Day off in Empire

Today was a very interesting day to say the least. After sleeping in until 7:30 we all got up and met the campers outside for the daily flag raise and songs. Because all the campers and Build America people have to eat inside the dining hall there is not room for us so we set up tables outside and had our breakfast. There is a trail right next to the camp that you can hike and after about ½ a mile there is an old mill. The camp likes to make the hike accessible to any camper, and the way they do it for people in wheelchairs is by putting them in a hammock type contraption and have people carry them. So today Matt Docimo, Travis Turner, Jeremy Osbourne, and myself volunteered to carry a client named Kenny. It was an amazing experience to help someone get to the top of a mountain that otherwise probably couldn’t have. The four of us had to use a lot of teamwork to make sure his weight was balanced, as well as to make sure that none of us slipped off the side of the steep ledge that wasn’t exactly wide enough for all of us to walk on together. The client had a great time, and so did the four of us!

The four of us carrying Kenny up the mountain! 

After getting back to camp it was time to prepare for our next activity of the day; dressing up like zombies. This week at camp is Zombie week, and the campers have been on the look at for zombies and to scare them away if there are any sightings. It was the Journey of Hope crews’ job to dress up like zombies while the campers were at lunch and raid camp. The only way the campers could scare the zombies away was to dance, and they did not hold back! They did all they could to protect their cafeteria, and to eat lunch zombie free. The day also included some horse back riding with campers, and then hanging out for the rest of the night with clients and creating lots of memories.

Tomorrow we arrive in Denver, and have a fun two days scheduled. We also get to meet up with the Trans team tomorrow, which means I get to see one of my other chapter brothers, Scott Hatfield. Couldn’t ask for a better summer, and everyday proves to be another adventure.