Rainbow Pizza: Daddy Daughter Campout

Caring. Honesty. Respect. Responsibility.

That's what it means to be a Rainbow Pizza Slice.

Julia, you have already displayed and embraced those amazing foundational crusts in your life, and your Mommy and me couldn't be more proud!

But, in order to expose you to those elements even more...and to expose you and me to the ACTUAL elements...and to have a little bit of awesome Daddy/Daughter time, you and me joined White Rock Montessori's YMCA Adventure Guide tribe, Rainbow Pizza.

You were in love with the idea of earning badges and camping and earning badges as soon as I presented the idea to you earlier in the fall.

And soon enough, our camping weekend was upon us!

It was amazing to be with you and your friends and learn all over again how brave, warm, and human you are. How you are up for any challenge. How funny you are. How fun you are. And how strong you are. I had a fantastic weekend camping with you, young lady. And I can't wait to do it again!

It was a COLD snap in late October, so you and I bundled up, packed up, I picked you up early from school, and we hit the road, heading north for Camp Classen in Oklahoma!

Our drive was peppered with sleet, and snacks, Disney music, and beautiful windmills. And before you knew it, the sun was out, there was a chill in the air, and we were at the campsite!

We unpacked and started decorating your spirit stick, which you and I cut together from a Crepe Myrtle in our front yard. It is cut exactly to your height at this very moment, so we can marvel and see how much you grow from camping trip to camping trip.  

Friends arrived, other daughters and dads from school and beyond, and the sun went down. The children took a little bit longer to unwind. But after a sweaty, hot, snorey time sleeping in a cabin with 12 other dads and daughters, the entire Rainbow Pizza tribe had assembled and were ready to face the challenge of camping activities!

ARCHERY

You and I learned the ropes and you almost hit the target.

We snuck back later in the day and this time I didn't help you at all....and you NAILED IT! Look at those targets you hit!

HIKING

We rode a bus to the trail head and headed out on a 2 and half hour hike. We went through the woods, up on some cool white rocks near an empty waterfall, over several streams, up a steep hill, through the hilltops, and back down again. You were an amazing hiker, only needed banana chips and water to give your "feet some more energy" because they were almost "out of juice!"

ROCK CLIMBING

This was a STEEP cliff. You were not intimidated. You harnessed up and started climbing and although you didn't reach the bell this time, you attacked that wall with power and grace and bravery, and I am the MOST proud of you for this activity.

 You were scared, but you kept going. You saw a challenge and you didn't quite reach your goal but...as you you can see...you didn't let it get you down. 

 ....you just chose something else to climb instead!

HORSE BACK RIDING

Ty was a funny horse, and a big horse. He wanted me to lead him like a dog, and then  he tried to push me off the trail! But you rode him like a champ...all by yourself!

CAMPSITE ANTICS

Chasing boys, boys stealing the girls' spirit sticks (and returning them), a 'wedding ceremony to plan for,' meals in the mess hall, warming up by the fire, making smores, an empty tree stump that all of you felt determined to fill with mud and water and sand... what is camping without campsite antics?

BONFIRE

All of the various tribes gathered that evening to celebrate with a big, beautiful, spirited bonfire!

That evening, all of the children and Dads fell asleep super duper easy!

And the next morning, Rainbow Pizza gathered round our morning fire to celebrate your accomplishments.

You earned bravery beads on your walking stick.

And badges...sweet, sweet badges ... for each challenge you faced with care, honesty, respect and responsibility.

What a slice of life it was, camping with you, Julia- badge-earning member of the Rainbow Pizza tribe!