Basketball Sleep Away Camp!

Bree & Hailey

A few months ago, one of Hailey's best friends asked if she wanted to go to a basketball camp this summer. It was a sleep away camp but not far from our house. Now, she's never been one to want to put a lot of effort into a sport, per se. And, after last year's sleep away camp, she said she might do another one...one day. But now, here she was faced with an opportunity that she may have not been ordinarily thrilled by. However, her friend, Bree, told Hailey should would have to go by herself or have a random roommate if Hailey did not go with her. Of course, Hailey being the kind of friend that she is agreed to go with Bree. 

So mid-July, we packed Hailey up and I dropped her off at camp about 20 minutes away from our house. A few days before, she was getting cold feet. So I wouldn't let her bring her phone because I didn't want her be able to contact me because I wanted her to be immersed in her camp experience and enjoy her time there instead of calling me. But Bree had her watch phone so Hailey could still call me. Shoot. 

I had just dropped her off not even 6 hours before when I got the first text that she wasn't feeling well and she wanted to call me. I did accept her call and talked to her. After about 20 minutes of trying to remain positive with her about this experience, I flat out had to tell her, I'm not coming to get you. She then said can I at least call you tomorrow night too? I agreed and told her to make the best of it. 

The next night she called and was a totally different kid. She was yelling hi to girls in the hall, cracking jokes with her roommate, telling me she had to go soon because they ordered pizza. We talked for a short time and she asked if she could call me the next night too. I agreed again. And, the next night was much of the same. She told me she didn't love playing basketball all day long but she really did love the social aspect.

I picked her up on Thursday. She packed up all of her stuff by herself (yeah, I'm impressed too) and didn't lose anything. She showered every day (can I bring her counselors home with me so they can get her to shower every day too?!). She said the food was disgusting - sloppy joe's and meatloaf for dinner two of the nights. I agree with her - who feeds kids that gross food? How about chicken nuggets and mac and cheese?! And, she said she definitely was not interested in going to a sports camp ever again! Ha! So different from Austen but I totally get it too. I went to a soccer camp once after 6th grade, and it wasn't that much fun. Too much work. Regular, old fashioned sleepover camp was more my speed so I'm hoping that she'll try that next summer! 

And, they're off!

The last day - they did it!