Camp Mom

I'm spending this summer with my kids and we're having Camp Mom.  I've tried to give it structure and keep the girls involved every day of the week.  I don't try to plan it exactly but we've agreed on these rules to help us get things done at home, learn something and have fun together.  It's not perfect, we've had a few deliciously wasted days when they were still catching up on their rest after a long successful school year. We also do a points for chores program to help keep the kids motivated and helping with the chores all week long. Weekly winners get to pick a fun thing to do on Mystery Day.

Here's our schedule:

Mondays - Clean Up Catch Up Days: We do the laundry, take out the trash and recycling, sweep the floors, and hopefully unpack a box or two.  For fun we'll make a donation drop off run to our favorite little WAVL thrift store Hip Thrift or go to "the Bins" at the Goodwill Outlet Center or snoop around for cool stuff at Habitat for Humanity. Planning on checking out Trash Inc. next week.

Tuesdays - Garden and Art Days: We take pictures, paint, chalk pictures everywhere we go, play Animal Smush, baking, repotting houseplants, tend the garden, pick up sticks in the yard (and dog poop),  ride the mower, visit a friend's garden (like Dump Truck Park), read in the hammock under the tree.  For free outings you can't beat Asheville's parks and the Asheville Botanical Garden is always a solid favorite. For a great chance to expose the kids to art take them to the Asheville Art Museum's new Art Playce or catch up with Asheville's Easel Rider every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Phil Mechanic Studios for their potluck lunch.

Wednesdays - Adventure Days!: This is our chance to get out and explore a place we've never been or one we've wanted to get back to.  A lot of times this ends up being swimming at the pool or Walnut Island but we've also been to a waterfall in South Carolina, the NC Arboretum, Tropical Gardens Mini Golf, and the Bristol Speedway. (We were helping out Daddy, riding with him to pick up a rental RV for U-Save).  Still on the list is tubbing in Hot Springs,  a trip out to some trails in Old Fort,  hiking in Transylvania County and some exploring in Jackson County and if I can talk them into it, a small hajj to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Thursdays - Mystery Days: You can't schedule everything you know so this day is usually "kid directed".  This is our wide open day for picking up friends or doing something unexpected.  We might end up at Splashville, reading at Pack Library or doing the Urban Trail Route downtown.  We might end up at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge or at either of the Hops for a mid-afternoon treat.  Or we might take an idea out of our "Crazy Can". That's basically a jar with a bunch of paper scraps where we write down good stuff to do.  You have to do whatever the jar says.  Sometimes it's 5 laps around the yard, or make your bed or start a water balloon fight. You just never know. . .

Fridays - River Days: If we've been to the river already this week we're going again! Different sections, sometimes Bent Creek, mostly Ledges or Walnut Island, but I'm looking for a reasonably priced 4 man raft so we can do longer sections floaty style. We also like to wander out to Henderson County and flop around in Mills River or in Clear Creek at a friend's picnic shed.