Creative Discovery Museum Day Camp

We hadn't initially planned on signing Jack up for camp this summer, especially when we looked at the options where we live. There are some amazing day camps but they all seemed to be $300+. Then a friend mentioned that they were sending their 4-year-old to a day camp at The Creative Discovery Museum and it was only $80 for the week. That seemed a lot more reasonable for a young kid.

We have been members of The Creative Discovery Museum for the last three years and I felt good about letting Jack spend some additional time there, plus he would already know one person. So we signed up, arranged to carpool, and off Jack went to his very first day camp.

Jack had a blast during the week. The only negative was really for me, with a pick-up time of noon, day camp really threw off my schedule for the week. But being a parent is at least partially about sacrifice, so I gave up my Y classes for the week (two weeks later I am paying for it, but that is another story).

Each day of camp was based on a different animal's TV show. With corresponding snacks and crafts. I think Jack was familiar with everything except Horton Hears a Who. He had a fantastic time and we would definitely consider signing him up again next year.

Day 1: Peppa Pig

This is an example of their snacks: 

ham, cheese, crackers and raisins to make a pig face

 Jack and his buddy show off their craft: pig snouts.

Day 2: Daniel Tiger

They made slime as a craft. Jack loved the slime he got to bring home. 

It was great fun until he stuck it in his hair...

 Silly tiger face.

Day 3: Pete the Cat

 Getting to check out the corn snake.

 Two little police men.

 Dressing up like a police man was Jack's favorite thing to do at camp.

 Pete the Cat craft.

 Cutting out glasses for his Pete the Cat.

 Making music...

and playing with sand.

 

Day 4: Horton Hears a Who

 Jack says this was elephant toothpaste.

 More time being policemen.

 We can never leave the museum without stopping to make bubbles.

Day 5: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

 Craft time.

 Their snacks were a sampling of food from The Very Hungry Caterpillar book.

Jack's award for the week was "Most Likely to Arrest You."

Overall, camp was a great experience. I can't believe we have a child who is old enough to attend day camp!

Lately

Not much has been going on in my neck of the woods lately. We were really busy and then we weren't. Sometimes you just need a break.

It seems that summer camps in the Chattanooga area are a big deal. A really BIG deal. I haven't been able to totally sort out my feelings on this. 

I grew up going to church camp when I was in grade school (for one week each summer to Camp Omagh in Ontario). Then as a teenager I spent many summers attending Wilderness Trek (a backpacking trip in Colorado) with my youth group. I really loved those trips. 

Now I have a toddler and there is pressure to sign up for summer camps. I just don't know. Won't he have as much fun hanging out with me at the pool or Y or whatever Daniel and I decide to do with him on the weekends? Is the summer camp thing really necessary?

Anyways, that is where my head is. I have this belief that if Daniel or I didn't need or do it as kids, then it isn't really a necessity. Just my thoughts right now. Maybe I'll eat my words and sign Jack up for gymnastics next month... who knows.

In other news, Jack got into preschool for the fall. I am really stoked about this. Somehow it makes me feel more like a grown up – I had to call the school for information, visit the school, meet the teachers, ask my questions, fill out an application and then get really excited when I got the call that we were off the waiting list. It is weird that I'm 33+ and this makes me feel like a grown up?

One of the things on my Bucket List is to drive across the country, camping and visiting National Parks. I'm a little jealous that one of the bloggers I follow is doing this with her family. Ashley Ann, her husband and 5 kids are traveling this summer and doing what I dream of doing. I am living vicariously through her blog right now...

In addition, a friend is currently visiting Yellowstone, one of my college professor's just returned from visiting the Badlands, and the parents (of a friend from my high school days) are riding a motorcycle from Arkansas to Alaska as we speak. I am very much enjoying all of their photos on Facebook (and trying not to be too jealous).

On the workout front, I have really been enjoying the boot camp, pump and Pi-Yo classes I have been going to. They give me some time to myself and some days I just need a break from Jack – it's amazing how an hour of doing something that is just for me can make my bad days better. It makes me a better mom. Working out has also helped me work through some of my feelings about my miscarriage. I was bummed, but also a bit angry about the experience. Group exercise has allowed me to work through those feelings in a way I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

Anyways, that is just a little update on me lately. Boring life, living vicariously through others and working out to get my endorphins going and make me a better person.