Pirate Camp

Tonight was Family Night at the Y Outdoor Center where Joe has been attending Pirate Camp. Due to our car situation, only 2 of the kids were able to go with Mike and me. Joe showed us several of the activities that he has been doing this week. One of his favorite games was called Gaga Ball. The players (up to 20) all stand inside a circle which is about 18 feet across. The players hit the ball with their hands and try to make contact with another player. Joe described it as "soccer with hands." The player who is touched with the ball is out of the game. Mike, Madelyn, Steve and Joe played several rounds. I'm considering letting the boys make Gaga Ball court out of scrap wood for use in our backyard.


After the Gaga Ball, we headed off to the Mine Tube. The Mine Tube is a drainage pipe (it doesn't drain anything) that is buried underground from the top of a hill to the bottom. The kids ride down the tube on sleds. Joe liked the novelty of "sledding" when the temperatures have been in the high 90's all week. There was a huge line to use the Mine Tube, so the kids only did it once before heading to the archery range.


Joe's archery skills have improved quite a bit this week. I'm going to let the kids shoot in our backyard next week when the weather cools down again. Our yard has privacy fencing and the target will be placed in front of the garage. I just need to remember to wait another week or two before replacing the window I took out last year.

Joe has enjoyed camp, but has been disappointed in how unkind some of the kids are to the other children. Joe's my quietest child and tends to do activities that the other children are also attending. This has been a great experience for him to stretch himself outside of his comfort zone. His confidence has grown through this experience. An unexpected benefit of this week is that Stephen missed Joe a great deal. Steve is a social butterfly who children flock to be around. There are currently no boys in our neighborhood in Steve's age range. He now has a greater appreciation of Joe.