When we arrived at Camp Wapiti, we arrived to quite a thunderstorm. I left Russ with the kids in the car while I checked in and got our cabin assignment. They had a canopy in front of the lodge for the check-in. I will admit that I chuckled to myself as I stood under the canopy in the storm and noticed one of the orange cones that had been set up said, "Wet Floor." Luckily, the storm didn't last long and we were able to unload the car without getting really wet. Our cabin had 6 bunk beds. The kids each picked to sleep on the top bunk of the beds.
We had a lot of fun at the camp. After a good spaghetti dinner, the kids played at the playground until it got dark enough for the outdoor movie. (The group voted and the movie we watched was Race to Witch Mountain.) Having an outdoor movie was another nice thing that the storm didn't last long. I went back to the cabin before the movie ended with the girls and Dylan. They were all a little cold and tired. Of course, they got to the cabin and decided to play rather than go to bed. Emma eventually went back and finished watching the movie. Didn't take any of them very long to fall asleep once the movie ended.
After breakfast in the morning, they had activities for the kids to do while the parents went to a symposium. I found the symposium to be very interesting. The first speaker was one of the pediatric cardiologists who works in the cath lab at Primary Children's Medical Center. He talked about some of the things that will be able to be used in the future in the cath lab. He even brought along a balloon cath and showed how it works. (I am horrible at remembering names, which is why I haven't mentioned it here.) The next speaker was a lady who supervises some of the research and studies at Primary's. She told a little about what they do and some of the studies that are being done now. The next speaker works with genetic research. They really don't know much at all about the causes of chd's, but with enough participation will hopefully be able to know more. Last the doctor who had volunteered to help out at the camp in case anyone needed medical attention spoke about the camp and the future of the camp. They hope to be able to get it so that they can have things like a day camp for heart kids and siblings who are between like 4 and 7. Maybe an overnighter for kids 7 to 12 and a week long camp for teenagers. At Camp Wapiti there are a few groups that do things like that. Like one for kids with cancer. Obviously it won't be a camp just for members of Intermountain Healing Hearts, but will be open to all heart kids and families (this one was also open to all heart kids and families but only members actually went).
After lunch we went swimming in pool. It had been stormy in the morning but had cleared up nicely in time for swimming. The temperature was on the cool side so I expected the pool to feel very cold. I was surprised to find that it felt warmer than the pool in St. George did. We had a hard time getting the kids out of the pool. Jimmy and Molly were the very last ones in it. They got out very grudgingly.
After swimming we finished cleaning up our cabin and then it was time to check out. The kids were sad to go. Mostly because they wanted to play on the playground some more, I think. They are looking forward to going again.
Here are a few pictures I took. I really didn't take as many as I had planned to take. Just didn't. This first one is of Molly playing on the swings.
Lys was dancing in her chair as they played music while waiting for it to get dark enough for the movie.
Emma sitting and waiting for the movie. If you look in the background, you can see the tables that they were getting treats ready for the movie. They had rootbeer floats, nachos, ice cream sundaes, and popcorn.
Russ and Dylan.
Jimmy attempting to dodge out of the frame when I was taking his picture.
Doesn't really do it justice, but there was a really pretty sunset Friday night. 
The next event IHH is having is the Heart Walk on Sept. 12th. This is their biggest fundraiser. Russ works the second Saturday of every month, so I'm not sure if we will be able to go. I'll have to see what we can do. If anyone else is interested you can pre-register by clicking here and following the directions or I believe you can register at the event. If you click on that link, it should have the information for the Heart Walk.
1 comment:
I am so glad that you guys were able to attend and were not scared off by the down pour and hail that happened when you first arrived. In the end it all worked out well. It was fun to have your family there and I am glad that Dylan was feeling okay too.
I do hope that somehow you can make it to the walk, but you have to do what is best for your family too.
By the way, it just wasn't your kids that got out of the pool grundingly. Mine were pretty pouty about it too.
(HUGS)
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