Summer Camp Week 3: Rafts, Digging, and the Fire Challenge

The Coyotes prepare for a team photo -- but took a little time to get it right!

Hello adventurers!
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What strikes me as we look back on last week was the sheer variety in all that we did; right from the very start things heated up with a competitive photo challenge, which saw players crab-walking, cartwheeling, leap-frogging, face-painting, and so much more. All week each team tried to out-do the other, and it made for some fantastic photos, as you can clearly see.

Ravens, of course, had no fear of getting dirty!

...and the Foxes were quick to one-up them!

After that players unlocked access to the ‘float the boat’ challenge, wherein they had to dig an entirely new channel to the river, and divert enough water using a hand-made dam in order to float a water bottle all the way down. This was certainly more easily said than done, but our Red Rockers rose valiantly to the occasion, and while I had never seen such a motley assortment of shovels (shout out to all the Dads who helped with that one!) they put them to good use, and every single team was able to complete this challenge.

Hearts were clearly on the line.

This is where things then got tricky, as players were next tasked with building a raft worthy of standing on, and with enough buoyancy to float their entire team. Most (but not all!) of the teams made it, and while the rafts were hardly seaworthy, they were enough to score some points all the same.

Falcons embarked upon a short-lived voyage, but it was a vessel none-the-less.

For some teams, due to timing, this is where the week’s challenges ended, but for others, they unlocked the fire-building challenge, where with one match they learned how to build and tend to a campfire. Many were interested at first, but when they saw that it took patience, not prodding, to build a successful fire, several team members abandoned the task in favor of swim time, while those who remained earned their stripes in fire-making (shout outs to Lexi and Rorie of the Foxes!), something they should indeed be proud of, and a skill which will serve them well in future challenges and our camping trip.

The Coyotes took a more 'relaxed' approach to the whole ordeal.

When it comes to this week’s score, things once again took an interesting turn, as the Ravens moved up a position to close in on the Falcons, tying for first, while the Coyotes climbed from the basement to narrow the gap towards first place, landing in second. Foxes too are fresh on the hunt, with only five points keeping them out of contention. ​

Ravens are jockeying for first place...

...while Falcons refuse to yield.

And while Coyotes move to second in score ranking, this week’s upcoming challenge is one that just might give them an edge over the rest, as it will be determination, leadership, and creativity that will lead to success this week, more than anything else.

This week’s hints:

• Bring a torn t-shirt of bandana in your team’s color (but don’t expect to keep it!)
• Balance is the key, and if you have a tree in your yard to climb, you just might want to practice doing so.​
• Wear good shoes for walking in the water

Well, that’s just about it for this update, and I know that Jesse and I are excited to see you for what I guarantee will be the wettest and wildest challenge yet. Don’t worry about any wind or rain this week: we’re heading deep into the woods, where once again the river holds many secrets.

Yours in adventure,
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Nathan and Jesse