Chickasaws, Kiowas, Golden Arrows, and Sioux...Starguiders, Cabs, Gazigers, and Mohawks...Highland Games, Sing-Yell, Superthon, and War Canoe. What is this crazy gibberish, you might ask? Two words: summer camp. And not just any summer camp, either. Vista Camps, nestled along the Guadalupe River in the picturesque "hill country" of Texas, is beyond special.
Comprised of Camp Sierra Vista for girls and Camp Rio Vista for boys--where, incidentally, my husband attended camp when he was a kid (go GAs!!)--Vista Camps is the place where my daughter found her voice, boosted her confidence, met life-long friends, discovered the true magic of summer, and realized that all of her dreams really are within her reach. Oh, Sierra Vista...how we've missed you these last nine months!
As Jordan prepares to embark on her third consecutive summer at Camp Sierra Vista, there's no need to ask if she's excited or to question her loyalty to this particular camp. Purple hair dye to show Chickasaw pride--check; trunk packed and ready two months early--check; rigorous conditioning exercises begun in the hopes of helping her tribe win more competitions--check. There are but a handful of things that light my daughter up like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, and Camp Sierra Vista is one of them.
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| Diggin' the purple hair :-) |
What is it that makes this camp work its way into the hearts of campers and parents, alike, so firmly and irrevocably? Narrowing it down to only one or two things would be impossible...it's the camaraderie with fellow tribe members, cabin mates, and camp counselors; the obvious love that the founding family has for the campers and for the camp, itself; the teamwork, laughter, and tears shared during tribe competitions; the self-confidence earned through individual achievements in daily camp activities; and the feelings of belonging and pride that come from being part of a close-knit sister or brotherhood.
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| Cooling off in the Guadalupe River on a lazy summer afternoon |
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| Jordan zip-lining |
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| She's a natural archer! |
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| Jordan kayaking |
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| Jordan celebrating War Canoe victory with fellow Chickasaws |
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| The Chickasaw Tribe - Summer 2013 |
It's also the silliness of shaving cream fights in the river; bonding over s'mores and songs at overnight camp-outs; the uber-coolness of movie night in the pool; Ms. Becky's legendary, mad-awesome cooking; and the end-of-term, co-ed dances and carnivals that the campers look forward to for weeks. Oh, and we cannot forget the wonder and awe that are inspired by the many time-honored traditions and tribal ceremonies. Together, these things create the magic of Vista Camps, and this magic is unrivaled by any other summer camp that my daughter has ever attended. The look in her eyes and the excitement and pride in her voice whenever she speaks of Camp Sierra Vista are all that her dad and I need to keep sending her back every summer. The rewards are truly innumerable and priceless.
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| One of the infamous shaving cream fights |
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| Jordan with friends at the big dance last summer |
Well, I would say that I need to go help Jordan with her packing list now, but since she's already done with that and is now threatening to wait in the car until it's time to go (still a month away!), I guess I'll have her teach me some camp songs, instead. :-)
In the spirit of my daughter's tribe..."Chick-a-saw...Chick-a-saw...CHICK-A-SAW!!!" Camp Sierra Vista, here we come!
Vista Camps...where memories of a lifetime are made...
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| Jordan with her Dad on the very first day of her very first summer at Vista Camps, walking the same road that he walked as a camper in the 1980s :-) |
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| Campers traverse this low-water crossing once upon entering the camp and again upon departure; as such, the sight evokes both excitement and sadness. |
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| Teamwork |
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| Jordan and fellow campers accepting their awards for The Mile Swim |
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