Boggy Creek

On Friday afternoon we headed off to Camp Boggy Creek. We knew Scott may struggle with the food at camp so we made a quick pit-stop at our favourite Irish chipper/pub, ‘Raglan Road’ at Downtown Disney to bulk him up a bit first. Not for our benefit of course, we don’t like chipper chips. LOL!

So after a bit of a drive through the boonies we get there and check in and are met by our helper/babysitter/playmate for the weekend. Nick is a medical student and a camp volunteer and was wonderful. We all loved him but Scott especially, he followed Nick all weekend long and together they danced and sang their little hearts out. Derry really enjoyed Nicks company too but there was no way he was going to do any of that embarrassing “gay” stuff. No siree.

Each family were staying in a lodge that would accommodate 8 kids during the summer week long camp. It was basically a dormitory, very simple but very impressive too. Also, there was a handmade teddy bear and a crocheted blanket on the bed for each of the boys, a real nice touch! The standard of workmanship gone into building every part of Boggy Creek was incredible. Beautiful buildings and grounds, absolutely no expense spared. Boggy Creek was founded by Paul Newman and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf about 10 years ago (I think) and they sure made a perfect job of it.

Friday evening was spent eating, singing and dancing and getting to know Nick. There were about 30 families staying for the weekend and every family had a helper. I wasn’t sure about the idea at first, I’m not one for having someone in my personal space but he just blended right in and I’m so grateful we had him around. He wasn’t intrusive at all and neither did I have any doubts about him spending time with the boys, I don’t know how he did it really; he naturally became part of “us” for the weekend.

Everyone was sent to bed about 10pm as Saturday was going to be busy, busy, and busy.
However we were awoken in the middle of the night (7.30am Sat.); Nick was at our door to pick up the boys to go canoeing!

As expected Saturday was busy and lots of fun. Derry and I went kayaking and he very nearly tipped us over into the pond. I had asked earlier about alligators, hoping to be told there were absolutely no gators at Boggy Creek. They said “they hadn’t spotted any RECENTLY”. Aaargh! Also last summer a black bear had been seen prowling around camp! Awesome!

Anyway it’s getting really late now and I want to go to bed so I’ll post this and some photos. (My pictures really dont do Camp Boggy Creek justice, for one thing my camera is rather 'dodgy' but also much of what the boys did they did just with Nick, either because we couldnt keep up with them or we were attending the adult 'stuff'). David can fill you in some more on the rest of our stay and on his thoughts of camp.

Boggy Creek is a wonderful place, the camp leaders were very professional and ‘kid-friendly’ and we really hope we can go back soon and maybe, oooh I hope so, catch a glimpse of a real life teddy bear!!

We also hope to see Nick again. It was sad to say goodbye.