Pony Camp

Jon here! A few weeks ago Charlotte and I went back to Camp Allegheny for a half-week mini-camp! Camp Allegheny is a very special place for me. I grew up going to camp here and I spent 5 summers here working on staff while in college. It's the coolest thing in the world to see my daughter having a lot of the same experiences I had when I was first coming to camp.

Here's Charlotte on the Slip and slide. My sister, Suzanne, was nice enough to be a counselor with me. Thanks, Suzanne!!

And here's Charlotte after the slip and slide. I was hosing down the kids at the top of the hill and the girl who went after Charlotte didn't wait for me to tell her to go. She went early and there was quite the wipe out. No one was hurt though. I took a turn on the slip and slide later and decided it was to rough on my knees and not good for boys in general.


Becky and Evan came by camp one day to go swimming with us. After the slip and slide we went straight to the pool.

Evan loved swimming in the pool but we didn't have any floaties so I had to stay with him the entire time. That 3-year old wore me out!

Charlotte loved the pool as well. The second day we were there was rainy and cold but she stayed in the swimming pool anyway!

I wish Charlotte and Evan had a big swimming pool at home to learn to swim in, I know they would love it. (hint..hint)

The kids also got to ride in the paddle boats. There's a big fountain in the middle of the pond that the kids like to float under. Charlotte enjoyed the paddle boats but reported that the girl sitting next to her is a "Crazy Driver". (Charlotte is in the front boat on the left)

Taking self portraits with a camera is a camp tradition for me. I used to always take a self portrait when a camper left their camera lying around unattended. Here's a picture of Charlotte and I right after paddle boats.

Here's Charlotte playing mini-golf. The golf course makes me feel old because I remember when I was working on staff 10 years ago and it was new. There's a sign up now that says it's due for renovations. How could it need renovations it's brand new...Becky can you bring me my walker I need to put my teeth in before I eat dinner, hurry it's almost 4:00.

All the most important things about camp are the same as they've always been and always will be. There are little things about camp that's different now that don't really matter, but it's fun to complain about them. I like being the old guy who says "Back when I was on staff we used to light the campers on fire, you can't do that anymore..."

Ok, I never set a camper on fire, but you get my point.

Most nights we ended with story time. A futile attempt to get 27 5-7 year olds quiet and calm before bed time. Actually overall the campers did very well. There were very few problems.

Here you see Charlotte on top of the big tree house at the playground.

The highlight of the week for most campers are the pony rides! Charlotte was no exception.

Here's Charlotte standing next to "Katie". Katie was the biggest pony.

Here's a picture of Charlotte drowning Katie in the pond. Oh no wait, this picture's just out of order for some reason. This is Charlotte's second trip in the paddle boats. Note that she's driving this time.

Charlotte in the pony coral. At mini camp the kids just ride the ponies while they're led around the coral by a helper. When she goes to week-long Pony camp next year she'll get to learn to ride by herself and ride the trails!

Here's Charlotte riding her favorite pony Oreo!

I wonder why the pony's name is Oreo?

That's just a few of the fun things we did at camp. Camp Allegheny is an amazing place that I highly recommend to all parents. I would not be the person I am today had it not been for the things I learned and experienced at camp.