A camping we will go, a camping we will go, heigh-ho the derry-o...

We are studying Georgia history and geography using a field trip based approach this year among other things and somewhere along the way I had a (what-seemed-at-the-time) wonderful idea: we should go camping to get a chance to be out "there" amidst the native flora and fauna!

Sounds good, right? Well, between my husband and I our camping experience amounts to just above...NIL. We had camped once before at a private site, for one night, with about 4 other families who were avid campers. It was a good experience despite the unusually cold night temperatures for early October. So, why not go with what worked before I thought. I pitched the idea to other members of our GHGC (Georgia History and Geography Club) and they were enthusiastic. (Of course by the time our reserved weekend arrived, life and kids' sports had eliminated participation by the majority of the families.)

Did I mention we own pretty much nothing in the way of camping equipment? (No surprise there given our dearth of camping trips). Luckily between my brother the gadget-and-outdoor-guru and Poppy's godparents we were soon outfitted with all the necessities and a bunch of stuff we had no clue how to set up or use!

When the appointed Friday arrived, hurricane driven rains hit on and off and every sign seemed to say - this would be a bad day/night to set up a tent that we had never used at a site we are not that familiar with while being possibly barraged with thunderstorms. So, wisdom prevailed over disappointed kid faces (well, kid face - Poppy had no clue about camping and thus not really disappointed).

Happily, the rains ended that night and at 6:30am the next morning we headed to the camp site to get at least one night out of the deal. Our braver and more experienced friends did camp the night before with 6 kids in tow (including a wee babe) and they had chosen to wisely make the experience more pleasant by setting up in one of the three very nice Turkey Roosts available. They were amazing!

Cornflower and Poppy's dad had a work meeting to attend all day Saturday in a city about an hour away from the campsite, so at 8am he dropped the girls and I and all our stuff off at the pavilion and one of the tent pads at the campsite and shouted a "Good Luck" as he drove off. (Did I mention his idea of camping involves a comfortable bed and air conditioning and lots of food readily available? Any wonder we are not campers?). We'll the girls and I managed to drag some of what I thought we would need to a Turkey Roost. The roosts were nice with two levels of deck and a tin roof so why not take advantage of them? And, hey, if wiser campers that I thought it was the way to go, I listen to experience!

We were joined by a third family later that day and once everyone had gotten a bit settled and eaten some lunch, we headed to the nature center on the property. It was awesome. They take in wild animals that for one reason or another cannot survive in the wild and care for them. The kids were able to see: a bald eagle, a black bear, an osprey, hawks, several species of owls, a red fox, a gray fox, bobcats, a cougar, beavers, raccoon, possum, and others I am sure I forgot to name. Then we all went to the Wonder Room where the reptiles were exhibited. Among those displayed with educational information were: American alligators, a variety of turtles, and about 8 different venomous and non-venomous snakes.

Both Cornflower and Poppy took time to do some sketching while on the camping trip. Pictures of these will appear when I get a chance to get them scanned.

As we headed back towards camp about 4pm, there was Cornflower and Poppy's dad on the trail looking for us. Now it was time to think about a snack and more fun. As Cornflower was busy running about with the other children in search of more Eastern Box Turtles, Fence Lizards, grasshoppers, salamanders, frogs, etc. to catch and observe (Cornflower was much more into the observing than catching which was OK by me as I really was not ready for little Poppy to take up such tasks in mimicking her big sister).

Poppy's dad, revived by food, briskly took off with great enthusiasm to the nearby lake to get a life jackets and a canoe for Poppy's 1st canoe experience. Quite unsure what she was to expect, Poppy was only too willing and happy a participant. Before the canoe hit the water, Cornflower and her friend Caddie hopped on board with life jackets and they were off.

O.K. my heart was a bit disquieted as my dear girls, their dad and a friend's child pushed off wobbling into the unknown lake. (If not for the life jackets, I would have been hyperventilating!) Caddie's dad took out a second canoe loaded with three more kids and the lake races had begun.

One child had opted to not join the 2 loaded canoes but seeing the fun the others seemed to be having convinced me to help her lug another canoe out of the boat shed and take her out on the lake as well. So, now not only did I need to anxious about my girls out with their dad but feel apprehensive about how soon we were likely to dump ourselves into the lake? pond? as well.

Well, in truth we all had a grand time. The weather could not have been more pleasant nor the day more beautiful. Just as I began to feel more relaxed and able to enjoy our outing, we crossed paths with Cornflower's canoe paddled by her dad who informed me that there seemed to be a slow leak in their canoe since he most assuredly could not have splashed that much water into the bottom of the canoe by his paddling. A quick look inside his canoe confirmed his observation. Confidently he announced his plan to paddle back to the launching beach but since they were right by the opposite shore, Cornflower and Caddie decided they wanted out there! Unfortunately, they both decided to exit onto the shore at the same time. NOT A GOOD THING with a canoe.

In short order, they both plunged into thigh deep water and rose to reveal varying levels of "soaked." Poppy stood solemnly in the canoe the whole time trying to figure what all the fuss was about. Thankfully, Caddie's mom was on shore and took Poppy out of the canoe at my request. Ignoring Cornflower and Poppy's dad insistence that it was only a slow leak and no danger was imminent, I urged, begged, pestered him to get the canoe back to the launching beach as soon as possible. He paddled off heroically or comically depending on your perspective with the tail end of the canoe sinking ever lower in the water and the front end riding high much like a motorboat.

Thankfully, he made it and his misadventure barely slowed the children's fun as Cornflower got into my canoe and we continued our paddling adventures. (Word to the wise: If you haven't engaged in repetitive motion exercise with a certain muscle group in awhile, take some pain reliever before going to bed that night! Burning muscles are not a prelude to a good night's sleep!).

Poppy enjoyed the simple pleasure of mounding sand on the small beach to her heart's content with all the earnestness and focus only a 2 and a half year old can muster.

Grilled dinner and smores over a huge campfire rounded out a terrific day. The kids slept well - Cornflower in all net "Bug Tent" her Uncle R. lent to her. Everyone was sad to have the experience end on Sunday.

What a great time we had and great friends to share it with too!

p.s. Special thanks to my friend -"M" for the wonderful pictures she took and shared!