Camp Pop-Pop
This enjoyable summer has unofficially ended with my grandkids going back to school. I spent a fair amount of time entertaining three of my four little grandkids (8,7,5) in the great outdoors. The fourth just turned three so she’s fair game now, too.
I think it’s a toss up as to the most fun place we played, and lessons learned. On one hand was a nearby state park with its playground that was just right with swings and sliding boards and smuggled snacks of chocolate milk and cookies. On the other hand was the big maze playground a few miles away.
The best days there at the park were when we also hiked through the woods, over little bridges atop streams, over planks through the muddy area, down the hill to the big creek.
Water and throwing stones (skipping) and rocks (kerplunk) goes naturally with little kids. Freshwater clams, tadpoles, deer, poison ivy, ticks and even a snake kept them interested if not alert.
Then there was the fun day on the trail when one brave little camper decided to run, run way ahead despite my calling. Soon came the piercing scream and crying from her. Oh, really?
The rest of us walked our normal hiking pace, listening to the bawling ahead until we reached, and comforted her. She had tripped, and did a face plant, injuring her pride. Most likely, there were no longer deer within five miles after all that wailing.
Other hikes included the eight-year old quickly holding a dead cicada in her hand. Not a big deal until I reflected that not too long ago, it would have been tearfully unthinkable.
Probably the major fun moment was when #1 grandson had “to go real bad” and the restrooms were locked. Behind a tree he went as directed, coming of age. Why did the girls want to watch? Then one of them wanted to go behind a tree, too. Someday, because that’s what hikers do.
Another favorite was the Castle Playground complete with a three-story maze building to climb inside, and hide and play tag. Then came the two story twisting tunnel slide to get down, for the brave. No big deal for our campers.
Fortunately, the maze is adult size for the most part (not the slide) so I chased them until I caught them. Screams allowed. I was one of the few adults partaking of this fun so some other children joined in being chased, too.
Naturally, water and little kids are instant fun so I attached the sprinkler to the hose for hours of soaked play for another camp activity. How quickly they learned that crimping the hose stops the water. They learned to quickly release it when the brother or sister is looking into the sprinkler, or when they had the sprinkler in their pants. Yikes!
I always knew I struck gold when mommy or daddy told me not to do that anymore. Eureka!
Camp Pop-Pop will have only occasional sessions now because of school stuff. I’ll keep myself busy doing some evil plotting, and trekking with my beagle.
