Camped out
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on July 26, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
A group of Girl Scouts walk back to their campsite before lunch at Camp Mary Atkinston Wednesday. Alyssa Vineyard, 12, second from left, and Tiffany Taylor, 13, far right, are from Wayne County, but had never met until the camp began on Sunday.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Alyssa Vineyard pulls back an arrow during archery practice at Camp Mary Atkinson in Selma on Wednesday.
Payton Lowery is homesick.
The 8-year-old camper slung her arms around her older sister Alyssa Vineyard's middle and squeezed tight.
"She does not like being away from mama," Alyssa explained.
Luckily, her group, Owl Hollow, has plenty of fun activities to distract her, so by the third day of camp, she just needed one hug before leaving for her next activity.
The girls are spending a week at Camp Mary Atkinson in Selma. They return to Wayne County on Friday. The sleep-away Girl Scout camp is home to three Wayne County girls this week.
Payton and Alyssa see each other for meals and on the lake, but spend the day with their age groups.
Alyssa has managed not to become too homesick, though it is her first time at camp. She attends Rosewood Middle School during the school year.
She hasn't written home yet.
"I'm having too much fun, I don't have time to write them," she said. "I'll be home by the time they get it anyway."
Alyssa is in a cabin with Tiffany Taylor, a Spring Creek Middle School student.
The two follow camp counselor Georgia Haines around during the day. Georgia goes by her camp name of Peaches.
This is Tiffany's third year at camp.
She loves camp.
She has been a Girl Scout since she was in kindergarten.
"It's really fun, and it's something to do," she said.
She only misses home occasionally.
"When I see someone that looks like my sisters, I just want to hug them," she said.
The older girls spent Wednesday morning on the lake, trying out canoes, paddle boards and kayaks.
Both were very excited for a turn on the paddle board.
On the lake, the camp counselors flipped over the watercraft.
Girl Scouts Public Relations Director Krista Park says the practice of flipping the boats is dual-purpose.
"It cools them off, but they learn the practice of getting back in so they don't panic if it happens," she said.
As Tiffany returned the shore, dripping wet, she smiled.
"It feels so good, because it's so hot outside," she said.
Alyssa says it is easy to right a kayak or paddle board, but climbing back into a capsized canoe takes a bit of skill.
The week of camp has an emphasis on water, including water obstacles and plenty of time at the pool.
"I was not expecting it to be this hot," Alyssa said.
Mrs. Park says the campers are learning healthy lifestyles and leadership skills.
She says they have seen a resurgence in camp attendance in the past year.
"Our council makes outdoors a priority, some camps are at capacity," she said. "There is an assumption that kids don't want to unplug, but camp is a family-thing, if the parents didn't go to camp, the children probably won't. But this is leadership development. It is healthy living and the building of confidence."
Both Alyssa and Tiffany love the uphill obstacle course, called the Tower.
It is a challenge-by-choice climbing tour, where girls can push themselves to reach the top.
"You get to blow bubbles at the top!" Tiffany said. "It is so fun, and then you rappel down, and you get to do a Spider-Man pose, with your legs up."
While waiting for their turns at different activities, the girls talk and weave friendship bracelets.
They do not have access to screens or cell phones at camp. Many cabins do not have electrical outlets.
After cooling off at the lake, the girls continue to archery.
"The Hunger Games has helped girls be into archery," Mrs. Park said. "Katniss is an idol."
Tiffany selected a pink compound bow.
"It's so cute," she said.
But there was nothing "cute" when she took to the firing line with four other archers.
She powerfully fired three arrows down range.
She was a little rusty since she hadn't shot since last camp.
"The second time was better, I was close (to the bullseye). I did way better than the first time, the first time was a test run."
While waiting her turn, Alyssa played word games with the rest of the cabin.
The Green Glass Door riddle stumped her.
What could pass through the "Green Glass Door"?
The camp riddle included clues like "trees can pass through, but not flowers," "llamas are allowed, but not alpacas," and "glasses can, but shades can't."
"I don't get it," Alyssa said. "It doesn't make sense. Glasses and shades are the same thing."
Eventually it came to light that double-letter words can pass through, while single-letter words cannot.
Peaches works to make sure her campers are constantly engaged.
They go to bed at 10 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m., but storms and talking have kept the girls up way later than "bedtime."
"I'm really tired," Alyssa said.
Tiffany was still going a mile a minute, but was excited to get home to her family on Friday.
"I need to wash everything, all of your clothes get filthy at camp," she said.
Girl Scout camps run through the second week of August. They are open to any girl, it is $15 to register as a Girl Scout and $265 to attend a weeklong camp. Mrs. Park says financial aid is available.
"We want to make the camp accessible," she said.