Laurie's World

Well, I am back from Camp Casey and have survived yet another 5th grade Outdoor Ed program. And given the horrible weather we had…that is really something to say. Jackie also survived, but she is a kid and her survival is pretty much guaranteed (mine was not)

So here are some pictures to show you what we were up to…

Here Jackie and Taylor are on one of the lookout towers…

And Jackie up on one of the 10" disappearing cannons

Hanging out on the bunks…the girl right to Jackie’s left is Justine…one of her BFFs

And girls gotta EAT! Mess Hall B

This is Jackie on the beach looking for chittons, snails, shells and other good sea life

Jackie holding a sea cucumber as part of the marine biology lesson

As part of their Survival lesson, they were given the opportunity to eat some Stinging Nettle (which apparently once it is boiled, is harmless)

They look a little apprehensive don’t they??

Jackie has already eaten hers and survivied…so the others are ready to go for it now

Project Wild was a session about the migration of birds and how humans have changed their environment to make this more difficult for them…so the "hands on" learning was a hopscotch that got increasingly more difficult as the squares were eliminated from being used. So here is Jackie doing her thing and below is the one piece of photographic evidence that we have that shows I was at Camp Casey For the entertainment of the children (and some other counselors) I am doing the migratory hopscotch…

A buddy shot…

This is Jackie on the bus ride home…She looks rested, fresh and ready for three more days of camp!!

And Jackie and Taylor on the bus ride home…

Rachael and Jackie had their last track meet today–the Northshore Junior Olympics at Woodinville High. It was MISERABLE! Rainy windy and so COLD.

The girls were amazing and did some of their best work–Rachael got 2nd in High Jump and Jackie earned 4th in triple jump…

This is Rachael and her her Hi Jump buddy–Kendra!  Look at that rain…

Rachael and Jackie participated in the Issaquah Triathlon today…They did FANTASTIC!

Here they are getting marked with their numbers…

Here they are waiting to start the race…

This is the girls after they finished…Jackie’s chip was not working properly, so we do not know her real time…I think she finished 4 or 5 minutes after Rachael.  Rachael came in first in her age group by almost three minutes!! They "swam" 75 meters, biked 3.3 kilometers and ran 1 kilometer in this race. This is definitely the longest tri either of the girls have been in (particularly for the bike part–that is usually one mile)…so this was a definite push for both of them…the running was no problem as they both run between one and two miles routinely in their sports. And the water is too shallow to really swim in, so that part is more of a wade. Which as it happens this time was very good news since the water in Lake Samammish was very cold still…the race organizers recommended wet suits, but we do not own such a thingSo they toughed it out…

and having a little snack after…there were four grills gong, grilling up free bratwurst for the crowd!!