Camping at Bill Baggs State Park

posted Apr 19, 2010 10:11 PM by Karen Kerr [ updated Apr 23, 2010 10:11 PM ]

Leader: Karen Kerr

Assistant: Mark Walters

Seven children from Hosanna Community Foundation and two stalwart ICO leaders arrived at the park on Friday night. We set up camp, had dinner, cleaned up and checked out our surroundings. After securing our cooler and food box we retired for the night, just before the rain and wind began.

By daybreak the rain had stopped, but something more sinister had occured during the night. Raccoons had cleverly pushed the food box off the bench, opened it, and enjoyed an early morning breakfast of bagels and muffins. They tried the chocolate chip cookies, but rejected them. If it were not for Mark's bravery, they would have made off with lunch and dinner as well! After our breakfast, artfully prepared by the girls, we went to Crandon Park to participate in Baynanza (coastline clean-up), and picked up trash along the beach. By noon we

were ready for a swim, then lunch back at the campsite. Later in the afternoon we enjoyed two hikes in the park. By evening, everyone was ready for the delicious spaghetti dinner the boys prepared. After cleaning up, we took a stroll on the beach then sat around the campfire making s’mores which Karen graded based on their goo factor. Mark recorded the evening concert provided by our enthusiastic, marshmallow-filled kids.

Sunday morning brought more rain, but, undaunted, we set out for a tour of the lighthouse. Unfortunately, we were too early for the tour, so we stopped at the nearby cafe for a bite to eat. (I know, that was a wimp-out, but It WAS raining, and the no-see-ums were just waking up back at the site!) During the tour the park ranger told stories of pillaging, burning and shooting, to the delight of our young boys, then led us to the lighthouse door where he announced that Karen would have to lead the children to the top. Needless to say, this was not in Karen's plan. Since she is a "do or die" type of person, she did (and nearly died). However, as the group reached the

top, some

of them began to shriek when they looked out the window and bolted for the stairs. All agreed, however, that the lighthouse was the "high"light of the trip.

We returned to the site to break camp and head to Crandon Park for lunch and Earthfest, but, just as we loaded the last soggy tent into Mark's truck, the sky opened up and serious rain began to fall. We headed back to civilization a little early and a little damp.

Voted least favorite thing? No-see-ums! We could certainly feel-um! Most favorite? Making french toast, going up the lighthouse, making s'mores and getting an "A" on them.

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Camping at Bill Baggs State Park