The Scavenger Hunt

Hello future readers,

Today, we had so much fun! We all gathered in the Rec Hall, and Kerry announced that all the cabins were going on a Scavenger Hunt. Kerry gave each cabin a bag and a list of things around the camp to find. The first cabin to come back to the Rec Hall in 1 hour with all the things on the list, wins a double portion of dessert tonight after dinner. And tonight's dessert, chocolate pudding with lotsa whipped cream! Outta site!

First we headed out to the lake because we knew we could find smooth rocks there on the sand.

Then we went into the woods behind the Dining Hall to find some of the other things on the list.

Suddenly, we saw a lizard crawling on the ground. Kim quietly walked behind it and picked it up.

The other cabins were on the lookout too for other things on the list.

Here are the Yellow Canaries:

And the Red Robins:

Later, when we got all the things on the list, we ran like crazy back to the Rec Hall. We saw the Red Robins running a little ways behind us. But we hit the door to the Rec Hall first! Dynamite! When we were all back inside and settled Kerry emptied out our bag and said that the Blue Jays won! Far out!

Ooh, dessert is gonna taste so good tonight! I can't wait!

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Arts and Crafts: Making Sit-Upons

Hello future readers!

One of the new activities Camp Echo Hill is doing this summer are backpacking trips. Kerry told us each cabin gets a turn to hike to Pine Hollow, a special spot at the edge of the campgrounds. We get to sleep in tents, have a campfire, tell ghost stories....it's gonna be outta site. Today we went to the arts and crafts cabin to make "sit-upons" . Pine Hollow is surrounded by big pine trees and doesn't get a lot of sun, so the ground is cold and damp. We'll be sitting on the ground a lot, so we need to make these "sit-upons" to sit down on, so our pants will stay dry.

Kerry says there are lots of ways to make these, but we're gonna make ours using construction paper, magazines, ribbon, duct tape and heavy duty clear plastic. Kerry says we can put anything we want on them, as long as it has to do with nature. Cheryl and I are cutting out magazine pictures and gluing them on the construction paper. Then we're gonna put magazine pages in between the construction paper to give it padding.

Melody and Kim are finishing up their sit-upons by cutting the plastic to go on the outside. Then they put duct tape all around the sides and tape on a ribbon carrying strap.

All finished! They turned out pretty good, don'tcha think?

Here's the front of Melody and Kim's sit-upons. Melody's has lots of kittens, and Kim's has a big deer.
Here's what's on the back.

Here are mine and Cheryl's.

Cheryl put horses on hers, and I put Kermit the Frog jumping in a lake. HAHA!

 And here's the back of ours. I used ribbon to put my name on it. Isn't it groovy?

All together now...TA-DA!

I can't wait for the backpacking trip.

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

The Raft Race

Hello future readers!

 Yesterday after that bad scene at the lake with Jason and Danny, we called a meeting and voted to have Robyn team up with Wendy for the big raft today. After rest period we all met by the lake. Jason and Danny were waiting for us with these big smiles on their faces. I knew what those smiles meant...they thought the couldn't lose. Anyway, Kerry talked to Wendy, Robyn, Jason and Danny and let them know that she only agreed to this race because she believes in equal rights for boys and girls and that one isn't better than the other. But she also warned them about oar smacking and using the rafts like bumper cars. This was going to be a fair race, and anyone caught cheating or horsing around would lose the race, and their activities for a whole day. (even the boys!)

The race was to go like a relay. First Wendy and Jason would paddle past the platform, around the buoy in the middle of the lake, and back to shore where they would switch with Robyn and Danny, who would do the same thing. The team that made it back to the shore first were the winners. Wendy and Jason put on their life vests and Kerry yelled "On your mark, get set, GO!" and both kids pushed their rafts off the shoreline and into the water. Wendy was in front of Jason for pretty much the whole time they were racing.Wendy may be be small, but she's strong! Was Jason ever gonna be sorry he opened his big, fat mouth!

When they got close enough to shore, Jason tried to make up some time by jumping out
of his raft and dragging it back to shore. He got his favorite sneakers all wet! By the time he made it back to shore, Robyn was already pushing her raft off. When Danny finally got in the water, he was paddling like crazy. At first he pushed ahead of Robyn.

Jason jumped up and down yelling things like "C'mon Danny! You can beat her! Show her what us guys can do!" But then suddenly Robyn paddled faster and passed Danny!

Now it was our turn to start yelling. "Go Robyn! Pour it on!" Our yelling must have worked, because Danny didn't pass Robyn again.

 Close to shore, Robyn hopped out of the raft and pulled it up on the sand. The girls team won! Far out! All the girls started yelling and jumping up and down and hugging Wendy and Robyn, especially April. I knew she was really proud of her sister.

I don't think I've ever seen the boys looking so sad. I know Jason was sad because they lost, but somehow, I think Danny was more sad because he let Jason shoot off his mouth and insult us and tried to act like a big shot because of him . A lot of us girls were friends with Danny before Jason ever knew him, and he knew it was wrong to say that boys were better than girls. After a while Danny and Jason came over to shake hands with Wendy and Robyn.

They both said that the girls did great and apologized for acting like a couple of creeps. I thought that was pretty big of them. And they both promised NEVER to say that boys were better than girls, and they would beat up anyone who ever said it!

They even apologized to the rest of us who were in on that argument yesterday. And Sunny apologized for wanting to punch Jason and Danny in the nose!

We have a movie night coming up. The boys said they were gonna ask the cook at their camp to help them with the chocolate chip cookies and bring them for all of us to share! Outta site!

So I guess we're all friends again. I wonder of kids in the future still have stupid arguments like these? You guys probably figured out a long time ago that girls are just as good as boys. But here in the 70s, even grown-ups fight about this same thing. But I'm glad we're not gonna fight about it anymore.

Until next time,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Challenge At The Lake

Hello future readers!

After our ride with Cherokee, some of us went down to the lake. Susan, Raychel and I went swimming.

Swimming is one of my favorite things about camp. The only part I don't like is walking into the lake with that slimy muck squishing in between my toes! YUCK! But it felt good to splash around and I like to watch Susan practice diving from the platform. She's a really good swimmer!

On the another part of the lake near the dock, Wendy had the raft out, and her sister April and Sunny were watching her, and waiting for their turn with the raft.

I was just getting out of the water to go get a drink, when I saw Danny and Jason walk over to the dock. They also had a turn to ride Cherokee, (since the boys camp doesn't have any horses, either). I decided to walk over and say hello. I didn't hear all of what they were saying, but this was the scene that was happening when I got close enough to  hear.

JASON: "Hey April, your sister handles a raft pretty good...for a girl."
DANNY: "Yeah, she's not bad."

SUNNY: "What do you mean, for a girl??"
APRIL: "My sister can paddle a raft just as good as any boy."
Now I'm on the scene.

JASON: "Everybody knows that boys are better, stronger and faster than girls."
ME: "You're just copying that from "The Six Million Dollar Man", Jason. (like on his t-shirt) "Girls can do anything boys can do. And you weren't pulling this "Boys Are Better" jive when you gave us that archery lesson."
APRIL: "Yeah, and I heard Cheryl even got a bullseye, just like you boys."
DANNY: "Well you gotta admit, boys are stronger than girls."
SUNNY: "I don't have to admit anything, Danny Campbell. And I think I better leave now before I'm tempted to show you how strong girls really are, and punch you both right in the nose!"
Wow, I don't think I've ever seen Sunny so mad! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Danny never acted this way before. I wonder if Jason has been brainwashing him?
DANNY: "Man, she didn't have to get so steamed."
JASON: "Yeah, we weren't trying to make anybody mad. All we did was tell the truth."
Just then Wendy walked up to us, and she heard enough to know what was going on.

WENDY: "Sunny has every right to get mad at you two turkeys! That was a really rotten thing to say! Who told you that boys were better than girls, anyway?"
JASON: "No one had to tell us, it's just a fact, that's all."
APRIL: "I suppose you think you can handle a raft better than Wendy, huh guys?"
DANNY:  "Are you kidding? No contest."
WENDY: "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?"
JASON: "Now what's that supposed to mean?"
WENDY: "It means I challenge you chumps to a raft race."

ME: "Right on, Wendy!"
JASON: (laughing) "You gonna take us both on all by yourself?"
WENDY: "Don't be dumb, I'll ask one of the other girls to race with me."
DANNY: "I don't think it would be fair to embarrass you girls like that."
APRIL: "Sounds to me like they're chicken, Wendy."
JASON: "Who's chicken? We'll beat you girls anywhere, anytime, right Danny?"
DANNY: "Right Jason."
WENDY: "OK, you're on! Tomorrow right after free time."
JASON: "We'll be here."
ME: "What are the stakes?"
WENDY: "If we win, you boys have to bake cookies for all the girls in Camp Echo Hill."
JASON: And if we win, you have to bake cookies for all the guys at Camp Wilderness."
DANNY: "Its a bet!"
ME & APRIL: "YAY!!!"
JASON: "Get ready to warm up those ovens, girls, us guys get pretty hungry. Oh...and we like chocolate chip!"

WENDY: "Yeah? Well, we like double chocolate chips, with lots of milk!"

The boys walked off laughing. Was this for real? Danny's hung around us girls for so long, he knows better than to sound off like that. I think he was afraid of looking like a sissy in front of Jason. Well they both needed to be taught a lesson, and Wendy was just the one to do it. She's usually pretty quiet and sweet, but if you say the wrong thing to her, or hurt any of her friends, look out! She'll jump all over your with both feet. We had to call an emergency meeting at the rec hall. Now we needed to tell Kerry about this and see who was gonna help Wendy in the race.

I can't wait to find out what's gonna happen tomorrow!

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman

Horseback riding

Hello future readers!

Yesterday in the rec hall, there was a sign-up sheet for horseback riding! Since there is only 1 horse, it would be first come, first serve in groups of 4. I actually made it into the first group, along with Lisa, Jennifer and Stephanie! Far out! I was so excited!

So this morning after breakfast, Kerry said she'd go get the horse and bring him back to the campground in a trailer. (She's old enough to drive!) You see, the horse doesn't belong to the camp. Kerry told us he belongs to a dude ranch further up the mountain. He's kind of an old horse, and he's really not as fast as the other horses on the ranch, so the ranch owner, Mr. Gage rents him out to camps and schools for pony pictures, carnivals and stuff like that. He didn't really like galloping; the most he could do was trot. That was OK with me. The only horses I've ever been on were the pony rides at the zoo and state fair by my uncle's house. I'm not sure how much riding the others have done, but since there are no stables in Springfield it couldn't have been much. Well, Kerry asked us to wear jeans and sneakers and meet her on the far side of the hiking trail, so she could bring the horse to us.

Suddenly Lisa yells, "Here comes Kerry!" We could see her coming towards us, walking the horse down the trail.

I asked her why she didn't just ride him. She told me she didn't want to tire him out because some of the other girls had signed up to ride him, too. Kerry told us his name was Cherokee, and he was a quarter horse. He was really big and so beautiful; chocolate brown with white feet and a white blaze down the front of his face. He reminded me of the pony "Blaze" in the "Billy and Blaze" books my mom reads to me sometimes. Kerry said he was really friendly, and that we should each pet him and talk nicely to him before our turns so he would get to know us and trust us. Lisa was first.

Kerry helped her into the saddle. She explained that when we wanted to made Cherokee walk, we should make a kissy sound, (like you're calling your dog), and say "Come on Cherokee". If we wanted to make him trot, we should make the same kissy noise and say "Giddy up Cherokee." If we wanted to stop, we should pull back gently on the reins and say "Whoa there, Cherokee." So Lisa started off. Kerry was right, Cherokee was really friendly and did what he was told.

It was my turn next. I walked up to him, rubbed his blaze, and said, "How you doing, Cherokee? My name is Julie. You're such a pretty horse." He actually winnied and nodded his head a little! Wow! What a smart horse!

 Kerry helped me climb into the saddle. Was it ever high!  I stroked his mane, made the kissy noise and said "Come on Cherokee." Slowly Cherokee walked down the trail.I kissed the top of his head, and made the kissy noise again. "Giddy up, Cherokee." I made him turn where Kerry marked the tree with a ribbon and we trotted back.

When I wanted him to stop, I pulled gently on the reins. "Whoa there, Cherokee." All too soon, my turn was over.

I didn't ever want to get off! Before I climbed down, I gave a kiss on his ear and told him I loved him. I don't know if he understood me or not, but my mom says even if animals can't understand all the words, they know the meaning behind them. I think Cherokee knew. Stephanie's turn was next.

Stephanie and Lisa felt the same way I did. Cherokee was a such a sweet horse. Jennifer took her turn.

She gave Cherokee a big hug!

After Jennifer had her turn, Kerry suggested we take a group picture with Cherokee. What a great idea!  Jennifer stayed in the saddle while the rest of us gathered around the horse.

Kerry promised to give us all copies when she got them developed. I hope people still ride horses in the future. They're really groovy animals. I'm so glad I got the chance to ride one. Maybe when I grow up, I'll have a horse of my own. Until then, I think I'll ask my mom if we can visit Cherokee some time. That would be outta site! I hope he remembers me.

Until next time future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman