Operation Purple

This July, Kate had the privilege of attending Operation Purple at Camp Kenai on Kenai Lake.  The camp is organized by the National Military Family Association known for supporting military spouses with educational scholarships, organizing and funding retreats to help military families reconnect after dealing with a war-related injury or after long separations, and sending 45,000 military children to summer camp.  The camp gives priority to children who have recently experienced a deployed parent.  Most of the attendees came from the joint Air Force/Army base in Anchorage, but there were several Coast Guard kids as well.  I'm sure Hickory's 220+ days away this year helped Kate gain admission.  Kate's best friend from school is also from a Coast Guard family as her dad's serves on a Coast Guard cutter based out of Kodiak Island.  So Kate, Laura, and her older sister Amy set off for their first experience at sleep away camp. 

From the day school got out in May until July 14, Kate was counting down the days.  I don't think she had a nervous bone in her body.  Here she is helping to pack her bag.

Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing is outlandishly beautiful.  I can't think of a better place to spend a week meeting new friends and enjoying nature. 

Kate (above) with all her gear awaiting her cabin assignment and the arrival of the campers being bused in from Anchorage.

Kate and Laura grabbed the top bunks and then asked us if it was time to leave yet.

James would have been lost at home without Kate, but we had company to keep him busy.  He was thrilled to receive a letter from Kate though. 

When we picked up Kate on Friday, the first thing she asked is if she could stay another week.  The ride home was great as Kate talked non stop.  Below is a list dictated by Kate of all the things they did along with her comments and observations. 

• Camp in a tent one night with three other girls and no counselor.  Hang flashlight from loop at top of tent and have a disco party.
• Hike to Russian River falls.  See tons of big salmon spawning in the river.
  

• Canoe Kenai Lake, collect mud for glacial facial later that night during girls night in the cabin.
• Play Gaga Ball.

• Learn to start a fire with match and flint.
• Sing lots and lots of fun songs.
• Try and like new foods in the dining hall (tacos, but eating all items separately, noodles with tomato sauce on top, and egg bake).  Appalled that there was no milk all week (there is no electricity at camp and the kitchen runs on a generator, so refrigerator space is most likely limited). 
• No longer interested in snacks.  Prefer eating 3 large meals a day.
• Make tie dyed t-shirts.
• Loved competing for camp awards like Golden Dustpan (cleanest cabin) and Least Amount of ORT.   Each table in the dining hall weighed uneaten food (ORT) at the end of the meal.  The table with the least amount of ORT/wasted food was awarded a small prize.
• Raft the Kenai River and see a baby bear on the bank of the river.
• Dunk 17 times in the Glacially fed Kenai Lake to earn Kodiak Bear status.
• Use sauna to warm up after swimming in lake.
• Join Polar Plunge Club by sleeping in bathing suit and waking early to jump in the lake before breakfast.