June's Surprises

Hello Troops,
They say we are in the midst of global warming? If our weather is any indication that our planet is heating up then the scientists are sorely mistaken. The strong northerly winds and dropping temperatures forced me to cancel our camp swimming at the outdoor Pleasant Grove Swimming Pool this evening. That's two weeks in a row cool temperatures forced a change in plans. Last week I had enough warning to arrange a bus and organize a trip to the indoor Orem Rec. Center. This week I relied on the weather report saying it would be 75 degrees today. I don't recall reading about strong winds and the early arrival of a cold front. And that is what I get for rely on the weather forecast and not my own gut instinct. My gut told me to arrange a bus just in case - but I ignored it. My gut told me to call Orem Rec. and make arrangements - but I ignored it.

Other plans had to be imagined and implemented. Thankfully Megan Warner and Jon Parker were on hand, along with other great staff and volunteers, to take the burden off my shoulders. They organized outdoor and indoor games to fill the time void created by canceling our swimming. It went perfectly. Megan has some of the kids outside playing a game she learned while serving an LDS mission to South Korea. Jon had the rest in them in the gym playing dodgeball and similar games.

Our schedule returned to normal after the games. The campers retired to the cafeteria for videos. Now they are tucked into their beds and drifting off to Dreamland.

There are two more days of camps. I get to go home Saturday night. I'm hoping for no more surprises. I long for routine, blessed routine.

Simply,
Mr. Williamson

Settling Down for the Night

Hello Troops,

It's 12:03 A.M.
Midnight was the start of the second day of our EdVenture and Ultimate Camp. The campers arrived at 7:00 P.M. The EdVenture Campers go home Friday afternoon. The Ultimate Campers go home Saturday morning.

We've spent the last hour working with a young camper struggling with home sickness and a fear of aliens. His mother says he was fine with sci fi and aliens until he and his younger brother watched the movie Signs ten days ago. Since then he's had nightmares and has developed a fear of space and aliens.

He started crying before the first rotation started. I talked him into staying and let him watch the Magellan mission from the Control Room. I knew our real struggle would come at bedtime.

I've got to hand it to the boy. He is a real trooper. He called his mother and consented to stay one night. He starts to cry then pulls himself out of it and settles down. He has never slept away from family before so this is a big step for a ten year old.

Right now I've got him settled on the Voyager Bridge. Jon and Adam will keep an eye on him. If there are problem they'll come and get me.

We've got a great bunch of excited campers this week. I'm expecting great things.

The one drawback to our camp and this weekend's private missions will be Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days. This camp ends at 10:00 A.M. Saturday which is the same time the parade will be moving through town. The streets around the school will be closed. Our camper's families will have a tough time finding their way to the school to pick up their kids. I'm expected many frustrated phone calls.

Time for bed.

Mr. W.

Marvin Can't go to the Space Center

Marvin Maplethorp is one very upset boy this morning. His mother shattered his dreams during breakfast when she told him that he was too young to go to his older brother's birthday party at the Space Education Center. His mood didn't change even after she broke her own rule and brought out his Wolfman mug. Such a thing would normally be strictly forbidden at the breakfast table but there are times even mothers break their own rules.

Marvin would have none of it. He saw his mother's weakness and pulled out the next trick in his arsenal. He threatened never to eat again and pounded his forehead on the table.

"You'll be too scared. There are aliens that attack you and stuff," his older brother said as he shoveled spoonfuls of Cheerios into his mouth in a mad rush to finish quickly and get ready.

"I'm not afraid of aliens," Marvin shot back in his own defense.

"Not these kind of aliens." His brother sat back in his chair, thought for a moment and continued. "On my last overnight camp our ship was taken over by these really tall and skinny aliens. We all ran and hid. I crawled under a desk. I heard security shooting at the alien. The workers called security down, that means they got shot. It was only me and this alien. I heard the door open. It was dark. I looked up from under the desk and saw the most hideous creature I'd ever seen coming after me."

Marvin's eyes grew as large as quarters. "Did it get you?" he asked.

His brother described the alien in detail. He told how he fought bravely for his ship and crew. He described how it nearly got him but the revived security guards were able to get to him first.

"Them aliens like small kids like you 'cause you can't fight back like us bigger kids. If you went to my party you'd be taken for sure. Then what's mom suppose to do? She'll cry all day and night. All because you are acting like a baby and threw a fit about coming to my party?" His brother looked at his mom and smiled. His over exaggerated story telling was having its desired effect.

Marvin thought for a moment, then said that maybe he was a too small. "But when I get older I'll get them aliens," he declared as he reached for his Wolfman mug filled with Donald Duck Orange Juice.

Marvin and his mother spent some time at WalMart while his brother and his friends were at the Space Center. Mother shopped for groceries and Marvin looked for laser guns and other useful items to defend himself from alien attack.

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And now, a few items from the Imaginarium offered to shore up your imagination.

VanGogh's Mordor and the Starry Night, for sale only in the Imgainarium's Gift Shop.

Junior attempts to move a few objects using the dark side of the force while he waits for his Happy Meal.

Steam Punked R2D2

And so, Tuesday is upon us.

Mr. W.