting. We discussed the agenda and made sure waivers were signed. Our camp contact Bridgett made a few announcement related to the camp and then YHC handed out LED trinkets to all the kids. I felt like I was going to get mobbed if I did not get those things out. We tried to teach the boys the ladies first rule by allowing the girls to get theirs first. Some of the boys were none too happy with me, but hey the need to learn sometime. After that the kids ran around and played in the field, while the adults had fire pits and hung out socializing and bonding. Lights out around 10:30 or so.
Saturday morning as we opened the cabin door at 7:15ish the nice cool mountain air hit you and it was wonderful. There was a lot of discussion about wet feet and backs and lots of incoging going on during the warmorama. We broke into 4 groups led by Travolta, Jolly, Turnpike, and 9 lives who all led us on our workout that morning in an absolutely beautiful setting. We all for back together at 8:20, did ball of people and headed off to the dining hall which is right there centrally located near the cabin for our breakfast and a few more announcements. We learned about what would be open in the morning session and how to clean our plates and tables once we were done eating. YHC also deployed some Boy Scout principles about leaving no trace and leaving the camp better than we found it. After breakfast and cleaning up all the wet grass we tracked into the dining hall we headed off to change clothes, sun screen up and get the day started.
From 9:30 to 12:30 we had access to archery, bb guns, sling shots, moon bouncing, hiking, fishing, biking, batting cage, horseback riding, climbing walls, zip lines, slides to nowhere, and a ropes challenge course that was about 40 to 50 ft in the air. Lines where not that bad we had plenty of attractions to spread out the pax.
We had lunch and down time from 12:30 to 2. At lunch we heard from the newly appointed nantan of LKN (Bag Boy) about a few topics and clarifying the amount of the scholarship given to support a child that cannot afford to go to camp which was $1150. All from just signing up and going to camp made that happen. We heard from big mean about the pickle aka the basin relay, ramrod and project 10 fold, free pass about the Christmas party, and of course for olive about operation sweet tooth and all of the good it is doing in the community and all of the support that F3 and others are giving and showing.
Once our downtime was over we opened up all the water activities on the lake. Water inflatables, canoes and paddling, blob, water zip lining. Yep…right into the water! Lake Flume, and the wet Willie. There are some great stories and videos going around from all of those activities. A few that come to mind is Jolly and Mary kay launching kids off the blob, primo trying to launch me…no video but primo has a brain injury from it. Alcatraz launching everyone and anyone that was on the blob. The zip into the water was amazing until you took that last big hit and came to a screeching halt. I know I saw a few kids just running laps on the lake flume or telling their dad to do it 10 more times. Right Mr. burns!
Once the water activities were done and the old green bus had made its rounds to make sure everyone was back we headed to dinner. After dinner we had a pool party from 6:30 to 8.
At 8:30 ish we had smores and sang some repeat after me songs and had a great "summer camp" experience for those that might have never had the opportunity. YHC was not sure on this one but the dads and kids had a great time.
After smores and song you could tell the camp was winding down as this was a very full day of activities and dads and kids were whooped. Again lights out around 10:30.
Sunday morning we woke up around 7:30 ish for most. We headed to breakfast at 8 and started all the dry camp activities from Saturday morning over again. Most folks headed home around 10:30, leaving really short lines for pretty much everything.
Everyone I spoke to, dad or kid, seemed to have an outstanding experience at camp Harrison. I told the staff and director that they did an outstanding job taking care of our needs and keep everything moving and organized to make sure we had very successful camp. If you missed out on F3 LKN dads camp 2018, don't worry we are going back in Aug of 2019. I have it on the calendar with camp Harrison already. We are looking into opening up a few new items and having a movie night on Saturday.
I am always looking for feedback or suggestions on what went well and what could make better. You can leave a comment, send me a DM or email or whatever. I will say this was pretty darn close to perfect based on all the smiles on kids’ faces and dads as well.
Please comment on anything i might have missed or stories/memories that you have as well.
Signing off until we kick this off next years!
F3 LKN Dads’ camp commander:
Sweet Caroline