Tie Dye Creations with Camp Streefland!

We've been going to Camp Streefland for a few weeks every summer, for the last several years.

One of the highlights of daycamp...

is the TIE DYE!

Who doens't love a good tie dye?

But...when you go 2, 3, 4....maybe even a half a dozen times...

in one summer, that adds up to a lot of tie dye.

Shirts, socks, shorts, towels, pillowcases.

We've done it all.

But this time, the kids got a super cool, official, CAMP STREEFLAND, glow in the dark pillow case!

Didn't hers turn out soo amazing?

His did too - but not quite as colorful!

Here's hoping I can wash these things without washing out all of the color!

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Camp Streefland - Year 4

Their schedules are busier than ever - and we don't have as much need for all day every day camps in the summer - but we still found some time to go...because the kids just love it so! 

I thought it'd been longer than four years - but that's the joy of having a blog to look back on! 

We've been going to Camp Streefland in Lakeville since 2012!

They've grown so so much over these last four years!

Both emotionally and physically!

 

Even the Dads have a good time there!

I was thinking this was our last summer, because committing to 5 days a week is tough.

There are sports schedules and mini stay/vacations to try and work around!

But...the kids insist they must go back, and why not?

So...here's hoping, because it's really been fabulous!

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Camp Streefland - Lakeville, MN Summer Camp Success!

How do you know your kid had a good time at Summer Camp?

They come home with their socks looking like this!

G.r.O.S.s!

I didn't even bother washing these...

right into the trash they went!

And Camp Streefland Family Night with Friends?

#Priceless.

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Camp Streefland Wrap Up...

For three weeks this summer, I had to pack snacks and lunch for the kiddos while they hung out at Camp Streefland all.day.long.

What does one put in a lunch box that will be in the great outdoors from 8am-5pm, in who knows what kind of temps?

I can tell you what I didn't put in there...

HA! I love it! I emptied their lunch boxes at the end of each day to repack for the next...

Only to find...

ACORNS!

I love it!

I could tell you all about Camp Streefland, and how amazing it is there.

I could tell you about how much fun the kids had...

But I already did that.

~ TWICE! ~

So instead, I'll share a few (HA!) pics of our final family night of the summer...

Special guest...

DADDY!

(Softball commitments kept him from coming to all of them...)

Be Still My Heart. Father & Son bonding time. I love this.

 And ANOTHER special guest?

Auntie Betsy!

The first two family nights I attended...I felt a little pang of jealousy watching the large groups of people gathered for one child at family night...

Grandpa. Grandma. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins...

Well, we have great friends and neighbors...

Thanks for coming Betsy!

 I cannot say enough about this wooded wonderland just minutes from our house...

 To me, Camp Streefland signifies what being a kid in the summer is all about.

 Adventure after Adventure in the great outdoors!

Ziplining!

 Everything's better with a friend!

And speaking of friends...it won't be long til this little friend of ours gets to join her big brothers (and US!) out at Camp Streefland... 

They are the ones that introduced us to this hidden gem!

 One final, almost group photo...

We can't wait for next year Camp Streefland -

Thank you for the amazing memories!

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Camp Streefland - First timers...

So, where were we?

Ah, yes, Summer.

Summer Camp.

So, we registered for Summer Camp with good friends.

We had never been to camp before - so we excitedly attended an open house -

Would it live up to our expectations???

Being new at this, it was important for our family to make sure that our kiddos had a buddy.  Having each other is awesome, having 2 friends they know well, along for the ride, is beyond awesome.  

It takes out (most of) the fear of the unknown.

Sure, the girls are heading off to First Grade in the Fall - 

But the boys - well, ours at least, all he's ever known is home daycare and family outings.

He's never done ANYTHING like this before.

Ever.

They start them out at camp at age 4...

Extra nice to have a buddy when you are the younger crowd.

I really didn't need to worry...

They had a blast.

What's not to love?

Ourdoors.

All day.

Every day.

I couldn't believe it when I saw the forecasts for this week - 

having signed up for camp back in February - who knows what we are going to get when June rolls around?

Late Sunday night we had quite the Boomer of a Storm...but...

Someone was watching out for us ~ they had beautiful weather every day.

The kids were noticeably tired at the end of each day, but had so much to say and do and share and talk about, that we didn't get us any earlier of a bed time.

Maybe next week it hits?

Their week was spent making craft projects.

Swimming. 

Frog Catching.

Having Cookouts.

Fishing.

Canoeing.

Kayaking.

Sing-a-Longs.

(Including Sing-a-Longs on the bus rides TO camp!!!

Hello!! what a GREAT way to start the day!!)

Making Forts.

Swinging.

Zip Lining.

Sand Castle Building.

Turtle Hunting.

Playing in the GaGa Pit.

Making Tie Dye Shirts.

Archery.

 

That is some fort! WOW!

This one was still under construction - it needed more camo (so they tell me!)

The Black Hole!

I cannot get over the NO FEAR that BOTH of our children have for this thing!

I mean honestly, sitting on a plastic sled and heading into the dark that is the black hole?

Him? 

Of course not.

He loves adventures in every way, shape and form.

But this one?

Our somewhat shy, quiet, reserved first born?

If you could hear the screams of joy as she barrels through this tunnel...

  

A good friend pointed out that she hasn't seen our girl this happy, this excited, this...

CAREFREE...

in a very long time!

Thank you Camp Streefland!

Shooting 25 feet out into the open!

Whether she is just having that. much. fun...

Or if it's because she is spending her days with her Bestie...

Shakin' it at the Assembly on Family Night.

A Camp Counselor Tunnel when the evening was coming to a close...

Tell me a job that would be more fun than this?

Yes, Camp Streefland.
We know we made the right choice.

The only tears we saw this week were the ones that came after five days...
upon being told they have to wait three weeks to come back.

This, this right here signifies summer and what it should be.

I am beyond thrilled with how our summer is shaping up.

We are loving this chapter of the Best Seller that is our lives!