Here is Pinky showing off her flamingo skills as she joins her day camp group - The Pink Flamingos. I knew she wasn't ready to just be dropped off, so I had planned to help her group. It worked well, since there were two days that one of the Flamingo leaders had other commitments. This group of 4 & 5 year old girls was too cute. I loved being one of their leaders.
Abby helped the girls spray paint their bandanas. It was a clever idea, making a reverse using a contact paper cutout of a flamingo. They turned out really cute and they used the same technique, making matching pink t-shirts. 
Orienting the girls at the Flamingo campsite
I loved watching them sing so intently at the Singing Tree with Miss Julie. 
They made a creative version of S'Mores that didn't require a campfire. I think Abby called them Fuzzy Tigers. The girls placed chocolate chips in aluminum pans to melt in the sun. They they crushed up graham crackers in a ziploc. When the chocolate chips were melted, the girls put a big marshmallow on a fork, rolled it in the melted chocolate, and then the crushed graham crackers. In some ways, they tasted better than traditional S'Mores. 
I have more photos of Christina's group than my other kids, since I volunteered with her age group. The Flamingos had fun doing crafts, playing water games, doing the tire and butterfly swings, going for walks, doing scavenger hunts, listening to stories, playing with bubbles and play-dough, and doing their kapers (or jobs).
I was happy to re-learn some string games and couldn't believe how quickly it came back, after 30+ years. Abby was impressed with how fast I could still do cat's whiskers and Jacob's ladder. After one time of doing Jacob's ladder, it all came back. It's silly that this was so fun to me. But then, it's true what Malaury said to me this week after being silly with the girls, "You're kind of like a kid." I responded, "Yes. You're right. And kind of like a Mom too."
Getting soaked at water games cooled us all off! We learned that wetting your baseball hat and bandana helped stay cool too. Keeping hydrated was vital to making it through each day. The camp as a whole did great with this. 
Playing with the parachute was fun too. 
Christina always loves swinging, especially on tire swings. She's little monkey! 
Her finished flamingo bandana. I love the spray paint idea! 
Some of the girls were afraid of all the bugs we found, but Pinky was a fan. One day we found lots of caterpillars. Another day she held ladybugs tight in her hand. Most days we found ticks on her and me when we returned home for the daily tick check and shower. Daniel and KT had fewer ticks since they were mostly on the water. Christina was amazing and would take 90 minute showers most days!
These little girls (Elle, Malaury, Emma (a twin of Elle), and Pinky were so sweet. I love them! I'm going to make photo cds for them and we'll plan a reunion playdate at Chik-fil-A soon.
Pinky and Malaury were spirited and similar in their energy. This was a re-created rainforest near Arts & Crafts. They took soaker hoses and wrapped them in the trees. These two got very wet and muddy here. 
This was another clever idea for handwashing. It was like milking a cow - in the blue tights were soap and a nail brush on a string. The girls washed in the blue bins and rinsed from the red bins. No one knew washing hands could be so fun!
A Silly Flamingo pose (Madeline was also in our group - far right. The last two days, another girl named Riley joined our group) 
I gave Malaury and Christina the Mud Pie awards. Look at those socks and shoes! After 5 days, these shoes are officially camping/hiking shoes and I went to buy Pinky a few new pairs for everyday wear yesterday.
Although I loved helping out, it was a complete treat to have the house to myself yesterday. When I was home cleaning house and running errands, the Flamingos paired up with the 3rd grade Purple Penguins that befriended the little girls. Supposedly, they served the little ones their lunch and babied them. They loved it. Even today, Christina found her big girl buddy, Emma, after playing some combined games with their groups. Look how sweet they are walking together.
A little big to be carried by a 3rd grader, but they both seemed to love the mutual attention.
The singing tree was too cute, even if our girls thought it needed a mouth.
I would definitely volunteer again and maybe with this same age group next year! Katie might have the opportunity to be a program leader too. It would be fun to do it together.
When things were boring around camp today, I let the girls take pictures on my camera. The resulting photos were pretty funny. Way too many of me without makeup, hair done, and very sweaty.
Here's Pinky trying on some big shades. I love Pinky. Look at those freckles and full lips. Darling!
The butterfly swings were fun. All week I loved seeing the girl's personalities. Some were daring - wanting to go high and circling on the swings. These same girls often loved bugs and getting dirty, wet, and muddy. Other girls were more cautious, conservative, and careful about it all. One of these cautious girls was more daring and outgoing as a leader. I loved them all. It was so fun to watch them and see their uniqueness. They all had innate strengths. I love children.
This was a great week for us all at day camp. We will definitely do it again. I'm hooked!
