YCCC ORCKA ABCD

Family Camp - August  2009

Our family slept in a "long house" that was  recently constructed of branches, string and canvas. By popular vote we decided to walk over to the main camp and do archery first.  We  had a great time.  On our way back we got our canoes and paddled them  to our wilderness site called Bruno's.  Afterwards, we had lunch and  headed out in the canoes to learn basic skills:  forward, draw, pry,  reverse, and the J stroke.  Supper was followed by a campfire and  then everyone headed to bed.

On Friday we practiced flipping the canoes.  We had 2 canoes out at a  time and everyone else was standing on the dock.  They cheered loudly  whenever someone successfully got back into the canoe!  Everyone was  very wet and we determined that a swim was not necessary until the  afternoon.  We tried archery again and there was a sandy beach for  our afternoon swim.  We practiced turns and circles with the canoes.  At our campfire we ate lots of marshmallows and sang campfire songs.

Saturday was sunny.  We practiced our landings at the boathouse docks and we toured Lac Castor as far as Second Beach.  We enjoyed a swim  after lunch.  We practiced our canoeing skills and by mid-afternoon  those who were not staying for the D course packed up to leave.  Everyone passed levels A, B and C.  We had some amazing kids at  camp!

The rest of the afternoon was spent working on solo skills  with the D students.  The water was very calm.  We all enjoyed the informal paddling around the bay in the early morning hours and in  the evening.

Sunday was fairly quiet.  In the morning some of us went for a hike  around the bay to Turtle Rock.  After lunch we went out in the  canoes.  Several of us tested the YCCC's sea kayak and it rolls  just fine!  Later we had a swim.  Around 3 o'clock everyone packed  up.  We had a fun weekend at Gracefield Camp. We should keep the same location next year.  I hope to meet more great  YCCC families then.

Written by Janet (age 13)