Family Camp 2026...it's a win!

Family Camp was at Pine Lake/John's Valley Group Site!  It was June 9th-12th (Tues. - Friday).  If there was any downside to it, it was that the water was not on to begin with, so we had to bring lots.  Everyone did, and we were just fine.  Then they did get it turned on, and it was so full of chlorine that you really couldn't use it yet.  The only other thing that could have made it better was to have had it include a Saturday so that people weren't taking quite so many days off work.  We had to be out by 11 am, so it was kind of a waste of people's Friday off work.  We had some people that couldn't make it at all.  Supe and Beacher and kids had to bail at the last minute because Jem got sick.  Ferf's Brynnli, Tavin, Kennis and Koen didn't make it either.  Derek and boys could only come  up for a day because of work and football practice, but Kaebri and Tasia came on their own and stayed the whole time.  Some people had to leave early for this or that, and Brady could only come up for an evening/morning.  Ellie is on a mission.  Ferf brought a boyfriend.  We took a family picture at the time the most were there on Thursday morning after brunch and before we left to go to the lake.  

We changed how we did the meals this time.  We had brunch at 9:30-10ish and then had dinner when it seemed like time in the evening.  During the rest of the day there were lots of yummy snacks available - some healthy, and some not so healthy!  It seemed good to not feel as stuffed all of the time.  Probably count that change as a win.  

Tuesday was a get there and get set up day. We brought our own dinners.  Then things got rolling with games, a national park jigsaw puzzle, badminton, and Zion brought a little solo stove and some s'mores were made and consumed after people were done with their own dinners.

Wednesday, we had a leisurely morning, brunch from Supe and Moss - yogurt with fruit, Danish, homemade sourdough bread with peanut butter and Nutella, cherries, etc.  So good.  Then we headed down to Losee Canyon and did a red rock arches hike and then another one at Red Canyon.  It was beautiful, but just a bit hot that late in the day.  Then it was back to camp for hammock time, games, playing in the stream by camp (Clara found a frog), delicious Asian Pork Bowls for dinner by Juge/Brynn and a walk around the Pine Lake later in the evening.  The lake was much smaller than usual, but it made for good walking on the extended shoreline.  Lots of visiting happened and scenery was enjoyed. Then we had a fireside evening and people shared family stories.  It was really great!  We learned some new things about people and enjoyed old things again.  We just stayed up visiting by the fire.  

Thursday was a slow wake up/play games/puzzling and visiting until brunch by Lou/Bryan/Bean of quesadillas.  Delicious again!  Then we took a great family picture and headed to Pine Lake with a canoe and 3 kayaks, snacks and chairs.  We took turns in the boats and played games, ate snacks, napped, skipped lots of rocks very far out, played in the water and just chilled.  The lake was pretty calm most of the time and very nice and cool.  Late afternoon we packed it up and headed back to camp. Games and fun and the jigsaw puzzle got finished until dinner by Paul/Bonnie/Ferf - Hamburgers, chips and cottage cheese, watermelon and Costco S'mores. We had the big spoons game for a bit.  It's always fun.  Then we had another sit by the fire time and people told jokes and laughed and then Juge suggested rose, bud, thorn - a way to tell about good things happening in your life, things you are looking forward to having happen and things that were a thorn for you in your life right now.  It was a great time sharing around the circle of the fire.  Some more s'mores came out for those who wanted them, some of us hit the sack and kids stayed up a while playing games.  Jay and Brynn and Moss and Christie had to leave this night before the fireside chatting.

Friday - Ferf had to leave very early to be back for a class, so Kaebri and Tasia put out the cold cereal, juice/chocolate milk buffet by 6:30 and people came and ate as they were ready.  We all enjoyed the buffet of many types of cereal!  Then it was time to clean up and get ready to leave by 11 am.

This was a great, very private campsite.  It had 3 bathrooms, it was close to the lake.  It was pretty cold the first night, but warmed up after that.  There was a lot of shade and lots of tables. We put up a couple of awnings to shade some of the tables.  There were enough tables for games/snacks to be left and still have enough to eat on.  It was good to go this early in the year.  It might have been too hot later on. I  paid $410 early in the year to be able to reserve this site.