Camp Yavapines 2011

The Beaven Family spent last week at Camp Yavapines in Prescott, having lots of fun and enjoying the cooler weather the mountains provide.

When we went to the camp in May for the Pathfinder Fair, Jeremy was asked to help with repelling and when they found out I was a nurse, they had a job for me during Summer Camp too!  Abby decided that rather than hang out with the parental units, that she would rather stay in the cabins with the other campers.  This particular week was "Teen Camp", so she was just a bit younger than the other girls, but she still had lots of fun.  Her friend Suzy, who lives part time in Yuma and part time in WA state joined us.  We didn't get to see a whole lot of them, but being able to say hi and get hugs occasionally certainly made the separation more tolerable.  Abby takes an allergy pill every morning, but she usually fell out for every med call so she could visit with me and tell me about her day and the things she was doing.  I usually found some reason to visit "Lady Land" in the evening so I could say goodnight to her too.  ;)

Abby was lucky enough to be able to ride horses every day, sometimes signing up for 2 sessions per day.  Her favorite was a mule named Bingo.  This particular day I just happened to see her walking by us while we were at the pool.

Amelia and her no fear-self enjoyed the diving board!  The big kids were there doing all kinds of tricks for the videographer and she thought she'd show them what little kids could do!

Poor little Marshy found the high 80's of Prescott too chilly to be swim-worthy, so he snuggled up in his shark towel on a pool side chair.

Having fun with Air-Heads candy.
They decided they looked like dog tongues.

Jeremy took the kids around the go cart track a few nights.  The kids had lots of fun whether they were just along for the ride, screaming all the way...

or putting all their efforts into attempting to drive.

Our little 2 were so well behaved at the camp.  We tried to find fun things for them to do, but they still spent a fair amount of time waiting for me at the nurse's station.  Jeremy rewarded them one night with a trip to Baskin Robbins and they rewarded me by bringing it back to our cabin since I couldn't leave the campus.

One of our favorite events was an evening carnival.  Apparently they only do it for teen camp, but it was SOOO much fun.  Marshall had his face painted to look like a mime.  He was so funny acting the part.... well, right up until the paint started to dry hard and got itchy.  ;)

Abby with her beautiful counselor, Priscilla
The staff dressed up as random carnival characters.  It was pretty cool to see them just walking around and mingling with the group.  Priscilla played the part of snake lady perfectly, using a snake that was found at the beginning of the camp season slithering around the park.  The plan is to release it now that camp is finished.  If she weren't a college student, I think she would adopt it as she was quite in love!

They had 3 different bouncy houses on which to play.  A big slide, an obstacle course and one of those boxing rings with the great big heavy gloves.  Suzy grabbed Amelia to play because by this point in the week, poor Abby was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.  Even at a carnival.
(What's that you say?  A boxing ring for teenagers? It's all innocent fun and besides, those gloves are so heavy, no one could get hurt with them, right?  Before the evening was over I was calling a mother to tell her that her son's nose was indeed broken and yes, I was quite certain!)

Amelia wanted a horse painted on her face, of course!

Abby perked up a little bit once I encouraged her to try playing, that it may wake her up a bit.

They had all kinds of yummy kid friendly food.  Burgers, beans and chips for the main course.  Popcorn, snow cones, and fresh made cotton candy for dessert.  Oh, and grape soda!  What fun to have all these treats, some of which I haven't had since I was a kid!

I did mention the horses, right?
You know we spent a fair amount of time down by the stables!  Amelia made friends with one of the wranglers who was willing to toss her on the back of her horse every afternoon and take her for a nice long ride.  In between those times, we would just visit and let them know how much we love them!

This pretty little Paint is named Napoleon.  Poor thing was the bottom of the horsey hierarchy, but he liked visiting with the people! 

Such a sweet girl.  It seems like the pictures that capture her at her most content always include a horse.

Jeremy and I tried to take the little kids out every morning to shoot a few arrows.   The kids really liked it.  Marshall so much so that I think he'll be getting his own set in the future.

Amelia would pull that string back and you could hear the arrows flying hard and hitting the straw bales.

Half of the fun is going to retrieve your arrows, right?

Shhhh... don't tell my girls, but I really like them too!
Poor Jeremy.  If he didn't have us moving every few years, I'd have one of these.  After he gets his plane, of course!

I think they really like her too!
(By the way, that's not some exotic desert mange, it's Amelia's favorite horse, the one she rode every day, Destiny.  She was dressed up for the carnival too!  She looked just like something out of the Wizard of Oz with colorful spots and braids and ribbons in her hair.)

All in all, a fantastic way to spend a week.  Being able to have fun all while helping kids learn about Jesus.  Hopefully we'll get to do it again some day!