Girls' Camp 2014

We dropped Maggy off at her first Summer Girls Camp on Monday, July 21. They are given their bandana right away when they check in. She was on the yellow team.

Before camp began. Teresa (middle) was not happy I took her away from her lunch to snap a quick photo before I left...

...and again...

...and again...

...and again...

...and one more for the road!

I quickly helped Maggy set up the tent before I left. FIVE girls slept in this dome pup tent. I was sort of surprised to hear that after camp. That's a lot of giggles in one little space meant for two.

After camp life, Maggy was full of smiles. She had so much to tell us.

Her team - the yellow team - won first place for their banner. They also won first for team spirit, first for archery and first for their battle cry,  "With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?"

Her cousin Monica was a leader for the purple team. Her other cousin Maria (Monica's youngest sister) was at camp too. I only had the chance to say hello to her.

• Her least favorite thing about camp: you only get to shower once during the five days

• Her most favorite thing about camp: that Canon Huberfeld wore a whistle around his neck like Captain Von Trapp. Just kidding. She loved the comradery with so many fun girls.

A Day in the Life of  Summer Camp by Magdalena

The whistle blows - WAKE UP!
Everyone runs to the meeting place (THE BIG TENT) and receives instructions for the day.
Abbe Kevin bangs with a big spoon on a kitchen pan and everyone walks over to the chapel.
The girls put on their bandanas to cover their heads and Mass begins.
After Mass, everyone runs to the outdoor cross and lines up at their team banner. They hire the flags: the American flag is in the middle, the papal flag is on the left and the Wisconsin flag is on the right. Then everyone goes back to the tent and waits for the whistle to blow which summons them for breakfast.
After breakfast they play games and participate in activities like riding horses, archery, flag wars, swimming, and bowling. (They do all of these things in one whole week, not in one day.) When Abbe Kevin bangs the pan again, the girls return to the chapel and listen to a talk.
After the talk they all go into the big tent and sit until the whistle blows for lunch.
Following lunch, everyone may run to change into play clothes for playing more games.
Later, in between 6 and 6:30 p.m., the whistle blows for dinner.
When dinner is over, the girls change back into their camp shirts, the whistle blows again, and everyone runs to line up by the flags.
Then they all walk around on paths, specially cut into the tall grass and winding woods, while saying the rosary.
After the rosary, everyone returns to the flags to line up and takes them down. Immediately following this event, the girls sing the song "Salve Regina" and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Finally, the whistle blows, letting all the girls know they can change into their pj's and run back to the campfire.
At the campfire, the priests do funny skits and tell jokes...and everyone gets to have s'mores!
Then, after the campfire, the girls say their night prayers, go to their tents, and grab their flashlights to help guide them to the wash tent for brushing their teeth. By the time the girls get back to their tents, they are told to put out their lights for bedtime, left with their thoughts of what the next day has in front of them.

I was impressed that Magdalena was promptly ready to go at noon when we arrived on Friday. From all appearances, most of the girls still had their tents up and had not yet completely packed. Maggy had all of her belongs and the tent neatly stacked in a pile. She is so organized. Good girl!

I hated to have to tell her that we were not going back home right away and she would not get to shower until very late that night.

She fell asleep on our way to Minnesota. She was exhausted from a fun week at camp. She is looking forward to next year.