[This is the last full day of camp . . . and there’s a jillion things on the agenda (meaning this will be a sizeable posting). It begins early in the morning with the lake swim. Those who have the adventure gene are pontooned to the far side of the lake where they are dropped off for the mile-long swim back to camp. Here Cindy and David await the arrival of a grandson, who finished third.]
[Checking for floating heads in the distance with their kayaking overseers.]
[Here comes the 2nd-place finisher. I missed “the winner” because he’s a college-age swimmer who finished with a ridiculous time.]
[You can make it!]
[Every year I say I’m going to do it, figuring I could float on my back and make it in less than three days . . .]
[But then I come to my senses.]
[Beth attempts paddleboarding . . .]
[And Chris joins her . . .]
[Beth was pretty steady from the beginning . . . must be the San Diego in her.]
[Bon voyage!]
[Meanwhile, back at the eating area.]
[Long-time campers, Will . . .]
[And Sam (who with youngest brother Ollie) wear shirts befitting their reputations! 😉 ]
Every day at camp begins this way right after breakfast. Since this was the last day attendance was way down from what it was at the beginning of the week. 😉 Nevertheless, everyone should know The Birdie Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEV7vlNO5K8
[Tom and his group prepare for their caving expedition. Many of the girls were absent from this photo. Tom told them if they were worried about “damaging” their shirts they should put them on inside-out. That was best done back in their cabins.]
[Biddy 1 stakes out her territory as the waterfront games are about to begin!]
[Attendance is good . . .]
[A pirate ship goes sailing by.]
[Arrgghhh!]
[Are you ready to rummmmbbbllllle?]
[We’re just watching while the little kids play.]
[We’re wet and having fun!]
[The big kids get ready to play.]
[Tom has oversight here.]
[The Biddies, flush from all the excitement, go in for a cool down.]
[Let’s do it!]
[The top secret planning session.]
[The crowd gathers around the ropes . . .]
[OK, here’s the two teams for the relay race. The supervisor feigns indifference while reading her book.]
[Are we ready?]
[Additional fans boat in.]
[Anne leads off for Tom’s team. The idea is to swim out to the raft . . .]
[Guzzle a can of Sprite as fast as you can, then swim back “handing off” to a teammate.]
[Tom does his macho man impersonation . . .]
[Arrgghhhh!]
[Arrggghhh again, as he fires down the pop can! 😉 ]
[Yay, Tom!]
[We won!]
[The crowd is overwhelmed with excitement.]
[Time for the infamous canoe challenge – campers v. staff.]
[The Biddies and the passing pontoon prepare.]
[Four people per canoe, the idea is to paddle out around the buoy and back. Except whenever the whistle blows . . .]
[Everybody has to exit the canoe, then get back in again to continue the race . . .]
[The campers canoe filled with water. They attempted to drag it the rest of the way and almost got back in the race! 😉 ]
[But staff hung on for the win.]
[OK, now what?]
[The Miller family, long-time campers, sail by.]
[The final event of the water carnival – water polo using a greased watermelon.]
[There goes the opening “toss” and the mad scramble is on!]
[Tom enjoys the activity from the dock . . . the safest place to be during the mayhem.]
[Where’d it go?]
[I got it!]
[The defense hangs back.]
[The girls mixed it up pretty good too!]
[An opening . . .]
[Then an open field tackle . . .]
[The prize comes to the surface . . .]
[Now the girls have it . . .]
[Another attack . . .]
[GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!]
[Hoosier Hysteria!! A/k/a, the last supper!]
[Grandma and grandson. Tom was chastised by the powers that be and told to put his IU/Camp Brosius shirt on! 😉 ]
[Pre-party mingling.]
[Here come the kid groups – the Scouts, followed by the Bucks . . .]
[Go Bucks!]
[And so on . . .]
[Tom’s Voyageurs were last.]
[LET’S DANCE!]
[Now, let’s boogie!]
[The supervisor is trying to figure out the foot work.]
[Mom and Dad flaunt Purdue heritage.]
[Tom with his “kids.”]
[Now do funny face. 😉 ]
[Tom with his proud mom.]
[Why that little sneak! 😉 ]
[An old guy with a Lake Girl and a Naughty Girl!]
[We found a Sauterne in downtown Elkhart Lake . . .]
[And enjoyed it very much! 🙂 ]
[Assembly for the last night’s camp fire.]
[Staff sing around a roaring fire.]
[Family photo ops abound.]
[March!]
[Fall on your back!]
[Let the story telling begin!]
[Tom sits with Karina and “Boris,” with Ed and Elke behind them.]
[Tom’s Voyageurs begin their performance.]
[Act I]
[Act II]
[Act III]
[Well, you’re getting the idea.]
[And Karina wrapped it up.]
[All exited stage left, giggling.]
[Awards for the week are distributed.]
[The waning fire marks the end of the week.]
[And Tom disappears into the crowd.]
Next up, we depart camp.
alexandriacardinals 