With the parents’ vacation all but used up for a while, it was time to enroll Charlotte in a Summer Camp. In the past, she has attended Art Camps, Circus Camps, and the like; so this year, we decided it was time for her to go outside.
This year, Charlotte attended the Summer Camp at Banook Canoe Club (BCC), and living so close, Michelle and I splurged on a full family membership at the club, which gave us access to the open wharf nights, club BBQ’s, and beach access to the swimming area.
There was a little trepidation initially, as Charlotte knew she would be experiencing a number of firsts here; paddling kayaks and war canoes, swimming without a lifejacket, ordering her own food from the club canteen (carefully managing the balance), and walking home with some of the older kids, on days when Michelle or I would be on hand.
The fact that Charlotte's after-school care is in the same location served to spare her a lot more anxiety than she might have otherwise experienced.
Whatever. The kid’s horizons were about to be expanded. Bloody awesome Summer Camp, if you ask me. I’d have given my eye teeth to have gone to such great places in my Summer… back in my day… (insert jealous father’s rant - you get the idea).
In any case, we were soon established in our new Summer-time routine, with Charlotte paddling, swimming, and playing all day long, and Michelle and I playing paper, rock, scissors each day, via text message, to determine who would head down early to go pick her up (on the days she wasn’t walking home with the neighbourhood kids, that is).
Some days, Michelle would swing by from work and stick around for me to show up so we could attend the club BBQ. On other days, I would run down from the house and take the opportunity to cool off in the lake, before dragging the kid, kicking and screaming I might add, from the warm waters of Lake Banook.
The life and energy surrounding the lake is a big part of the reason why we chose to move to the Dartmouth area from Halifax, so after nearly five years on the hill, it was high time we came down off our high-horse and started participating in our community.
The first term of Charlotte’s Summer Camp came and went so quickly, the first U11 Regatta was on the upon us before we knew it. Of course, the thought of paddling a tippy K1 (single-seat kayak), or a frenetic War Canoe in a race against the other clubs was quite intimidating. Naturally, Charlotte had her reservations.
All week, we had been deflecting her threats to pull out and talking her down off the ledge several times in the week leading up to the regatta. There was the usual pleading, bargaining, and negotiating.
“Please, guys! I don’t want to do the regatta. I’ll even clean my room.”
Despite all the drama and carry on, when race day finally did arrive, Charlotte approached it with the heart of a lioness.
She had been very clear all week that she didn’t like the K1’s because of how tippy they were and she didn’t like the rowdiness aboard the War Canoe, etc. – but with her banner flying alongside those of the other kids on the BCC clubhouse, war paint stretched across her cheekbones, and chants ramping up at the dockside, Tig allowed herself to be carried away by the energy of it all.
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