Even though it was our final day of Camp Oz, it wasn’t going to let us go home without throwing every last bit of fun that it had at us. Groups that had been waiting all week long to get to their favorite activities finally got the chance to ride horses, practice their aim at archery and meet some special Camp St. Croix resident animals in the Nature building. Of course there also had to be some final intense games of basketball, Nuk’em and Gaga Ball too so campers could get their fill to last until next year.
We celebrated another extremely successful Camp Oz with a cookout lunch and campers loved having the opportunity to sit wherever they wanted outside to snarf down some hotdogs, baked beans and watermelon. With music bumping to create a party atmosphere, it was a picnic for the ages that brought out smiles, dance moves and lots of laughter.
Following lunch we progressed right into the Oz Got Talent show where campers with a song in their heart or a dance in their bones got to perform for a rapt audience. These brave performers gave a performance of a lifetime and you could tell that it meant the world to them to be able to show off their skills. Ask your campers about the literal standing O’s they gave to cheer on such artistry!
The Hot Pepper Awards that recognize campers who best exemplify the YMCA core values of honesty, caring, responsibility and respect followed the show and this is a really cool award because it involves being nominated by your fellow campers. To stand out from an already terrific bunch of kids is really something special and seeing each winner beam with pride is a sight to see.
We squeezed one final activity block in after the awards to keep the good times rolling and although it got hotter and hotter as the day went on, every camper was thankful for this final chance to soak in a little more adventure. Packing up for home in the cabins got a little bit sweaty but after a week chock-full of action, I know that the campers were starting to get excited to see their family again. I hope that they filled the car with all their camp stories on the ride home; that is if they didn’t fall asleep from contented exhaustion first! 😊
To wrap up a fabulous year, I want to thank you so much for sending your kids to Camp Oz because without them, Camp Oz wouldn’t be anything. We try our hardest to convey the breadth and depth of the magic of Camp Oz in these blogs posts but so much of what occurs here lives in the indescribable connection between each camper. Living with epilepsy can be extremely isolating. But during these five lightning-fast days, our campers learn that they are not alone, and they revel in the power of community. We see campers not just come out of their shell, but bust that shell into millions of pieces as they grow in confidence surrounded by peers that understand them. What better thing can we give our kids but a place where they belong? It is a testament to the kindness, acceptance and amazing nature of our campers that Camp Oz can be that place. Lisa and I do a ton of work, our nurses do a ton of work, the YMCA staff do a ton of work, but it is the work of the campers that makes Camp Oz all come together.
Camp Oz for Life!
Erik
Camp Oz Director
Thank you to MN Epilepsy Group for sponsoring Camp Oz!
