The Adventures of Jadon and Kalina: Camp Cedar Springs

In our school district, the fifth graders get to participate in outdoor education. For us, this means a two day/two night overnight trip to Camp Cedar Springs.

Jadon has never been excited about this. He has known about it for years and has avoided talking about it. Perhaps he thought if he didn’t talk about it we would not have him participate. Jadon was even less excited about it when he learned that I could not sleep in his cabin with him (Dads with the boys, Moms with the girls). Well, we decided this was something we did want Jadon to experience. We also decided that Andy would go as a chaperone.

Jadon was really not looking forward to Camp Cedar Springs. Kalina and I sent him and Andy to school on March 12 to begin their adventures. Jadon was upset. Andy took Jadon to school and then drove himself to Camp (in case something happened and he needed to get Jadon home). Jadon rode the bus with his classmates and Masumi, his awesome nurse (she got to go, too). Luckily, the bus ride cheered him up a little.

Jadon was very fortunate and was put in a group with Andy and another Dad. Usually students are not allowed to be in the same group as this or her parent. The two days and nights went better than Jadon expected. They were lucky and had reasonably good weather, especially for March. The students in Jadon’s group were great and included many of his good friends.

One thing we realized after Camp was that we didn’t do a great job of explaining “camp” to Jadon. His only “camp” experience is Camp Korey and you can’t really compare a typical camp to Camp Korey. Our family does not camp, unless you count building forts in the living room. Jadon was pretty shocked to learn his cabin had no bathroom or shower. The bathrooms that did exist were not in good shape and the boys did not shower while they were there. Jadon was not too impressed. We had to purchase sleeping bags for the adventure (that is how little prepared our family is to do anything camping related).

Jadon and Andy survived. We are glad they went but our family will not be camping anytime soon (and that is ok with me).

Here is what Jadon wrote about Camp upon his return.

I was really nervous about going to Camp Cedar Springs. It was my second time away from home. That is not including my many hospital stays. The other time was at Camp Korey and it was only for a night. The difference was that I was alone at Camp Korey. At Camp Cedar Springs, Dad was there and I was in his cabin (special accommodations). I was still scared. I just didn't know what to expect.

I thought Camp Cedar Springs would be more like Camp Korey. I was wrong. Camp Korey is more like a "luxury camp". The cabins are like hotels at Camp Korey. That was a big difference that I wasn't expecting. At Camp Korey, there are bathrooms everywhere. At Camp Cedar Springs, there were two. Also, the beds at Camp Korey are mattresses. You didn't need sleeping bags like you do at Camp Cedar Springs. And the paths are much more wheelchair/scooter friendly at Camp Korey.

Of all the classes (something Camp Korey doesn't have), my least favorite was Stream Life. I didn't really do anything there, just watched. My two favorite classes were Shelter and Fire Building. I had fun (only a little) building shelters and fires. I had never been so close to a fire before (besides the fireplace).

I'm glad I went to Camp Cedar Springs, but I won't be rushing back.

For clarification, Jadon has been away from home many more than two times. This was his second time without me being with him. I believe the hospital stays he mentions are the first 100 days of his life, which he spent in the hospital (and Andy and I usually did not spend the night). All of his other hospital stays, someone has been with him overnight.

While Jadon won’t be rushing back to Cedar Springs, he is counting the days until he goes to Camp Korey this summer.