The Big Hunt

Well campers, what a special day. The Sunday before Memorial Day is a tradition around these parts for the famous "Camp Winnamucca Yucca Annual Snipe Hunt". This year is no different. Even though we don't have the usual big teams with just one camper but were confident that Jeff will come home a winner. We took Jeff out to the "Happy Hunting Grounds" where there had been many Snipe sightings this Spring. This is one of the prime Snipe grounds in all of North America. We deposited Jeff with the necessary equipment; a large stick, a strong reinforced net and game bag and whistle. He was also equipped with the Snipe Call that he had made in his crafts class last night with counsellor Lawrence. Jeff had opted for the nose whistle with the serrated edges with the grating stick to create the matting call of the wild North American Snipe. Camper Jeff had been well prepared for the hunt, including all of the dangers of meeting the wild Snipe on it's own turf. We also reassured Jeff that hidden counsellors would be standing by with snipe hunting rifles and emergency first aid kits just in case he was bitten or scratched. Jeff was very impressed by how well the counsellors hid, he did not see any of them the entire day or throughout the night. Although Jeff thought he heard plenty of Snipe, he was never able to get his hands on one. Disappointed, the counsellors decided to let Jeff hunt another day or days until he got his Snipe. We certainly don't want a disappointed camper on our hands. We suggested that for the second day, he rub himself up in the dung of the very rare Easter Bunny Beetle in heat. Fortunately for Jeff, we happened to have some on hand from a previous hunt. Jeff thought it looked and smelled just like dog poop but we assured him it was the real deal. In the early morning at breakfast we trained him in vocalizing Snipe calls to use in consort with his Snipe call he made in crafts. We also, of course, recommended he walk backwards on all the trails to fool the Snipe into thinking he was leaving instead of coming. We are very confident that with these new skills, equipment and smells, Jeff can't help but come home with a trophy size beast. We told him that we would get the barbecue grill ready and Cookie said that he had already made his famous "sage and pinion nut snipe sauce". When Jeff marched off, backwards of course, he had a big confident smile on his face, so did the counsellors.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the great Snipe Hunt of 2010 update. Will Jeff catch the big one? Stay tuned.

EEEWWWWWWWWWW! Yuck!!!!!!!

History was made today at Camp Winnamucca Yucca. Camper Jeff ate the Brussels Sprouts off his plate, excuse me, ALL of the Brussels Sprouts off of his plate. It was disgusting, no one eats those things, what is this, some sort of a freak? I mean REALLY, have you ever seen anyone do that before? Thank God we didn't have any other campers this session, they would have been scarred for life. Come on, we thought this dude was a little weird with his pre-bed routine of pedicure and painted toe nails. The constant referring to himself in the third person and the cult like stalking of Oprah and Ed Bagely Jr., but Brussels Sprouts!!! Now we can't get any of the counsellors to sleep in the same bunkhouse with him so they have to do 2 hour rotating shifts so they can stay awake while they watch. We are really nervous about this afternoons horseback riding activity, just what will this wack job do next.

Memory sticks in the crafts barn

In a stunning burst of creativity, camper Jeff found himself in the crafts barn project making memory sticks. Counselor Lawrence introduced Jeff to the use of metaphors to symbolize his feelings towards his friends and family. His use of the heavily splattered red paint all over the headless dolls contrasted beautifully with the tightly wrapped cords binding them all to the road flare that looked amazingly close to a stick of dynamite. Lawrence even said that Jeff was working on poetry while making his composition. All he could hear was ramblings like K. I. L. Kill my teacher. He had incredible likenesses of all his art teachers with excruciating expressions of pain except for one which could not be recognized but holding a brush. She was portrayed like a goddess, floating above all the other figures. She was covered in roses and little hearts surrounded her head like a wreath. Were not sure what it symbolized but we knew that when Jeff was ready and stopped crying, he would probably tell us.

This afternoon, campers will get introduced to this years play. We had to make some adjustments to the original script since we only have one camper/actor. Rehearsals for the Pirate of Penzance will begin tonight.

It Works!!!

Last night, the counselors snuck into camper Jeff's bunk house and placed a pan of luke warm water beside his bed and gently placed his hand in it.

Boy were there giggles in the morning at camp Winnamucca Yucca.

Major Disappointment

Due to disciplinary action, tonights scheduled Ice Cream Social with Camp Wuckamucket, a camp for wayward girls, has been canceled. Although we do not feel comfortable discussing "the incident", it has certainly gotten enough press already in the local gazette, we are willing to say that our camper Jeff has in a very mature manner, apologized personally to the Girl Scout Troop leader and the parents of the girls, and of course the owner of the goat. It should be noted that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated at Camp Winnamucca Yucca. The girls from Camp Wuckamucket were very disappointed and hope that we may be able to reschedule at a latter date. Judge Boldegard has ruled that since he can find no law pertaining specifically to this action and the fact that it was both mildly entertaining and provided far more excitement than these parts have seen in quite a spell, he let the defendant go on his own recognizance. He just hopes that the people at PETA don't find out and raise a ruckus.


Don't forget, tomorrow is bunk inspection! All campers need to make sure their bunk and bunk area are clean and ready for inspection at 7:00 a.m.

Canoe Race Result In!

Oh what a competition today in the big camp Winnamucca Yucca annual Canoe Regatta. Jeff, being the only camper, was heavily favored to win it all. Unfortunately Jeff has no sense of direction whatsoever and went the wrong way. He completed the 300 yard course in 12 hours 47 minutes and 18 seconds, just 12 hours 45 minutes and 22 seconds off of our camp record, set by the one armed girl back in the Summer of 02'. Jeff was happy to cross the line and we were happy to get our canoe back. The directors decided to go ahead and give him the award anyway since we already had the date engraved on it by Dave, down out Dave's Auto Salvage and Trophy.

Onlookers at the race were most impressed by Jeff's dogged determinism as he continued to paddle the wrong way while hundreds told him to turn around. Bubba JoeDonBakerBobSmith Jr., of Bubba's Bait and pedicure said, "Why if Columbus turned around when others told him the world was flat, he never would have discovered Finland". Others in the crowd said he just looked kinda stupid. We of course, prefer to use the word "special".

Due to some obvious concerns about safety, this years rifle competition has been canceled.

We hope to have some more pictures posted for you blog followers soon. Maybe some of the locals may post their experiences with Jeff soon to. We would love to hear from you. I can only pass on news of the events I get to witness, maybe some of you have seen some of the other Camp Winnamucca Yucca events.

Jeff gets hoarse singing kumbaya

Jeff sang his little heart out but the emotion of the song, the stars in the dark sky, and the sugar overload of the s'mores, was just too much for his system. At least we were able to get him to stop singing the rounds with himself. He excels at harmonizing with himself.

After s'mores and songs, jeff told his favorite scary story of "bloody boots". We can't wait till tomorrow when he finishes it. He got too scared telling it tonight to finish. And speaking of scared, could someone notify his parents to send his Alf stuffed animal? He needs it.

Camp Songs At Winnamucca Yucca

Tonight is an exciting night as we start our campfire series of Camp Songs. In our campfire series, our campers learn exciting things like, nifty camp songs, secret level up codes for World of Warcraft and "all about girls". If you know of any camp songs that you think would be good, please send along the lyrics.

And as always, please keep those letters to our campers coming, a letter from home or a friend can keep homesickness from becoming too much of a problem. We did have some tears last night, but that is to be expected.

Day 2 at Camp Winnamucca Yucca.

After a rousing breakfast of a bowl of cereal, we put our sleeping bags out to dry after a quick rinse following last nights "accident". Today was Hat Day so camper made a festive hat. Being the only contestant, Jeff won the contest hands down after about an hour deliberation by the judges. Here is his winning entry.

After our great Crafts project with hats it was time for "pretend to go to work". This is an important aspect of Camp Winnamucca Yucca's goal to help integrate our post college students into what we like to call "Real Life". In this unit, our campers pretend to go to work at a real job. At these places, they have things called deadlines and official work hours. Sometimes these work hours start before 2:00 in the afternoon. Can you picture Jeff Sleepy?

Day 1 at Camp Winnamucca Yucca.

Campers arrived around noon with their families and made their good byes. As soon as the smoke cleared from the screeching tires, camper and staff got down to business. Campers organized their bunks and enjoyed a buffet dinner. After dinner it was time for some camper down time so they could get to meet their councilors and relax. Then it was off to bed for ghost stories and writing letters home.

Welcome 2010 Campers!

Congratulations to this years big Summer Camp Scholarship Winner Jeffrey Fugelsang!

Jeff was our only contestant in this years contest but that does not diminish his accomplishment. Attendance at camp this year is down following last years tragic accidental death of 3 campers. That does not mean that there won't be fun aplenty here at Camp Winnamucca Yucca.