My Jellyfish, Jellyfish, Jellyfish-fish

Oh, this is also my 200th blog post! And how fitting that it gets to be about something I have come to love so very much- Camp Hobe!

First off, I have no pictures from camp! I was too busy having fun and whatnot to take any shots. Also, there are confidentiality rules and stuff the counselors agree to about not putting pictures of the kids on Facebook, blogs, etc. because of the sensitive nature of the camp. So, sorry for no pictures!

For the past 3 summers, I have taken a week off work to volunteer at Camp Hobe, a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. The patient in each family has been treated at Primary Children's. It is a week full of fun and games and swimming and tie-dyeing and arts and crafts and hiking and all good things! This year definitely did not disappoint.

I had a bit of a time adjusting this year because for the first time, I was not in a cabin with kids! I was a cabin counselor supervisor this year, so I stayed in the lodge with the "grownups". It was great though because I got to know a whole bunch of kids pretty well.

This year's theme was Game Shows, so every day, there was something a little different- Are you Smarter than a Camp Counselor, Cabin Feud, Hobe of Fortune, Double Dare (more on that later). Every year is something new and fun!

Highlights:

-I got in an epic water fight with a bunch of 9-11 year old boys. I have never been that wet, fully clothed, in my entire life! It was so awesome- it even came with a whipped cream hug, courtesy of one of the other counselors. There was strategy, water balloons, switching alliances, all mafia like things involved. It was a grand time and really bonded me with the boys.

-Double Dare as only Hobe can do it up! The kids had to pop whipped cream balloons on someone else's head, dig through a pool of jello to find a flag, crawl through a tube filled with pudding, shoot an alka seltzer with a tiny water gun, and fill a cup with chocolate sauce (which they had to be "fed" and then spit into the cup).

-This year, we had a zip line and giant swing for the first time! It was great to see so many kids (and grownups) overcome fears and go for it. Of the 105 kids at camp, 103 went on the zip line. I got a pinky swear out of N*, the one girl who didn't want to go, that she'll go next year! She got so close- I khttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnow she'll do it next year.

-Just like last year, a couple of girls talked one of the manly-men counselors into painting their nails. His comment about it was "How hard can it be? I've painted houses- the technique can't be that different". Sadly, he does better than I do.

-Getting asked to come read bedtime stories. The senior staff reads at night to all of the cabins, we usually just take turns. It made my heart happy when the cabin of 12 year old girls came and asked me to come to their cabin. I owe them a story next year about a girl with violet eyes who can see the future (their subject idea, not mine).

-The blankets! The Joyful Foundation is a foundation in Southern California who somehow came into contact with Hobe, I think through one of the other counselors. They oh, so, generously donated enough fleece blankets so that each of the campers could take one home! And then my heart was so happy when I got back to my cabin and there was one for me! I had the opportunity to meet the people who run the foundation- they are so great and generous and kind. It is so good to know there are people like that in the world!

-Making new friends and strengthening existing friendships is of course, the most incredible thing about camp each year! I get to work with such amazing people. Laughing until your sides hurt is a must each year and this year did not disappoint.

-Oh, learning new songs! Because what camp would be complete without silly songs (Jellyfish, Jellyfish, Jellyfish-fish!)

There are so many more highlights, I wish I could go into all the detail here. I also have to add a couple of funny things...

From A*, when I was sitting with his cabin at breakfast and asked a counselor who was getting up to get me a drink: "Get it yourself lazy girl!" Alrighty then!

From N*, also at breakfast (different day, different cabin)- "Your eye makes you look kind of scary- I bet you would make a good wicked witch!" Okay- it's a good thing I have semi thick skin.

From J* when the kids were getting ready to go home, talking about Eliott, another counselor: "I bet when he gets home he we will want to take a hot shower but he can't because his wife (which Eliott doesn't have, he's 21 and barely home from a mission) will have taken all the hot water and he will get mad at her and say "Wife, why didn't you leave me any hot water?"

Camp is always fun! You should check it out and look into volunteering next year! I love it, love it, love it! I hope they let me come back next year!