NRYC, the Greatest Camp on Earth...And Other Things

Just last week I went to summer camp. I stayed there from Saturday to Friday. It may have been the funnest and best experience of my life.

Two Fridays ago was the last day of school. I was getting a little emotional because I may go to Klahowya Secondary School this fall (explained here http://bookwormnthsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/well-its-official.html). I got home and got ready to go to Dosewallips State Park. We left and got there safely. It was cold and rainy, so there wasn't much to do. The next day I got up early and left with my mom to another C.I.T.'s (Counselor In Training) house to get a ride the rest of the way to camp. I got there, and was doing some team strength building with the other C.I.T.'s and counselors on the Challenge Course, and course that builds a team to work together better. The next day we worked hard to get ready for the campers. We made signs, fixed up the auditorium, and steeled ourselves for the ferocity of the campers, and more importantly, their parents. It went fine, the parents trusted us (I think), and we bonded well with the kids...at first...

I have to be honest. The first night was terrible! Some of these kids come from a place where they don't want to give anybody that's higher up then them respect. So that first night, they just wouldn't shut up! I finally just had to ignore them and get some sleep. The next day was when we had the Challenge Course with each color group. I was in the Yellow Daffodil Princesses group. By the end of the day, we definitely were working together very well. Without help from the counselors or C.I.T's. That night was probably the best night to sleep because every camper was tired. Thank goodness :). Tuesday was the beginning of the natural resources learning sites. One in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Same for Wednesday. Both mornings I had training with the C.I.T. coordinator. And in the afternoon I was with the Princesses at the sites and was observed on how I was being leader like. Wednesday was the same like I said. Thursday we started with the Buzzers to Buzz Words. You make a presentation of what you learned at all four sites and present it as a puppet play type thing. Then there was a Jeopardy type thing where each color group competes against each other. That was fun. It involved running to the "buzzer". We got negative 1200 points :D. As my counselor said, "We epically failed". That night I had people sign my notebook so I could keep in touch with them over the year. I also had C.I.T. evaluations, and I think that I did really well. The coordinator and other evaluator both spoke really good of me. Friday morning I packed up, got more signatures, got lots of hugs, and left. I was almost heartbroken. In just one week, I became a family with the staff there. I hated being away from that place for just a couple minutes. I then went home and packed again, washed my clothes, still felt bad, and headed to the church. We left at around four, and took about a two hour trip to Heart O' the Hills, a campsite at the base of the Olympic Mountains. We set up camp, ate dinner, and went to bed.

The next day we got up, ate a nice breakfast, and headed up the hill to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. All I have to say is that it is really beautiful there. And the air is so thin that it takes twenty years for the plants to grow back, so you are not allowed to step on the grass. And the trees look exactly like regular trees, but shorter. They don't look like baby trees either. So we then went to the Hurricane Hill trail head, and hiked to the top, a whole one and six-tenths of a mile up. We got up there and there were chipmunks that are very comfortable with people. You leave food on the ground, it'll be gone in a minute. I called them Chip and Dale and the Rescue Rangers :). We then went down and went back to the campsite. We just hung around and made a fire. It was pretty calm. The next day we took our time to pack up. And when we finally did, we went to the Dungeness Spit to spend some time on the beach. We then headed home. Us in the red truck had to stop for gas in Sequim. It was then eventless until we got to the Hood Canal Bridge, where we had to stop because a submarine was stopping all traffic flow by going past the bridge. But after that nothing happened. I then got home and lazed around, because I was exhausted. I really miss camp though...

Well, It's Official...

It is almost entirely decided that I am indeed going to change schools. This is not only extremely exciting for me, but also extremely terrifying. I cannot wait to be the "new kid" because I've stayed with the same class this whole time. But now I get to start over and see what people think of me, without ever knowing me (except for a few who already know me). This is extremely terrifying although because I do not want to go there and not like it, because I can't switch back. I am also going to really really really really really really miss my friends...

I've Been Lazy

Well, it's been a long time since my last post. I'll try to remember what you missed...
The view from the trail up to Saddlerock
Hmmmmm...

Welllllllllllllll, we went to Wenatchee for the state-wide DI competitions (Sam's team didn't win), we visited our friends at Dosewallips State Park, who got a new trailer, and I jumped off a bridge, hurt my heel, and it hasn't really healed until now, and that was about three weeks ago. Then just this weekend my family and I went camping with our previously mentioned friends at Grayland Beach State Park. I found five of the
five letterboxes that I was looking for (yay!), and that's about all I did.

Okay, I was thinking there was a lot more that happened, but I guess I proved myself wrong. Take that Nick! :D

Sicknesses, Permits and Camping

What do they have in common? Nothing, but they are the two things that have been on my mind for this week. The first one because I've caught some kind of virus, and today was the first day of the last 4 days that I've felt much better. Hopefully, I can go to school tomorrow. I always hate being sick because I get really far behind and the sickness just makes me feel horrible. But today was a very good day because I also got my learner's permit. Yes, I am legal to drive anywhere I want with someone in the car who has been driving with a license for 5 years. Now that's what I call freedom :). And then what I'm looking forward to this weekend is a camping trip for my birthday, even if it was a month ago today. I am really excited! Well, that's about it. I'll post a few pictures of the trip in the next blog.

A Bittersweet Weekend

Two things going to happen this weekend. One that could change my life drastically, and one that will be loads of fun! First, the good fun.

My brother and sister have been participating in a competition called Destination ImagiNation (More info here). I also participated in it last year. Oh the good times that were had! But why did I not participate this year? That's for another time my friends ;). Anyways, tomorrow is the Olympic Region tournament, and these are always fun! I especially can't wait to see my sister's performance. It's pretty funny as far as I can see. So yeah, that's what I AM looking forward too.

What I am NOT looking forward too is my mom taking this test so she can get a job at Central Kitsap School District. I mean, I'm really hoping that she does get a real job finally, after a year of looking. But that would mean I could commute with her to a much better school called Klahowya that's near the district office. Which means not seeing my friends that much. And it would really stink because I would be a new kid, and I've never switched to a school where I don't know anybody. At my age, friends matter A LOT. They are some of the only people you can trust (besides family of course).

Bookworm NTH (Nicholas Thomas Harker for anyone who has been wondering)

A Little Something

I haven't posted anything in a while, so I decided that I should cross-post a little something from my Myspace blog. It may be the wrong time of year, but I was a little desperate.

P.S. It's for Veteran's Day by the way.

Passion

There is a feeling that we have
For the people who protect us.
Even if they do not know us,
They are saving us all from war.
They are heroes to all people.

These people used to be soldiers,
But are retired citizens.
They proudly show their war medals.
They remember all the bad times,
And remember all the good times.

Veterans of our country
May not be working as soldiers,
But they still care for their country.
And so, that is why we all feel
Passion towards our Veterans.

What Have I Been Doing?

What have I been doing? I'm a wreck! I only got to day two of my Disneyland trip! Ugh! But maybe it's a good sign... It does mean I'm not a hardcore blogger... Yet... So I will try to finish it soon, but no promises to any of my fans (which at this point is one...)! The show must go on! Anyways, I've been a little busy, with the usual school business. This is the beginning of the new term by the way. And, my birthday was last Wednesday. I am now legal to drive! So all of you better look out on the road.

In other news, our school's Tolo dance is Saturday (the equivalent of the Sady Hawkins dance). My best friend wanted our friends, her boyfriend, and I to go with her, but most of us weren't all that willing to go. My friends and I hesitated because we wanted dates, but then one of them, Brian, said, "No, see, you go there alone, and meet other people without dates!". Reality check Brian, there's gonna be no one without a date there. And my best friend, Nicole, her boyfriend hates that kind of stuff. He REALLY hates dressing up. So Nicole finally decided that we go to her house instead, which seems kind of redundant to me, but whatever.

Nick (Bookworm NTH)

P.S., sorry about being sporadic.

P.S.S., sorry about the high school explanation thing. I know you expected something exciting, but not today my friends!