Day two is fast. One second, you’re rolling out of bed because you need to help prep breakfast in ten minutes, and next thing you know, you’re saying goodnight. It was another day packed with fun, but today seemed like more. Now we know these kids. And the more you learn about them, the better the days get.
Tuesday was packed with activities that I think can be summed up in one word: memories. Teams were announced this morning, and each boy received a uniform that included a hat and socks in his team’s red or blue. As soon as we arrived at the field, the campers started through rotations of practice, pictures, and painting. It seemed to be batting day as the boys took part in numerous hitting drills. Each kid got his picture taken with his coach, the camp grandparents, and other staff. The boys will take home a photo album of these and other pictures of themselves throughout the week.
One of my favorite things that happened today was something that has become a camp tradition: the fence. Each boy gets to put his hand print in his team color and his name on a board that he later adds to the home run fence. The fence becomes a permanent record of that child’s week here.
Animals were a big part of today’s activities. For our pregame pep talk, a police officer and his dog Thor came and talked about their job at the K-9 unit. I’m pretty sure seeing one of the coaches wear a bite sleeve and each kid getting to throw a ball to a special forces canine is something the boys will remember for the rest of their lives. After a quick red versus blue game, some pitching instruction, team meeting, and dinner, some more special guests arrived: a black lab puppy and four baby kittens. The campers were ecstatic to include this dog in their games of football, and some were even more thrilled about the cats. Holding a baby animal for the first time was a special moment for many.
Camp is great, but I’m beginning to realize that it goes by pretty quickly. The days seem long until suddenly they’re over, and I’m sure the week will be the same way. No need to worry though; the memories made here will last forever. Whether it’s experiencing something for the first time, like cradling six week old kittens, or doing something more everyday, like playing ladderball with some new friends, these kids will have enough stories to look back on for years. They’ll remember them even without their photos, and I’m pretty sure we’ll remember them even without their fence posts.
