Camping Season Off to a Grand Start
This weekend was the Annual FCC Northern California Camp Out in Olema. For those not familiar, FCC stands for Families with Children from China, it is an organization for families who have adopted from China.
The FCC Campout is the perfect first camp out of the year. The camp ground is very nice. We camp on a grassy field surrounded by trees. The camp sites surround a lawn area and there are enough FCC families to completely encircle the lawn. With this group, we know every family camping in our area has passed a comprehensive background check with both the State and Federal government. In the center of the camping ring, some of the older girls set up their own mini-parent-free tent area. There is also a small soccer field, lots of bubbles, frisbees, volleyball and even a little whiffle ball.
Of the over 200 participants, 100 campers are kids ranging in age from 1 to 13, the vast majority girls adopted by China and a few home grown siblings. The girls form maurading packs by age that roam the campgrounds on foot and bikes. The pack under 5 tend to have a parent in tow, but over 5 it is just girls. You never know when a pack will pass through your camp site, but it is never a problem. Their arrival is announced with a squeal and their departure is a gust of giggle-laced wind.
During the day, there is a woman who brings music to the young campers. She plays guitar and sings songs in English and Mandarin. The girls gleefully sing and dance along, many proudly showing off their knowledge of a second language.
Nights are for campfires, s'mores and the occasional screaming child. I am happy to report none of those screaming children were in our tent this year. La Nina slept like a champ. This year, La Nina proved to be a very patient marshmellow roaster, producing perfect roasted brown marshmellows time after time. She quickly figured out the secret of s'mores: As I built her one, she informed me I could keep the marshmellow and graham cracker, she only wanted the chocolate. Despite the fact I cut off the chocolate after a couple of pieces, she kept roasting marshmellows for other kids. She was really good at it.
The Magster was the magster. She took two completely dramatic spills, cried a little and went right back at it. Our camping mates found her antics highly amusing..thank goodness. This was the Magster's first camp out. She did great. She even made a mid-night potty run with me: I knew there was no leaving the tent without her.
The only real problem we had: Both kids refused to sleep in their sleeping bags and were cold...you can lead a horse to water... All in all, we had a great time. This is the second year we attended and we hope to go for many years to come.
The FCC Campout is the perfect first camp out of the year. The camp ground is very nice. We camp on a grassy field surrounded by trees. The camp sites surround a lawn area and there are enough FCC families to completely encircle the lawn. With this group, we know every family camping in our area has passed a comprehensive background check with both the State and Federal government. In the center of the camping ring, some of the older girls set up their own mini-parent-free tent area. There is also a small soccer field, lots of bubbles, frisbees, volleyball and even a little whiffle ball.
Of the over 200 participants, 100 campers are kids ranging in age from 1 to 13, the vast majority girls adopted by China and a few home grown siblings. The girls form maurading packs by age that roam the campgrounds on foot and bikes. The pack under 5 tend to have a parent in tow, but over 5 it is just girls. You never know when a pack will pass through your camp site, but it is never a problem. Their arrival is announced with a squeal and their departure is a gust of giggle-laced wind.
During the day, there is a woman who brings music to the young campers. She plays guitar and sings songs in English and Mandarin. The girls gleefully sing and dance along, many proudly showing off their knowledge of a second language.
Nights are for campfires, s'mores and the occasional screaming child. I am happy to report none of those screaming children were in our tent this year. La Nina slept like a champ. This year, La Nina proved to be a very patient marshmellow roaster, producing perfect roasted brown marshmellows time after time. She quickly figured out the secret of s'mores: As I built her one, she informed me I could keep the marshmellow and graham cracker, she only wanted the chocolate. Despite the fact I cut off the chocolate after a couple of pieces, she kept roasting marshmellows for other kids. She was really good at it.
The Magster was the magster. She took two completely dramatic spills, cried a little and went right back at it. Our camping mates found her antics highly amusing..thank goodness. This was the Magster's first camp out. She did great. She even made a mid-night potty run with me: I knew there was no leaving the tent without her.
The only real problem we had: Both kids refused to sleep in their sleeping bags and were cold...you can lead a horse to water... All in all, we had a great time. This is the second year we attended and we hope to go for many years to come.
posted by One Lucky Mom @ 8:41 PM
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