A trip Worth It All – The Real Lesson

[image error]My daughter went to Camp Olympia week before last with all of the 5th graders enrolled in her Montessori Environmental Sciences Magnet School. This camping trip was arranged by her school district, and was approximately 90 miles away from home in Lake Livingston. This adventure was supposed to be filled with lessons that would teach them about Environmental Sciences, and give them real life hands on experiences. They’d be gone from home for 3 nights and 3 ½ days.

I must admit that I was nervous about this school trip because my daughter had never been away from us for so long. Of course, she had to go because all of the other children were going, and this would prove to be one of the greatest school experiences of her lifetime, but no experience is worth it to me if my child isn’t safe.

Children could only pack their gear into one pillow case, and place it into a huge trash bag.  [image error]My daughter’s package kept growing, and became pretty heavy, but I couldn’t talk her into removing one single item.

The children could not take any electronic devices, or their cell phones, so there would be no outside contact with their parents. Parents were told that they could not visit the camp site unless they received permission from the school Principal, and if they did, the visitation would be minimal. This news didn’t make me feel any better, but I had to trust, and pray.

[image error]The day finally arrived —- The children were gleeful and excited to leave school and their parents behind for a few days. I’m sure that many parents were as nervous as I was, but the children could not feel our pain and anxiety. They were going to have freedom away from homework, chores, parents, and for some – baby siblings.

Once the children and their gear were loaded onto the buses, parents stood outside near the front curb side of the school giving last minute dos and don’ts, hugs, kisses, and then their final wave goodbye. I waved until I could no longer see the bus in sight whether my daughter was still looking at me, or not. [image error]

 

I’d told my daughter earlier on how to behave and how she should conduct herself on every move that I could think of, but the apprehension was still there because I knew nothing about this camp except for what I’d been told, what was in black in white, and what I read on the internet. I certainly wouldn’t be introduced to the person who’d care for her. So, I drilled her endlessly about going to the restroom alone, walking towards the front of the line near the teacher, and whatever else I could think of. I told, and ensured her, however, that I’d come to pick her up at “a drop of a hat” if she ever needed me, day, night, midnight, or over in the night. It wouldn’t matter to me one bit.

 

I didn’t sleep well all the while my daughter was gone. My husband had to reassure me more often than he probably wanted to that she was okay, and that I should get some rest. The entire time that she was gone, I wondered what she was doing. I knew that some of the preliminary plans were to include: archery, canoeing, candle making, horseback riding, night hiking, fishing, and collecting organisms from the water. Sounds like a heap of fun! The children would be very busy, so I’m sure that my worrying would be in vein, but still, this child had never been away from me before.

 

The children would eat three meals a day, bunk 12 girls to a cabin, and have a cabin leader/counselor assigned to them, there would be other personnel, a nurse and her teacher did attend although she only saw him during dining, and other group activities. How could any parent complain about this, right? Well, I did.

 

I couldn’t wait until it was time for my child to arrive back in town. When I saw her, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and I hugged her over and over again while asking lots of questions about her adventures. She told me about the good times and the bad times.

 

The bad moments included some of the food that wasn’t so tasty, seeing snakes during night hiking, not so clean facilities, a flying roach in her cabin, accidentally striking a rabbit with her arrow (crying about that because “How could a future Veterinarian strike an animal!” she said. My daughter also said that she began to feel lonely. The good times included the times when the food was good, meeting new people, and gaining lots of environmental science exposure, and experiences.

 

The one great message that my daughter did share with us is this: “Going to camp made me realize how much I appreciate my Mom and Dad.”

If nothing else, this was the greatest treasure of all for me as a parent. If her going to camp lead her to realize appreciation for her parents, then this camping trip was worth it all.

 

And, I thank my God that she return back home safe.

 

Photos Complimentary of: Dr. Cherrye S. Vasquez