Great great weekend!! My awesome match support coordinator alerted me to a sweet camping event going on with Big Brothers Big Sisters.  ’little’ and I, along with 6 other matches met at Fort Snelling State Park for a fun filled camping trip put on by a cool non profit, Wilderness Inquiry.  They are a group that puts on camping trips for all sorts of groups like public school class outings and field trips, people looking to go camping that may not have all the knowledge or equipment needed, and organizations like BBBS.  It was perfect!

Wilderness Inquiry sent me a packing list for both ‘little’ and I which really only included warm clothes, and simple equipment.  I was nervous about ‘little’ staying warm enough throughout the night in the tent due to the cold weather we’ve been experiencing recently, but he was just fine.  Doesn’t he look like a natural?

What a trooper

We arrived at the park on Saturday at 3:30 and were welcomed by the ever kind Wilderness Inquiry staff that were so great with the kids.   Right away we were greeted by the friendly smiles of he other matches at the camp area in the park designated only for youth groups/organizations.  After introducing ourselves to everyone and getting to know one another we passed around a frisbee for the next half hour.  We did some great “get to know you” activities where we learned each others names and were able to interact with each other.

Next we had a tent set up demonstration.  There were two types, A-frames and domes.  We chose an A-frame because we hadn’t ever set on up before. We finished pretty quick and ‘little’ quickly ran around our tent city and asked if anyone else needed help. He loves helping.

A-frame tent

Next was dinner. We volunteered to help for dinner that night with another fun match.  We cut up tomato’s, onion, green pepper, and minced garlic.  We boiled spaghetti, and made some delicious garlic bread! It was a great meal and the kids were so excited to be able to help. Something about eating outside makes everything taste better!  All of the little’s there this weekend thrived under responsibility. It was great to see them volunteer for work, and love doing it. Is a childhood actually complete without experiencing camping? I’m not so sure.

That night we lit a great bon fire, of course ‘little’ took a lead role in setting it up, and enjoyed a lovely evening.  S’mores were a huge hit!  We played some fun bon fire games. First we played telephone, where one person starts with a phrase and whispers it into the ear of their neighbor.  As it goes around the fire, inevitably someone doesn’t hear correctly and the message morphs before it hits the last person. It’s hilarious to hear the final out come.  Then we played one that I’d never heard of before and was a huge match favorite.  It was called Pass the Snort.  The point of the game is to make your neighbor laugh by making a funny snort noise in their ear.  If everyone makes it around the circle without laughing than everyone wins.  The kids were rolling on the floor laughing by some pretty creative snorts.

We finally hunkered down in the tent, to the protests of ‘little’, had a quick conversation on the events of the day, and fell asleep.  I woke up in the middle of the night, and ‘little’ had spun around 90 degrees and was sharing my pillow.  ha ha it was hilarious.  The rain came at night and it was beautiful to listen to as I feel back asleep.

Next morning, we made delicious pancakes and coffee.  The pancakes were wonderful but the coffee had everyone’s attention.  It was called cowboy coffee.  We boiled a half gallon of water, put in a couple handfuls of coffee let it steep, and without the top on spun the metal container around and around and around.  It was being kept in by centrifugal force and pushing the grounds down to the bottom like a french press.  DELICIOUS!! at the end of the spinning the spinner has to holler out YEEEEEEEHAAAAA!!! Great things for all of us to see.

Next we broke camp and headed to the lake.  It was pouring at this point in the day.  Surprisingly, no one was frustrated. We all just rolled with the punches.  We took the canoe’s out and played on the lake for about an hour. We learned the proper strokes, how to board a canoe properly, DON’T STAND UP, and don’t rock the boat.

Rainy Canoe

We came back into shore, munched on a lunch of summer sausage, bagels, cheese, veggies with veggie dip and cookies.  It was a lovely weekend and ‘little’ learned a bunch about responsibility and helping people out. I was so proud of how helpful he was and cordial to everyone. “please, thank you, yes ma’am/sir, etc. etc.”

-proud big

- Twins Game
- Basketball at the Park
-Ice cream at the Grand ol’ Creamery
-Science Museum (exhibit and show)
$3 bucks a piece if you’re part of BBBS! It’s usually about $25.
-  Fly fishing and canoeing in Taylors Falls
Neither of us have done this before
-  Playing video games at his house and piggin out on junk food!!
We’re saving this for a rainy day
-  Read a book together
He likes Goosebumps, I like older classics. We’ll have to compromise (Paper Rock Scissors??)
-  Changing Oil and General Spring Tune Up
-  Go to my Sunday Softball Games
He wants to be the bat boy!
-  Batting Cages
-  Hike Minnehaha Falls (via @nicycle)
-  Head to a Museum Through the Musem Adventure Pass (Via @HClib)
- Super Science Saturday (Via @maggiekb1)
-  Check out a police & fire depatment and get a ride in a squad/fire engine
‘little’ wants to be a cop and my college roommates are both cops.  Also have a fire fighter friend in DT St. Paul
-  St. Paul Saints Game (Baseball)
- Take a cruise in the old convertible Volkswagon beatle  to Stillwater and get ice cream
-Head up to my folks lake house for a swim and Jet ski ride
Only if mom okay’s the jet ski
– Go to ‘little’s’ church w/ him
He really wants me to go with him, sounds like it’s pretty charismatic! I dig it!
- SCSU (alma mater) v. MN Hockey Game
We were talking fun sporting events we’ve been too and after I told him about this he was pretty excited! Obviously this one will have to wait a while.

Bigs, what do you like to do with your little’s.  Parents, any good ideas that you’ve already tested with your kids?? Always looking for cool new ideas.

The most suprising thing about this whole experience is how much it is making me get out of myself and do things I would never even think of doing and having a blast!!

After original post additions:

- Volunteer (via @dkix)
Feed My Starving Children or The Cookie Cart in DT Minneapolis
- Dog walking and cleaning out garage???
(via @mister_pickles & @malbiniak)
I can see option 1 happening. Option 2 I’m still on the fence about.
- Bike riding &/or rollerblading (via my Mom)
She’s a work out guru!!
- Check out some old classic down in Watertown (1 hour drive, via @rycera)
I’d be down for a little mini road trip… could be a good time! Plus ‘little’ really digs cars!
- Wild Rumpus Bookstore
“Snuggle up with a book… or a cat!!” That’s there catch phrase. Apparently they have small animals running around the bookstore!! Sounds magical!