Kay’s Kamp 2011

I have been at “Kamp” all week.
 
I was too chicken to stay overnight the whole week – plus, the thought of my own personal HOT shower, a big king size bed, my bar fridge and all the comforts of home;  I decided to drive back and forth instead. {Can you say spoiled?}
 
It has been the most amazing experience, in all seriousness – to spend some time with the Warren Family and some pretty amazing kids.  Kay’s Kamp was founded by Bill & Laurie Warren and their son Andrew.  It’s in memory of their daughter Kaylyn – I never met Kay – but followed her Caringbridge site when she was going through her leukemia treatments.  Sadly, Kay died in 2007, before she ever saw Kamp become a reality in 2009.  :(

Bill & Laurie Warren (and Andrew, although I didn’t get to spend too much time with Andrew – he was the lead counselor of a cabin so he was really busy all week) are an extraordinary family – and I have really enjoyed spending time with them over the course of the past few months gearing up to Kamp (They are the ones who had me do the boxing picture of my buddy Drew for Fight for the Gold.

anyway………

I had a full week – I can’t post any photos of the individual Kampers but here are some special highlights -

Kamp is held on the beautiful 2200 acre grounds of St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware (home of the Robin Williams movie “Dead Poet’s Society” –  the kids said it was like like a Harry Potter Movie -! {update…. St. Andrew’s also blogged about Kamp!}

On the first day of Kamp – the staff lined up and welcomed each individual Kamper – the Kampers had their very own welcoming committee – and their kids received their Passports for the Cruise Around the World!!

Seriously, Kamp Director – Gretchen {The Captain} and Lisa, the Executive Director of Kay’s Kamp {who is due to give birth is about 6 weeks} were really awe inspiring… the events, activities and plain fun they had prepared for the kids were so much fun!!

Kamp is free to the kids and is run by all volunteers and donations- people take a week out of their schedules to have a week FOR THE KIDS- it was pretty amazing!

I ate entirely too much food – by day 2 – my shorts were tight!!  Everything was so fresh and GOOD!!  And this is just the salad bar!!!

My job for the week “Photographer” – to document the events throughout the day and to provide material for the Newsletter…. the kids contributed to all the material of the Newsletter, they conducted interviews and wrote and distributed the information daily.

I felt the heat of a hot air balloon as the Kampers were able to ride in the tethered hot air balloon – I didn’t get in but caught some amazing pictures!! 

Made friends with a beautiful dog who lives on campus, but he wanted to come to Kamp – he was so well behaved – I would have traded him for my 2 crazies!   (Just kidding Roxy & Shelby!) I actually put my camera bag strap on him as a leash until we figured out where he was supposed to be.

I passed my swimming test to get the “Green Bracelet”; which consisted of swimming the length of this pool, down and back – THEN treading water in the deep end for 2 whole minutes.  The treading water part wasn’t hard, but the 2 laps just about did me in.  It was hard!!! {It was after lunch, so maybe that was the reason?}

Got frequent visits from some pretty cool butterflies!  {Laurie & I have our idea on the butterfly visits!!)

Help a Kamper finish off Jonathan, a counselor who swore he was an Avatar (I said more like a Smurf!)

Went to Alaska, China, Australia (missed Hawaii) … the food was inspired by the ports of call –  Check out the sushi rolls made of rice crispy treats, gummy worms in the middle – China night we had General Tso’s chicken for dinner – OMG – so good!

Had waaayyyy too many Lemon Slushies :0

{Notice the green bracelet??  Yeah, I got one of those!}

Painted pigs – and watched kids stuff their very own polar bears.  {Sort of like Build a Bear – without all the cult like boxes}

Even got to see some Sumo Wrestling while in China – (although a cute Kamper who happens to be from Chinese descent informed up that Sumo Wresting is Japanese, not Chinese) OOPS!!

It was still hilarious to watch!

II must say – this whole Kamp experience was so enlightening – it’s all about the kids – and to see so many adults drop what they are doing to give these kids a week – makes one stand up and take notice -

If you’re over 21 and would like to work at Kamp – please sign up – the kids need you!

This is the motto of Kay’s Kamp -

 

Ok – off to bed – gotta go to Kamp tomorrow!!!  There’s really so much to talk about Kamp – I’m just tired!!!

GOOOOOO Kamp!

thank you for indulging me

 

xoxo