The Last Moment of Camp

Sk8rz

So we took a looooong walk to the park so Boylee could spend some quality time scooting around the skateboarding area. And he did, until a bunch of teenagers showed up.

Those guys were skateboarding, scooting and biking like MANIACS all over the concrete ramps, obstacles and half-pipe. They were NUTZ and Boylee was totally, totally enthralled with all of it. The big boys were typical teens, I guess, with piercings and odd clothes. But they were all polite -- each said hi to us as they arrived. We only heard one or two curse words during their entire display, which lasted at least 30 minutes. And it was quite a show -- these guys were flipping and flying like maniacs. Like, the guy on the bike going straight up a ramp then doing a vertical 360 and landing it. None of them had helmets or pads, and though there were a few falls no serious injuries occurred.

I really felt the boyishness of the situation -- Boylee had just barely been making his own tentative exploration of the area when these kids arrived, and he sat right down in the face of their talents. But as the minutes ticked on, he got more and more inspired to join in. And when a few of them left and the area wasn't quite so crowded, he entered the concrete area, and started doing his own small attempts at tricks. That must be exactly how it starts: the little boys emulate the big boys and somehow learn these crazy tricks. My boy wore a helmet, though. Another, littler boy showed up too, with his bike, helmet and full set of pads.

And then he was done and tired. And I was freezing because that park is a crazy wind magnet. And we still had the loooong walk home. And because I didn't think we'd be out so long I had no snack, and nothing to drink. And I didn't have my wallet, so there was no stopping for a snack or a drink along the way. The round trip was about three miles and Boylee let me know just how tired he was with every step back up the Little Mesa.

Whose Fault?

Today we went to the Pt. Reyes National Seashore and took an easy, ranger-led hike along the Earthquake Trail. We dared to walk along the San Andreas Fault and learned lots of fun facts about earthquakes. We already knew that Bolinas is not on the same plate as Stinson, and here is Boylee demonstrating:


He's got one foot on the Pacific Plate and one on the North American Plate. The (left side of the pic) Pacific Plate is moving northwards and the North American Plate is basically standing still, so if he stood here long enough crazy things would happen. We also learned cool things about the different rocks and vegetation on the two plates -- for instance, the Coastal Redwoods that are so abundant in this region? They only grow on the North American Plate where the soil has certain elements they need. And there are some pine trees that only grow on the Pacific side. Verrry interesting, eh?

The hike was a little too easy and slow-paced for Boylee, but we hung in there. After about an hour we detached from the group and returned to our car for the quick ride home. But before that, he had selected two wands for us from the abundance to be found on the forest floor. And at one point when we were walking, the ranger said, "I don't think there are any Dementors out here." A Harry Potter fan! Yay!

Today it was a Canoe!

I Didn't Have My Camera!

But I just watched Boylee KAYAK ACROSS THE LAGOON!

Last year he was afraid of the kayaks and only rode in the canoes, with a counselor rowing. And he's expressed nothing but disgust for the kayaks so far this year. So imagine my surprise when I showed up at the dock and found him KAYAKING ACROSS THE LAGOON!

I really wish I had my camera.

Junior Shredder

Second Session

Today was the start of the camp's second (and final) session. Boylee had been in group 2 with younger kids, in order to be with his pal, Mark, who is seven. But since Mark's gone, Boylee was going to switch to the age-appropriate group, group 3. However, when we showed up this morning it turned out that group had about ten girls and not a single other boy. I knew Boylee would deal with it, and one of the two counselors was male, but I just made a spur of the moment decision to have him switched to an even older group. So now he's in group 4, with mostly 9-and 10-year-olds. It's still mostly girls, but there are two or three boys.

This sudden switching also meant we had to do some sudden searching for a bicycle for Boylee to use tomorrow: Group 4 is going to a state park for some biking. Luckily we found one.

CONFIDENTIAL TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Maybe for Chanukah we need a kid-sized family bike to be permanently stationed here in Bolinas. Boylee can use it now and his little cousin can use it when he gets bigger.

We Had to Go Back!

The Ever-Changing Weather

This is the weather at the house:


And this is the weather at camp headquarters, 1 mile away:

It was actually drizzling, and all the parents who had come from sunny spots (like me) were underdressed.

Post-Camp Chill-Out

Today was gorgeously sunny, but also windy. So after tidepooling, visiting a fire station and a gallery, and playing on the beach, including digging a giant hole with his best pal Mark, Boylee was cold. And a little sad -- today was Mark's last day at camp.

Harvest

We're keeping a careful watch on the blueberries.

My Little Carnivore

He's been eating a ton of red meat and begging for more!

Totally Fogged In

There's an ocean out there somewhere.

Fun Every Day

Today they went to the bird observatory, and did some art and drumming.

House of Air!

Whoever had the idea for this place was a genius!

What He's Been Doing & Next Week's Highlights

Some stuff he did this week: art; "soul soup," which was a kind of crazy freeform dancing and drumming; tennis; nature games; capture the flag.

Some stuff coming up next week: a visit to the bird observatory; drumming; art; tide pooling; newt ponds (where he fell in last year!); fire station visit; gallery visit; sandcastles; dress-up; and a visit to a creek.

Then the two weeks after that -- the second session -- Boylee's pal Mark won't be here. Boylee's only a little bummed about that, because he's having such a good time. One effect will be that Boylee will be put in his proper age group then. Right now he's in a younger group because Mark's a little bit younger. But in the older group he'll be able to do archery, which he's been dying to do.

After Camp

Boylee's friend Mark came home for a playdate with us. In the car, I heard:

Mark: "Do you think you'll ever get married?"

Boylee: "I don't know."

Mark: "I'm not going to get married, ever."

a pause, then

Boylee: "Sometimes it sneaks up on you."

How right he is!

A Dirty Boy is a Happy Boy

Can you tell that these shorts are absolutely encrusted with sand? That's how Boylee came home from camp today. Apparently traversing the lagoon was a lot more fun than last year (when it was cold and windy) so he really, really got into it. He was so dirty that when I got there to pick him up he just stripped down to his undies (also sand-encrusted) there on the dock and strolled over to the car with no self-consciousness whatsoever.

The upshot of all of this is that he LOVES camp and he LOVES his cute counselor, Audrey, and he LOVES the idea of staying for the second session. So, YAY!

Tomorrow's Camp Plan

Visiting some goats, drumming, art, and traversing the lagoon at low tide (which he hated last year).

Phew!

We got to the camp meeting place, and right away Boylee saw some counselors he recognized from last year, including his two counselors, who both gave him a big greeting. His favorite, Ellie, said, "I almost didn't recognize you with your short hair!" So that helped a lot. And then another older boy (older, meaning 8 like Boylee, rather than 7 like Boylee's friend Mark) purposely chose to be in the group with Boylee. That's a younger-skewing group, of mostly 6 and 7s, rather than the group of 8 and 9s. Anyway, it all seems like it's going to be good.

Today's activities: Beach all day, including obstacle course, grid game (?), whiffle ball, body painting (I'm sure Boylee won't do this), sandcastles and swimming (I bet Boylee won't do this either; the ocean is cold here).

I'm going to go for a walk later and Boylee made me promise to come by the beach where they'll be. Last year when I did this he basically ignored me and I hope it's the same this year.

1st Day of Camp

Okay: Boylee's totally nervous (he cried about it last night), and his one friend isn't going to be there today. Ugh. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Quote of the Morning

Papa Sid: "I am the battery king."

Boylee: "I don't deny it!"

Happy 4th!

Another Note

A Quick Note from Boylee