WELL, HERE WE ARE - back again for another year
of crazy March Break Camp fun. This year more than
any other, our campers were subjected to the powers
of Mother Nature. And she showed the girls, when the
going gets tough, the tough GET GOING!
.
And while I don't have any pictures from the first day and a half
of camp (something I don't really WANT to remember) the girls will
tell you - we had some really messy, wet, sloppy conditions in which
to start our week long camp. It rained, it was foggy, and the winds
whipped up to 80 km an hour. From one moment to the next, we
didn't know if we were going to get wet, or if we were going to blow
away. Of course, never one to back down from a challenge, I drummed
up a way to do our preparations in our brand new barn - so when the
weather threw us a lull, we hit the bush for our dogsledding and
headed for the mud for some horseback riding. Let's just say that
my washing machine and dryer were getting a workout that first bit!
(and the girls learned quickly - take care of your gear, or pay the price!)
Finally, by Tuesday morning, we were able to enjoy a bit of sunshine,
even though it was a bit blustery - and luckily for us, the dogsledding
was a piece of cake under ALL the conditions we faced that week.
Here, our now 'expert' dogsledders hook up for a morning run.
It's not hard to imagine, the dogs are a big
hit at March Break Camp. Here, Rex shows
the true power and beauty of our Alaskans.
Our dogs are no slouches - but neither were
our campers, and they constantly hashed out
who would get which dog for what position
(always going for optimum speed, of course!)
.
At night, the girls enjoyed the fun of
camping outdoors at temps as low as
minus eighteen, through all kinds of
wierd late spring weather - and kept
comfortable throughout due to the really
solid performance of our Woods Canvas
cabin tents, complete with woodstoves.
(I was thrilled with how they stood up)
Laying in bed at night, after a giddy and
enjoyable chat about the days activities,
the girls could listen to the sounds of the
surrounding forest, outside our tent walls.
For the most part, our camp schedule
went on as usual. To warm up, we did
a few indoor crafts (yuk) but amazingly,
the girls rather enjoyed the concept. We
even did a fun presentation of our projects,
and had a good laugh. We even gave out a
prize, so the time passed quickly and once
everyone was dry and warm, we geared up
and headed back outside for some more
fresh air and to enjoy the horses & dogs.
The girls also tell me they thoroughly loved
the menu (I am the cook) and the meals
were given rave reviews. Cooking for 12 is
always a bit of a juggling act, but I love it!
Another thing the kids loved
to pass the time with was a
good old fashioned card game.
(it was fun to watch them cheat)
Here, the two youngest enjoy
go fish while warming up on the
couch. This camp is for ages
nine to sixteen - so it makes for
an interesting mix of ages/skills.
This year, there were six each from
the younger and older age brackets,
so we were able to split the tents
and 'keep the peace' as they say.
One other very interesting event at camp this year was 'Rosie', our
friends' pet donkey. She is a Mammoth donkey, and when it looked
like inclement weather might slow down the day's activities, I asked
them to bring Rosie over. It provided some real entertainment - from
grooming her, to feeding her, to watching Joe give her her very first
ride - to watching the kids moving her from paddock to barn, with one
girl pushing and the other pulling (you know the saying - Stubborn!)
it was a great brainstorm that helped the girls pass the time while
enjoying the fun things you can do on a wilderness farm.
Of course, the girls were just so happy to be out of school
and surrounded by animals! Here, Velma gets a hug from
nine year old Jeiyd. The kids took care of all the chores, from
scooping and feeding the dogs to graining their horses. It
is very important to us that the kid learn that if you are going
to expect animals to work for you, you MUST take the time to
give them good care and respect. Our animals are at the centre
of our universe, and we treat them with very high regard.
They need food, water, grooming, care, and discipline. If
the girls learned anything at camp, it was how to care for them.
It didn't take long for the girls to
work their way up from two dog
teams to a much more powerful
string. The 'small fries' (as I liked
to call them) eventually drove three
and the older girls were thrilled to
take four dog teams. And in this
years' icy conditions, that might
not seem like much, but the gang
will tell you, those trails were FAST.
The horseback riding segment of camp
was certainly more of a challenge. It was
very icy on the driveway and roads, and
our home trail system was too 'punchy'
to navigate safely on horseback. So, in
an all out effort to provide the girls with
the enjoyment of spring horseback riding,
we worked very hard! From digging out and
plowing the paddock, to constant monitoring
of the weather forecast (to decide when/how
to work the sand ring) we were able to pull
off a reasonably good riding program for the
week. For the most part, the girls were fine
with the changes to the program. Most were
good sports and seemed happy to be riding.
The sunny weather helped offset the cold,
and for sure, the horses were feeling frisky!
Of course, March Break camp has
many appealing features to kids. One
is the pure enjoyment of getting to play
outside after a long winter huddle and
enjoy the company of new friends who
share their huge love of horses and dogs.
Here, two campers spend a bit of time
playing on the monstrous snow piles
at the farm. Kids entertain themselves
with amazing imagination, especially
when they have someone to bond with.
And if we felt bored, we just made
up the silliest things to do! Here, the
girls enjoy our plastic sleigh in a new
and exciting way. Of course, with no
brake, the only way to stop these guys
was for the onlookers to tackle them.
It sure provided some huge laughs!
Paige, Rex and Skaggs got some speed!
This year more than any other, we had perfectly matched groups by size
and age. Here, our teen campers show the intense bond that developed
over the course of the week. We had just finished driving large and crazy
dogteams over what the girls dubbed the 'BAD TRAIL' - full of ruts and
bumps that could topple even the most balanced driver. So the screams
that floated through the forest must have woken up the bears, I'm sure!
Not to be outdone - the 'small fries' were very adept drivers and showed us
that you don't have to be big to be good dog drivers. Matt even took them down
that crazy trail, and they did themselves proud - not ONE of the fell off! I am sure
you can see by the looks on these faces, the dogsledding was an absolute BLAST!
Our trail system is a brilliant mixture
of straightaways, hair raising bends,
dipsy doodle hills and corners, each
nutty bend with a tree that looks scary
to even the best drivers. (of course,
they only LOOK that way - we have long
since taken out anything that is too close)
But to our new drivers, everything seems
fast and frenzied, and it gets the adrenalin
pumping. This is what makes dogsledding
such a blast - and makes it the most popular
part of our March Break Camp! And with
a focus on teaching good dog driving skills,
the campers learned all the important things
that every dog driver should know - from booting
dogs to harnessing and hooking a team - how
to corner and stop, and how to handle a steep
downhill while supporting your dogs - FUN!
Another great part of camp is enjoying the horses.
It is always
a great time of year to introduce young
riders to the art of grooming!
Because after all,
shedding means the horses like a good SCRATCH!
Our horses seems to enjoy all the attention, and
the kids were
happy to hit the barns in the morning.
A few tried both english and
western, and the focus
of our sessions in the ring was games. Soon, summer
will be here and we can return to our full
time, highly varied riding program - I can't WAIT!
Here, Asha and Tuffy navigate the trotting poles.
If anyone had a reason to complain about the
weather, it was ASHA, because she had a WHITE
horse! But as always, she was all smiles. This little
camper was alot of fun, and did an exceptional job
with her horse. She listened intently to the instruction
given, and worked on her hands and position - and
I don't think I've seen Tuffy go as well for ANY youngster.
Asha, you did a great job with her!
Our camps often get repeat campers, and here
is one with HUGE frequent flier miles. Chloe is
dog and horse CRAZY. She has been coming to
our farm now for three years, and as always,
she's a natural at dogsledding. The campers
all had a partner for the week, and they took
turns driving the team. It was fun to watch as
they hashed out who was going to get what dog.
For the most part, I let them pick teams - but
as always, I had the final say, because if it
was a morning run, when the trails were frozen
from the cold nights, things were always .....
As the week drew to a close, I sensed that
the girls were torn between sleeping in their
cozy beds at home, and the sadness of saying
goodbye to their new friends and the animals.
Many I will see again this summer - and some
will go on to different things. But for sure, I
will always remember each camp for the unique
blend of personalities and experiences.
Here, our campers enjoy a farewell bonfire
and party - with lots of snacks, tons of
laughs, and of course gooey marshmallows,
it was a great sendoff to their weeks' holiday.
And so girls, so long for another year. Hopefully
we'll see you back again for another crazy winter
camping experience. I know the dogs will be bored
this summer - and next y ear, they'll be waiting for ya!
