One Happy Camper

One last post about camp from Mom this time. 

So last March I was asked to be education director for our animal rescue league. Having no idea what that entailed, I just knew I wanted to work directly with kids and dogs. At the beginning of June (2010) I went to our board president and said, “I had this idea for a summer camp. We’d have to plan it for next summer though cause there isn’t time to put it together this year.” She said, “Nope, put it together and do it this year.”  In five weeks, I pulled it off. It was not nearly as grand as this year, but was still great given the short notice.

We live in the “Bible belt” and our BARL president is a Christian, so I was given permission to put a Christian twist on the camp. Our theme this year was D.O.G.- depend on God and our camp song was GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco.  I was able to look each child in the eyes and tell them that God made them special and that He and I love them and were always there for them. As simple as that sounds I hope and pray that I sowed seeds into the lives of these precious children that will reap a harvest in their lives in the years to come.

It is my desire that this thing will grow and be bigger and better each year. I also want to pursue other outlets to make the lessons we’re teaching in the camp available to more children. As I shared with media last week: “Education is key to preventing children from being dog attack victims. If they knew how to react in that situation, they’d be less likely to be injured badly. And if we can teach the kids responsible ownership, we are training the next generation to have reliable canine companions that will be an asset to our communities rather than a threat.”

And so my heart is being turned again - in addition to continuing therapy work with children and adults, education has now become a strong heart's desire.  With that I am hoping to turn some of the lessons we have started teaching into a children's book series featuring Boondocks and The Love Shack Pack.  I have no idea how to begin but am pursuing all avenues to see this through.  I'm excited to see where God is leading and to continue following the path He's set before us.

For your viewing entertainment, I leave you with a video montage from our camp week featuring three of our favorite dog songs.

The Day I Went To Camp!

Thanks for the outpouring of sympathy over the injustice bestowed upon me by not being allowed to go to The Dog Days of Summer Camp for Kids.  I am rather pleased to report that finally on the last day of camp mom took me with her.  Ok, so she took all five of us goldens on Friday, but let's not dwell on that. 

I FINALLY MADE IT TO CAMP!!  The wonderful doggie camp for kids that I'd heard about all week, the dog days of summer camp that I'd sacrificed my mommy time for weeks for so that she could plan, THAT CAMP, and I was finally there.

Mom said that every doubt she'd had about bringing me earlier in the week was confirmed in the first hour I was there.  I couldn't help myself though.  I was excited to be there and wanted to teach those young'uns a thing or two!

For the record, I was going for my leash... not her leg!

McKayla seemed to think my game was fun.

Dancing

And a prancing

I got it, I got it!  AROOOF!

I was just trying to help.  I don't know what mom got so upset about.  She said I wasn't the best model of an obedient dog.  (If she thinks I misbehaved at camp, wait until she sees what I did to her shoes!)

Anyway, enough about me.  This camp thing was really cool.  Friday morning we had an agility demonstration. 

Our friend, Jo Beth Britt, with her Sheltie, Tad.

Marsha Jones and Rocket

Campers with BARK agility team.

I got to meet some interesting characters:

This is my new friend, Madelyn.

Kudzu was more interested in this guy than I was.

And I wasn't at all sure what this was, but I met it!

And then it was time for the parade!  A hundred dog lovers with their campers and canine companions marched through historic, downtown Brookhaven.  What a sight!

Our new buddy, Moon, walked with our Scarlet dog.

Rose Bud knows she's looking classy and sassy in this hat!

Cosmo didn't care for his hat so much.

And of course, Kudzu got off easy.  He rode with Dad and Connor in a golf cart!

I can't believe what a good time we all had.  It was so fun and I have promised mom I will work really hard through the next twelve months to become a role model for doggie goodness.  I want to go with her everyday next year!

The Love Shack Pack (minus the mom)

 

 

Dog Days of Summer Doggie Day Camp for Kids 2010

Brookhaven Animal Rescue League proudly hosted its first annual summer day camp for kids in July. With 35-40 children in attendance daily, the kids were taught many ways to be a dog's best friend.


On Monday, Lt. Clint Earls and his canine partner, Felix, provided the kids with information on how to be safe around strange dogs. They also did a demonstration highlighting some of Felix's special obedience commands. On Tuesday, Mrs. Beth Adcock talked to the children about the importance of having a plan ready that includes your pets in the case of a disaster and being prepared to evacuate with your pet should the need arise. Wednesday, Mrs. Janice Wallace, groomer and owner of The Dog House, brought the adorable Miss. Cocoa and taught the kids the importance of proper grooming. Cocoa was a big hit with her pink and green bows and perfectly polished toe nails. Later that day we were delighted to have Dr. Bob Watson talk to the children about spaying and neutering pets to help control the problem of over-population in our community. Thursday was a real treat with Marsha Jones and Jo Beth Britt and their athletic Shelties - Spring, Rocket, Phantom, Tad, Chris, and Rowdy - performing an agility demonstration for our campers. The children were fascinated by the fast paced obstacle course and many seemed interested in learning agility with their own dogs. Friday finished up the week with a Parade of Pooches where the children's parents were allowed to bring the camper's personal pets from home to participate. Children without a pet of their own were provided with a dog from BARL for the event.

Shelter manager and dog trainer, Jayne Wells, was on hand daily to teach the kids different training techniques. The kids were encouraged to go home each day and practice what they had learned with their own pets.

BARL is blessed with the best volunteers around. So many wonderful folks poured their hearts and souls into making each element of camp exciting for the children. We had a great group of camp counselors that interacted so well with the kids and supervisors who carefully watched over the details of the day helping out wherever they were needed. Each day a different volunteer provided refreshments. In addition there were several people who worked behind the scenes transporting dogs, donating ice, providing craft supplies, and so much more. Without these special people giving so much of themselves, this camp would not have happened.


The camp provided a fun forum to enhance the children's understanding about caring for an animal. It also provided wonderful socialization for the BARL dogs that served each day to help in training exercises.

BARL consider's this first camp to have been a huge success and already has plans underway for continuing this tradition for years to come.

I was honored to serve as camp director for the week and can't wait until next year!