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June 12th, 2018                
	
		
			| The first scheduled activity of the afternoon was kayaking. The 
			kids had beautiful weather for kayaking this afternoon - it wasn't 
			too hot, and the lake was nice and smooth. The kids were pretty much 
			free to paddle around wherever they wanted (within a certain section 
			of the lake). All of the kayakers grouped together a couple of times 
			to talk and they played a game or two, but it was difficult to make 
			out what they were doing from the shore. All of the kids seemed to 
			have a great time, and Marissa and Jayden ranked this activity as 
			one of their favorites. | 
		 
	 
	   
	
		
			
			Kayaking
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			Jayden's classmates listening to directions from the kayaking 
			counselors.
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			Patterson's 2018 motto: "Great things never came from comfort 
			zones."
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			Jay showing off her Strawberry Shortcake-like life preserver.
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			Jay and Marissa posing for a picture.
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			Jay posing for a picture with her paddle as her friend Allison 
			looks on.
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			Jay posing for a picture with her paddle.
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			The kids getting ready to climb in their kayaks.
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			Jay cruising out onto the lake...
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			...and working on her paddling.
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			Jay looking back to land to smile for a picture.
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			Jay and a couple of her classmates trying to avoid a collision.
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			Jay's class coming together on the water...
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			...and trying to stay together.
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			Jay paddling across the water once again.
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			| The second afternoon activity after kayaking was Living Science 
			at the Teva Nature Center (the building that Tyler and Samantha's 
			class was in, the Environmental Education Building, apparently 
			burned since I was last here). This building was located just a 
			short distance from the kayaking beach and the dining hall. While we 
			were in the Living Science classroom, the kids were able to pet or 
			hold a tiger salamander, a painted turtle, a corn snake, and a 
			skunk. Jayden thought the snake felt really weird, and she loved the 
			skunk! | 
		 
	 
	   
	
		
			
			Living Science
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			Jayden and her classmates listening to the instructor.
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			A look at Jay's class in the Teva Nature Center.
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			Jay was getting bored with the speeches...
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			...but was excited when the animals, like this tiger salamander, 
			came out.
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			Jay touching the painted turtle, which was a little bit bigger 
			than our former pet Mia.
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			Jay braved petting the corn snake...
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			...and she thought that it felt pretty weird...
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			...but I was proud of her for touching it!
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			Lord knows I wouldn't!
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			The counselor bringing out the skunk.
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			Jay petting the skunk.
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			Jay was pretty excited by this one...
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			...as she thought it was really cute!
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			This poor skunk was kept as a pet in someone's basement, and fed 
			poorly. It fell into poor health and lost it's sight as a result.
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			The entire class (parents and teachers too) was enthralled with 
			the skunk.
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			A list of the animals that the kids could see today.
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			The red tailed hawk wasn't brought out as we ran out of class 
			time, but we were able to see it in it's cage.
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			| Our last dinner at camp... Tonight we were served spaghetti and 
			meatballs, along with a vegetable medley thing, which neither Jayden 
			or I touched. The noodles were fine, though they were definitely on 
			the cold side. I didn't brave the meatballs, though I heard they 
			were undercooked. | 
		 
	 
	   
	
		
			
			Dinner at the Dining Hall
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			Spaghetti and meatballs, along with a vegetable side dish was 
			our meal for tonight.
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			| Today's final activity was the "Minute To Win It" games. This is 
			the lone event that parents are welcome to come to camp and see 
			their child participate in the activities of the evening. With Tara 
			out of town, Grandpa Gary, Grandma Terry, Samantha, and Uncle Steve 
			came to see Jayden. Although this is different than the Mock 
			Olympics that Tyler and Sam participated in, it was still held in 
			the gym, and like last time, the floor was dusty and covered in bird 
			crap. I was disappointed in the switch from the Mock Olympics to the 
			Minute To Win, as it didn't give as many kids the chance to 
			participate. Jay, for example, didn't get to compete in any of the 
			games until the final one, which everyone participated in. Though 
			the kids had a great time, it was more the chance to interact with 
			their parents that they were thankful for! | 
		 
	 
		   
 
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