Time Flies!!

Time flies – literally!!  On my birthday, an old acquaintance of mine congratulated me for completing another journey of 585.6 million miles.  I admit I had to think about that one.  Then it dawned on me – he was referring to the miles we travel as the earth rotates.  It kinda puts a different twist on the expression, “it’s not the years, it’s the mileage.”  Upon further research, I discovered we’re traveling approximately 1,000 miles per hour.  So, I’m traveling really fast and don’t realize or appreciate the fact.  So, here we are.

Another year has passed and Winter Blast Camp is almost here.  Like traveling on a spinning Earth, we don’t realize one journey has ended and another is starting.  I don’t feel movement as the Earth rotates, but I feel movement as Bus #7 moves from Doss Elementary to Camp Doublecreek.  Campers feel movement as they negotiate the jungle gym and the low ropes course. They feel the swaying and steady movement while riding a horse.  During Winter Blast, they experience the movement of a tractor during a hayride.  They engage in self-propulsion as they run during soccer, kickball, colored eggs, tag, going from one activity to another, and getting in line for snacks or lunch.  I suppose the most extreme form of self-propulsion takes place on the zipline.

To continue with the physics analogy, campers also put objects in motion when they strike a ball during kickball, soccer, four-square, gaga ball.  They also put objects in motion when they release an arrow, squeeze the trigger of a BB gun, or squeeze the barrel of a horse (hopefully with their toes up).

I doubt if campers have a sense of motion as the Earth rotates; but during Winter Blast Camp they experience the sensation of motion from the time they step on the bus until they get off at the end of the day.  They also get the sensation of hot chocolate and S’mores, which they will not experience during Spring Break or Summer Camps.

I enjoy closing out the year during Winter Blast Camp.  I see it as a spring board.  So goodbye 2017, hello 2018!  Hello Spring Break and Summer!  This will be our 7th Winter Break Camp.  It’s hard to believe we’ve traveled over 3,500 million miles since our first Winter Break Camp.  Would I like to stop time?  Of course!  But since we’re traveling 1,000 miles per hour, that would be a bad idea.  Now if there was only a way for the Earth’s rotation to translate into burning calories!!

 Joe Ray

A Time to Be Thankful!!

Halloween is behind us and Christmas is coming.  I’ve already seen Christmas ads all over television, but before Christmas, there’s Thanksgiving.  Sadly to some, Thanksgiving has been downgraded from a special day dedicated for giving thanks to simply the day before Black Friday.  I’ve always loved Thanksgiving.  For me, it was about the 3 F’s :  Family, Food and Football!  To most, it is a time to truly reflect and give thanks.

Sometimes the expression “giving thanks” becomes a worn out cliché. There have been times in my life when I gave a cursory thought to giving thanks before devouring the fabulous feast set before me.  This year is different.  My perspective on how much I have to be thankful for was crystallized on October 30th.  On that day I participated in an outreach program called “Church Under the Bridge.”  I have been participating in this program for several years and am part of a wonderful group of people who go to a location under I-35 and 7th Street in Austin to serve coffee and a meal to our homeless population.  I’m always humbled by this experience.

On this particular occasion I met two men I’ll always remember.  One man came through the coffee line right after we began serving.  His nose and lips were puffy and one eye was nearly swollen shut.  He went through the line several times and each time he was telling an acquaintance about the night before.  I heard enough to piece together what happened.  Watching this man walk away, cradling a cup of coffee with both of his shaking hands broke my heart.  Everything he had, he’d lost the night before.

Another man came through the line.  He had an open face, bright eyes and a genuine smile.  I asked him how things were going.  He couldn’t wait to tell me how great things were.  He was able to work two days that week.  He earned enough money to buy a sleeping bag.  The sleeping bag was slung over his shoulder.  He was pretty sure he would be working the next day.  That was enough for him to be excited about tomorrow.

Now, hearing these two men's stories, you might be proud of the second man most for his perspective on life.  However, for me, both these men give me a deeper perspective on all I have to be thankful for.  Family, friends, food and Camp Doublecreek.  I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue sharing the strong family values with all of our awesome campers that Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy created many years ago.

Join me in giving deep thanks this Thanksgiving holiday!

--Joe Ray

I Love Halloween!

I love Halloween – always have!!  I really like the candy – all kinds of candy!  The only difference between now and when I was a kid, is the hard candy.  My teeth can’t handle jaw breakers anymore.  Oh, the trials of old age.

When I was young, I couldn’t wait to go trick-or-treating.  For me, trick-or-treating was all about the candy, with almost no thought to the costume.  I didn’t view the costume as an expression of myself – the costume was simply a license to get candy.  Have you seen children show up at your door wearing a cheap mask and holding out a pillow case?  Well, that was me.

Of course that attitude doesn’t fly with most children.  At school when children discuss Halloween, they’re not talking Butterfingers or lollipops; they’re talking about the costumes they will be wearing.  As I've gotten older, my attitude towards costumes has evolved.  In fact, after Susan I were married, we always managed to come home with some hardware from costume parties.  One year, we went as Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood.  The next year, Susan went as an elegant Victorian lady and I went as the Elephantman. Luckily for posterity, no photos survived.

Halloween is a time of superstition, which and be traced back to Celtic times when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.  The word “Halloween” dates from about 1745.  It comes from a Scottish term which means “All Hallows’ Eve.”  I generally don’t dwell on the deeper meaning of Halloween.  I simply enjoy it.  I watch old horror movies for the tenth time and buy lots of candy to hand out to all the cute ghosts, pirates, princesses, monsters, and superheroes that come to our door.

Halloween is a transitional holiday between Fall and Winter.  Halloween comes after the leaves turn and we get relief from the heat, but before trees go bare and a hard winter sets in.  Of course, here in central Texas, sometimes we don’t have dramatic season changes. But Halloween helps us to prepare for winter and the upcoming holiday seasons with new camp experiences around the corner.

Oh, by the way, if any Doublecreek campers come to my door, don’t be disappointed if I don’t recognize you.  Remember, you’re in costume!

-- Joe Ray

Why We Love Horseback Riding!

Horseback riding has always been an important part of Camp Doublecreek. When Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy were creating the concept of Camp Doublecreek, the first activities they put in place were horseback riding and swimming. The initial design of the facilities had to include an arena, tack room and a pool. I love to think back about the first horses we purchased for camp, the riders the first years and how much fun we had! My desire to teach riding and work with horses stemmed from how much I enjoyed it. I wanted as many people as possible to experience that joy, too.  Out of that passion, the Doublecreek riding program was birthed. 

Now, 46 years later, my passion for teaching horseback riding at camp has a much broader base. Riders learn important life skills from their time on the horse. They learn natural cause and effect, focusing on the task at hand, patience, confidence, self-control as well as balance, coordination and body awareness. As a Physical Therapist and a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, I could go on and on about the benefits, but let’s just say ‘riding is good for you’. And the best thing is, it’s FUN!!!  

Doublecreek is fortunate to have a fantastic summer camp riding crew, headed by Rachel, teaching campers the basics of a balanced seat.  Then, Jan and her crew develop these basics into a higher level of riding during our offseason program.  We are very proud that horseback has always been a strong part of our DNA, and will continue to play a key role in developing your campers.

Jane Neal

Owner & Founder of Doublecreek Riding Program 

Thanks for the Memories!

Friday was a sad day!  I was sad for two reasons.  (1). It was the final day of camp and (2). I was not at Doublecreek.  I had teacher in-service for most of the week.  In-service was tough, especially since I was still in Doublecreek mode.  I kept referencing back to my Doublecreek schedule.  While most teachers were filtering in and catching up on what they did over the summer, I was thinking I should be leading the pledge and singing “You’re a Grand Ole’ Flag.”

Thankfully, I’ll transition from Doublecreek mode to school mode quickly.  I’m grateful that I work at a school with a terrific staff and supportive administrators.  I enjoy my position and find it rewarding.  I’m often asked how I can work with children all year long.  Hey, I’ve got the weekends!  I’m a lucky man – my job doesn’t feel like a job.

I wish I could have been at Doublecreek for all of Final Fling Week.  The staff does a fabulous job of having a week that’s different and fun without having things go off the rails.

I’ve had a terrific summer!  I have to thank our owners, Judy Kirtley and Jane Neal, for continuing the legacy of Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy!  I truly appreciate Dan Neal for his energetic, visionary leadership!  Doublecreek would not be Doublecreek without our incredible staff.  Finally, I have to thank our parents for trusting us with your children this summer.

So, 2017 is now a memory.  I can’t wait for 2018 to create new memories!

-Joe Ray

See our "Goodbye" video:  https://vimeo.com/230216394

Only at Doublecreek!

This week was the world famous (especially in Round Rock, TX) DC Challenge!  What’s the DC Challenge, you ask?  I’m glad you asked!  DC stands for Doublecreek (big surprise) and Challenge actually should read “Challenges.”  All groups were involved in the challenges.  We had everything from eating a donut to rolling a bale of hay!

This whole week was the brainchild of Director Dan.  The tasks are age-appropriate and everybody took part in some fashion.  The course started with scooterboard races; then transporting water from one bucket to another using sponges to squeeze out the water.  From there, the groups went to the water balloon station (I know you’re shocked that somehow we worked in water balloons).  At this station, campers used a special balloon launcher to propel the water balloon and the teams had to catch the water balloons in a bucket.  It didn’t matter if the water balloons landed in the buckets or out.  By the way, catching a water balloon in a bucket isn’t as easy as it sounds!

Next, campers tossed a hula hoop over a huge tree stump.  From there, campers went to the pool to swim and then on to the ropes course.  One of the stations was Soccer Darts – that’s right, soccer darts.  At Soccer Darts, campers kick a soccer ball with Velcro attached to a giant inflatable dart board.  Next, campers went to the shuffleboard court, then crossed the log on the low-ropes course.

Our most unique station involved eating a donut while balancing on a low cable.  Of course, the lucky camper eating the donut had lots of help from their friends.

The next station (for only 4th graders and younger) was the tire-rolling feat; while the fifth graders and above rolled a hay bale (a big round bale).  Next, the teams had to form the letters ”DC” on the platform we use at the end of the zipline.  Most groups’ “DC” looked more like “DO,” but that was close enough!

Archery was followed by the semi-grand finale – the mud pit!  Campers crawled through the mud pit, then climbed over a mountain of gymnastic mats covered in baby oil, and then dove under a pole that represented the finish line.  Finally, campers sprinted through the water mister.

When all campers were through the mist, the challenge was complete.

Determining the teams’ final time was complicated.  Time could be deducted for tasks completed during the course.  The details for this phase are complicated, but the final score isn’t important.  Teamwork is the aim of this challenge.  The beauty of the DC Challenge is that everyone does something.  I don’t know if the winners got a reward.  However, I got a reward from all this, seeing campers covered in mud, shouting, laughing and best of all – cheering the last members of their group when they finished!  At the finish there were high-fives all around and their score was an afterthought.

 Joe Ray

Here is the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/229272108

Doublecreek Star Power!

The excitement was building!  The tension was unbearable!  Friday was the day!  The day for what, you ask?  It’s the day we crowned the 2017 Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek.  This week, five couples put their hearts and souls into this amazing competition and in the end, Atiyeh and Tiffany were crowned our winners.

How long have we had Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek?  This competition started in the late 1990’s.  I don’t remember the year, but I remember the talent show on the final day of the competition.  There were two pairs of contestants ahead of the other pairs of contestants.  Of course, they were the final two acts on Friday.  The next to last pair did a very elegant song and dance to “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie "Titanic"!  The next pair were two of our male counselors who called themselves Hans and Gretel.  They spent the week posing and lifting anything and anyone. For their final talent, they put on a wrestling contest.  It was beautiful (or as beautiful as a wrestling match could be.)  They smashed chairs over each other’s heads, dove off tables, and for the grand finale, they fell from a ladder onto every mat we had at camp!  When it came time to decide the winner, we let Joe Ray’s magic hat decide -- which is our way of letting the crowd (mob) decide.  Of course, Hans and Gretel blew away the cultured portion of the program.  Oh, well, Hans and Gretel knew what the crowd liked!

Our Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek shows have followed the same formula year in and year out!  Each day brings a different category.  Some years, it’s evening wear, swimwear, some type of relay and always a talent show.  This year we had a “Guess What Your Partner Would Say” game, a relay that was too complicated to describe, a dance contest, and finally, today’s talent show.  All years are entertaining and this year was no exception.  No one takes this very seriously, so there are really no losers.  We had terrific acts.  Will they burn in my memory like Hans and Gretel?  Well, there was only one Hans and Gretel – which is a good thing!  We were running out of tables!

I would be remiss not to mention Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek was started by our previous director, Scott Kirtley.  Scott instituted many innovations at Doublecreek.  He introduced  mini-golf, gun safety, the rock wall, ropes challenge course and paintball...in addition to Mr. and Mrs. Doublecreek.  It was ten years ago on August 2, 2007, that Scott left us.  Ten years later, we still remember Scott and we are grateful for everything he meant to Doublecreek!


--Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video: https://vimeo.com/228362671

A Pirate's Life for Me!

I love Pirate Week, and I suppose it’s because I’ve always had an affinity for pirates.  They’re cool.  If you can pull off wearing an eye patch and have a parrot on your shoulder, while speaking like you have gravel in your mouth, you must be high on the cool scale!

The subject of some of my favorite books and movies when I was in elementary school (yes, that was over fifty years ago) involved pirates.  I read Treasure Island so many times the book fell apart.  In my world, Wallace Beery is still the quintessential Long John Silver.  I know from reading countless books and articles, and from watching documentaries, that the pop culture view of pirates doesn’t match the genuine pirate.  But, that doesn’t matter at Doublecreek.  We’re not shy about taking liberties with reality.

This week at Sing-Song, we had pirates.  Now, the only reason you would know they were pirates was because the narrator told you they were pirates.  We had some characters wearing the traditional black tri-cornered hat with the skull and crossbones on the front.  However, we didn’t have enough to go around.  Some characters wore pitch helmets, top hats and a wig.  We didn’t have a parrot, so a counselor dressed up like one.  I would try to describe our human parrot, but any description I would come up with would not do the sight justice.

I have to point out, that I learned something this week.  Using a formula that seems somewhat dubious, I learned that my pirate name would be “Sticky Slappy Smuggler.”  While that’s not a great name, it’s certainly better than Fishy Creepy Ratbreath.  The name I like the most, is Cesar Von Dark Water.  Now, to have that name, I would need to have a first name starting with the letter “X,” ends with the letter “R” and a last name that starts with the letter “U.”  Can you figure out the code for finding out your pirate name? [To see what your pirate name would be, just scan on down this newsletter to see the code.]

What’s not hard to figure out, is how to have fun with the pirate theme.  We’ve spent the week looking for fake treasure, wearing fake costumes, and telling fake pirate stories.  One thing we don’t have to fake at Doublecreek, is having a good time!

We have as much fun as the irate you find in books by Robert Luis Stevenson, except you don’t have to sail the Seven Seas looking for treasure.  We find our treasure just off Doublecreek Drive!

-Joe Ray

To view our video from Pirates Week, go to the following link:  https://vimeo.com/227411889

Lights, Camera, Action!

Whenever I hear the phrase, “Lights, Camera, Action,” I think of movies.  I don’t know if they actually say “lights, camera, action,” when they’re making a movie, but I’ve seen this phrase being used in movies about making movies, so it has to be genuine!

Let’s make this article semi-interactive!  We’ll work in a movie reference when describing the activities this week. Try to find the plethora of references in this week’s article.  One warning:  You’re at the mercy of my movie experience, which covers the gambit from obscure to random.  So fasten your seatbelts – it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

This week it was decided by the high command that each group would act out a scene from a movie.  We realized this would be like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.

The first group, the 1st grade girls, were as cute as the puppies in 101 Dalmatians.  They performed a scene from Moana, which was as touching as Romeo and Juliet.

The 1st grade boys put on a show that had all the best parts of Hang ‘Em High and a Few Dollars More.

If you like fairy tales, the 2nd grade girls had a show for you!  There was Cinderella who danced like she was wearing the glass slippers.

The 3rd grade girls did a wonderful Beauty and the Beast performance!  It was truly enchanting, and I was spellbound watching the love story.

The 2nd grade boys did a scene from Mulan.  It ended with a scene that combined Braveheart, the Ben Hur chariot race, and the fall of Jerusalem from Kingdom of Heaven!

Now the 3rd grade boys transformed Despicable Me into Minions Behaving Badly.  They didn’t care about the rules of the game.

The 4th grade girls did the “Be Our Guest” number from Beauty and the Beast.  They filled our dance barn with the sound of music.

Now the 4th grade boys went rogue.  They did a play within a play using the Little Mermaid, Jaws and Peter Pan in combinations that would leave you dazed and confused.

The 5th and 6th grade boys and girls acted out the slime scene from Ghostbusters.  The counselors were either funny ladies or producers.

The minis stole the show with Star Wars!  I didn’t know Darth Vader could be so cute!

Finally, the 7th and Up campers gave us the quick version of Titanic!  It was a night to remember as the Titanic took a voyage to the bottom of the sea!  I haven’t seen that much drama since Gone with the Wind!

It’s safe to say, “movies are fun!”  They go together like peas and carrots.  This was fun and I can’t wait until tomorrow – because tomorrow is another day!

-Joe Ray

P.S.  By my count, there are 26 movie references in this article.  See how many you can find!

To see parts of these tremendous performances, check out our weekly video:  https://vimeo.com/226463442

Soccer Fever!

Soccer fever has gripped Doublecreek this week.  Well, that’s not exactly true – soccer fever is always gripping Doublecreek.  But this week the fever has taken the form of the DC Cup.  I’m sure some of you are thinking, “Wait a minute, the World Cup is still two years away.”  True, the World Cup happens every four years, but at Doublecreek, the DC Cup happens every summer! 

This summer, the countries represented by the teams in the DC Cup are:  Italy, England, Spain, Jamaica, Brazil, Mexico, Germany and the USA.  Players are selected at random.  It’s not a totally blind draw, as we try to have an equal number of boys and girls on each team. We also have an equal number of counselors on each team.  The tournament is run as professionally as possible.  There is a referee (Austin W.), linesmen with red flags, and a set time to play.  We even have brackets to fill out.  We also require lots of water breaks! 

For at least one week out of the summer, Doublecreek has an international flavor.  Campers become identified with a country they may not know existed until they become members of the pseudo-national team.  For some campers, the DC Cup is also a quick geography lesson.

I don’t get to watch as much of the DC Cup as I would like, but the snipits I have seen are very entertaining!  The skill level of the players is as wide as the age range found on the field.  There are players who are very adept, while others are still learning.  But, it’s hard for the skilled players to dominate since we’re playing on a field (pitch) that’s one-third the size of a regular soccer field (pitch), with the same number of players going at each other.  But that doesn’t matter.  The campers are playing for the pride of their countries! 

What makes the matches compelling is that the campers really care.  Now it’s not a “do or die” atmosphere that you find in the real World Cup where losing coaches are fired or exiled if they lose.  Of course, with the DC Cup, that’s a moot point since we don’t have coaches.  We don’t have television or radio.  We don’t play with millions of fans hanging on every play or with announcers who lose their minds when their team scores a goal.  Now we do have announcers, usually a camper with a mike channeling their inner Chris Berman, in front of dozens of campers (some playing 4-Square, some dancing to music and some actually watching the game).  

Let’s stress the word, "game.”  The DC Cup is fun!  The team that wins has fun, but the losing team also has a great time.  I’m not sure what the winning DC Cup teams get for their efforts.  It isn’t fame or endorsements.  I think they get a free Sonic drink.  That may not sound like much in the professional soccer world, but let’s keep this in perspective.  Have a good time AND win a Sonic drink – that’s a pretty good deal!  And you don’t need an agent to negotiate it for you!

 -- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/225593676

Red, White and Bloom!

Happy 4th of July Week! To some, this week means fireworks, cookouts and fun with friends and family.  It’s a time of remembrance – a time to remember and celebrate those who served in the military and their sacrifice to enable us to enjoy living in this wonderful country!

I imagine some of you are wondering about our Red, White and Bloom theme for this week.  If you were at Sing-Song Monday, you would have understood the meaning of Red, White and Bloom.  We dedicated Aunt Trudy’s tree.  Appropriately enough, Aunt Trudy’s tree was planted adjacent to Scott Kirtley’s memorial. Scott was Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy's beloved grandson, and the former director of Doublecreek. We now have two trees in Central Park which are dedication trees.  In the center of Central Park, is Uncle Carter’s legacy tree. 

Trees were special to both Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy.  For a tree to thrive, it takes lots of care.  Aunt Trudy specialized in caring.  Her favorite group at camp was the mini-campers' group. She loved them and they loved her.  It takes patience and nurturing to work with minis and Aunt Trudy had plenty of both.  The stone at the base of Aunt Trudy’s tree reads “We're All Heart.”  The heart is a symbol of love.  Aunt Trudy expressed her love frequently and in many ways.

I’m glad the family and our wonderful partner, Café Java, decided to honor both Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy by planting trees. A tree doesn’t grow overnight.  It takes time and care.  A tree is not simply ceremonial – it has a function.  Trees are especially appreciated at Doublecreek.  When the camp opened, trees were few and far between.  We have an abundance of trees now, but we always need more.  Doublecreek looks and feels cooler and more inviting because of the trees Uncle Carter planted.

The tree dedicated to Aunt Trudy may look small and insignificant now, but just wait.  Love grows and blooms, and so will Aunt Trudy’s tree.

-- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's Video:  https://vimeo.com/224645960

Retro Week -- The Good Ol' Days?

Retro means different things to different people.  For our youngest campers, their idea of retro is “Frozen.”  For some counselors, “High School Musical” qualifies as retro.  For me, “West Side Story” is retro.

Retro is often associated with the good ol' days.  At Doublecreek, we want to keep in touch with our roots and we are proud of our history.  But, do we want to go retro?  Let’s think about it.  Were the good ol' days better than now?

What did we do then that we don’t do now?  Well, we had a fishing period.  That’s right – a fishing period!  Originally, there was a small pond on the property with very small fish.  Uncle Carter said he saw some decent-looking bass in the pond.  I have to take his word for it.  When campers caught a fish, they could take it home.  Now that made for some fragrant bus rides!  Aunt Trudy fielded several calls from perplexed moms inquiring how to prepare a six-ounce fish.  We also had a garden; we hauled hay; we had horned-toad races; and when we had a trail ride, it was a real trail ride.  This all sounds quaint and idyllic

I should point out that in the early 70’s, we didn’t have a covered riding arena and the trees you see now were recently planted saplings.  We had one, that’s right, one water fountain.  If a week went by without a leak in the pool, Uncle Carter considered it a very good week.  I might as well say it – when Doublecreek opened, it was more suitable for lizards then campers.  All this didn’t really matter.  Despite the growing pains, Doublecreek was a very special place.  We learned early on that any activity could be fun.  Hauling hay doesn’t sound like a thrill a minute, but campers and counselors didn’t mind the heat and dust.  A dip in the pool cured that.

Until enrollment prohibited it, we had our own “fire drill.”  When the temperature reached 100+ degrees, Uncle Carter would put the flag at half-mast and everyone, except those at horseback, would jump in the pool.

Time has changed things.  Development has boxed us in.  The pond is gone; the garden is gone; horned toads have disappeared; there isn’t a hay field within miles of Doublecreek.

But, we now have a pool that rarely leaks with a waterslide, a rockwall, a paintball course, a miniature golf course, Gaga Ball pits, a covered 4-Square area, trees and grass everywhere, and we have a whole row of chilled (and filtered) water fountains.

So, do I long for the good ol' days?  Not really.  I remember those days fondly. But time moves on and so does Doublecreek.  Physically, Doublecreek has changed dramatically and will continue to change.  When I look at pictures of Doublecreek from the first summers, I’m amazed at how stark it looks.  When I look closer, I notice a common thread with recent pictures.  I see smiles, lots of smiles, on the faces of campers and counselors.  Over the course of 47 summers, Doublecreek has produced lots of smiles – whether they are riding or going down the waterslide, campers are smiling.

When I think of “Retro,” I think of fashion, music, types of entertainment and technology from the different periods of time at Doublecreek.  Fashion doesn’t matter and music doesn’t matter, it’s smiles that matter.  The smiles in photographs covering 47 summers will always be in style!

-- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/223770443

Gotta Dance!

This week’s theme was “Dancing With the Counselors.” Counselors were selected in a semi-random manner and paired with a camper in a totally random fashion.  After the dancing partners were announced, they only had a brief amount of time to work up a routine, which they performed in front of the whole camp!

It’s always a pleasant surprise to watch counselors and campers perform together.  Considering they have had maybe, 30 minutes of practice time, the routines are highly entertaining! We often see campers watching their dancing partners and trying to imitate them.  Okay, so campers and counselors usually aren’t in sync, but this isn’t “Dancing With the Stars.”  We don’t have judges or scorecards, but by monitoring the cheering from the audience, it doesn't seem as though the crowd has an overwhelming favorite team anyway.

Costumes are important components of "Dancing with the Counselors".  Wigs are good – if the wig matches the concept - that’s a bonus.  Gaudy hats, coats, vests and bowties are common if you get your costumes off the Doublecreek costume rack.  More suitable costumes are supplied by the dancers themselves. Props help.  We’ve seen everything from tables, chairs, water guns, balloons, shaving cream, whipped cream, ladders...well, you get the idea. Oh, I forgot the goat, horse, and a long time ago, a pig.

I suppose you’ve figured it out.  The dancing is good, but it’s creativity that really drives the bus!  This year we had some couples that combined both – creativity and dancing. Some were heavy on creativity, light on the dancing.  But, all fifteen couples were heavy on having fun!  There were no mirror ball trophies handed out after this competition.  Some will say that we had no winners.  That’s not how we see it.  We had a fifteen-way tie for 1st place.  Besides, when everyone has a good time and there are smiles all around, why bother with a trophy?

Don't worry though, our counselors didn’t go home empty-handed.  Each contestant received a paper sunflower with candy attached.  Who says we don’t have tangible awards for excellence?

-- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/222848002

The Cold Doesn’t Bother Us Anyway!

This was Prince & Princess Week at Camp Doublecreek.  In the past thirty years or so, most stories with a prince or princess in the center, have been movies or Disney musicals.  In these stories, you will typically have a protagonist and an antagonist.  For every Simba, you have a Scar; for every Penny, you have a Madame Medusa; for every Ariel, you have an Ursula; and for every Briar Rose, you have a Maleficent.

In celebrating Prince & Princess Week at Doublecreek, we ran into a big problem.  We really didn’t have an antagonist.  For our skits at Sing-Song, we created one – a mildly scary villain who kidnapped our lovely princess.  This villain was dispatched by a 5th grade camper wielding a bow and arrow with a rock on its tip.  It was true drama rivaling anything Shakespeare or Hugo could come up with.  Okay, maybe it would rival something Ed Wood would come up with.  If you are curious about Ed Wood, google “Plan Nine from Outer Space.”

But back to Camp Doublecreek -- we’re not a Disney movie.  Fortunately, we don’t have that kind of drama – no evil stepsister. When your finger gets pricked, you don’t fall into a deep sleep – our nurse is happy to put a band-aid on it and tell you how brave you are.  Some campers may equate our lifeguards to Ursula when they tell them “no running at the pool,” but, hey. . .safety before beauty!  We don’t have silverware singing “Be Our Guest,” in perfect harmony nor do we have Elsa singing “Let It Go" in perfect pitch.  But, we have countless campers and counselors singing all types of songs – not caring about how they sound, but enjoying being at Doublecreek.  One thing Doublecreek has in common with “Frozen” – the cold doesn’t bother us!  Ever!  Of course, we are not worried about having a frozen heart, either. 

-- Joe Ray


Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/221896522

The Making of a Superhero

This week is Superheroes Week at Camp Doublecreek.  The word “superhero” dates back to at least 1917, which means we’re celebrating a 100th anniversary.  I’m not a superhero expert.  When researching this article, I took a superhero quiz.  I scored around sixteen --- so I know precious little about superheroes.  I was surprised to learn that by definition, you don’t have to have supernatural or superhuman powers to be called a superhero, although almost all superheroes today have extraordinary or superhuman powers.  It also helps to be rich.  The main purpose of superheroes is to fight crime or save the world from imminent destruction.

Remember you don’t have to have x-ray vision, superhuman strength or the ability to fly to be a superhero.  Superheroes don’t start their superhero careers conquering arch villains or forces of nature.  They start small and realize they can do greater things. 

I see superheroes begin by letting go of their parent’s hand and getting on a bus.  That has to be intimidating for them.  Some superhero careers begin by getting on a horse – the biggest animal they have ever been on or by shooting a bow and arrows – which isn’t as easy as it looks.  Some channel their inner superhero by taking their first strokes in the pool without someone helping them, by climbing a tower or going down a waterslide.  I’ve seen many fledgling superheroes discover the thrill of flight when they launch themselves from the top of a 40-foot tower and sail down a zipline. 

I’ve seen superhero movies which have elaborate set pieces which go on and on and on.  In reality, campers discover that they have the stuff of superheroes in the blink of an eye.  At Doublecreek we’re fortunate to there when it happens.  

-- Joe Ray

Here's the link to this week's video:  https://vimeo.com/221032411

What's New!

Our theme for May, is "What's New." You would think that going into summer # 47, there wouldn’t be much to talk about with regards to changes and new additions.  But, due to circumstances beyond our control (a tornado), we have a plethora of new items and ideas which will be woven into the Doublecreek fabric.  We did what we always do, and turned the lemons into lemonade!

Let’s start with physical changes.  Thanks to the tornado, we had a lot of repairs facing us.  We now have a new roof over our riding arena.  Also, thanks so the storm repairs, we have a new and improved pumphouse for the pool – the new pumphouse roof is now worthy of our great filter system. (I knew you would be overwhelmed to hear about the pumphouse, but wait, there’s more!)  The dance barn and stage is now repaired and ready for business.  We have a new and improved Lost & Found area, so if your camper loses something, we have a nicer place for you to go look for it.  And like a monster that wouldn’t die, the big waterslide or Carter’s Cowabunga 3.0 has come back to life for the second straight year after being knocked down by brutal winds!

Be sure to check out buses # 1 & 2 – they will be sporting new looks for the summer.  We have new stables at Riding, and a beautiful a new tractor shed.  Oh, we will have new horses as well as several new games.  The most intriguing addition is Soccer Darts.  I have no idea how that one will work.  Do you throw darts at the soccer ball or soccer player, or do I have it totally wrong?  I’ll get back with you on that one.

Finally, we'd like to give huge kudos to the newest member of our leadership team, Parker!  Parker is our Staff Coordinator, and thanks in part to his awesome recruiting skills, we’ll have wonderful new counselors.  That’s always a great addition.  It’s the nature of Doublecreek, to have counselors work for several summers, usually while they’re in college; then they move on to their careers.  While some counselors are moving on, others are joining us.  It’s a comforting dynamic – a constant blend of experience and passion, paired with fresh enthusiasm.

The last addition is our most precious one – Aunt Trudy’s memorial.  We've partnered with Cafe Java to plant a tree a few feet from Scott Kirtley’s memorial. Scott was our former director and a beloved grandson of Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy.  A commemorative stone will be placed at the base of the tree.  It makes me joyful that the place chosen to honor her is where we start every day at Doublecreek – where we say the “Pledge of Allegiance” and sing “You’re a Grand Ole Flag!”

-- Joe Ray

Thanks for the Memories

April is Staff Appreciation Month at Camp Doublecreek, so we decided to have a “Battle of the Decades” on social media to recognize our present and former staff members.  If you want to start a competition, put a “best of” list out there – especially best movie, song, etc.  
There are only a handful of us senior citizen discount users who have been around since the beginning, and I can personally recall all five decades. To help out, here is my thumbnail account of each decade.

The 70’s were unique.  Doublecreek looked and felt very different from any other decade.  For one thing, we were the only thing out here.  The camp was situated on 125 acres.  There was a pond for fishing and we hauled hay.  When we went on trail rides, we needed a compass.  We had horny toad races and took field trips to the auction in Georgetown.  Ironically, as enrollment became larger, the physical size of camp became smaller. Round Rock grew up around us.

By the time we got to the 80’s, we routinely ran between 250-300 campers a week.  We needed a fleet of buses, not just one bus and a van, to haul in our campers. Today, we have a uniform fleet of buses.  All are white and numbered.  However, during the last half of the 70’s, through the 80’s and into the 90’s, we had multi-colored buses with creative names.  We had the Blue Bomb, the Red Baron, the Orange Bevo, the Aggie Bus, the Tan Can, and the Teal Bus.  But the granddaddy of them all, was the Green Monster.  The Green Monster was an old city bus, and it was Uncle Carter’s favorite!  That bus could carry half the camp, if needed.  Like all things mechanical, the Green Monster finally gave out, and watching it being towed away, was heartbreaking.

In the 90's, we were busting at the seams.  We had to have Sing-Song on the basketball court to accommodate everyone.  Mini-golf was added and the garden was a big hit. The advent of Terrific Thursdays introduced campers to innovative creative activities -- the girls loved to paint my fingernails all different colors.

When it comes to physical changes at Doublecreek, the 2000’s take the cake! Since the beginning of the 2000's, we have added paintball, rockwall, D2, low-ropes course, gaga ball, indoor/outdoor soccer field, four-square cages, and expanded the office space, just to name a few.

I realize I’ve spent an inordinate amount of space describing the physical changes at Doublecreek, without touching on the most important factors – campers and counselors.  Oddly, I don’t see significant changes in campers and counselors over the years.  The biggest change with campers over the past 46, soon to be 47, summers, is style.  They dress differently, but I still see shy campers clinging to their parents on Monday morning the first time they get on the bus to come to camp, while others jump out of their cars and get on the bus before their moms and dads get the car door open.

Counselors – same thing.  They dress differently, they are more technically savvy, but they bring the same attributes to the table.  They put campers first while giving the best part of themselves to ensure campers have a great experience at Camp Doublecreek.  So which decade is the best?  Since I have a personal and positive stake in all five decades, I’ll cop out and call it a five way tie!

-- Joe Ray

No Problem!!!

We had a visitor to Camp Doublecreek in the early morning of February 20, 2017.  It was a tornado and boy did he leave a calling card!  The roof of the riding arena was ripped off.  The water slide had its base ripped from the concrete and the canvas shredded.  The roof from the riding arena landed on the tennis court fence creating a mangled mess.  One Gaga Ball pit had the roof caved in and our big new pit traveled over 50 feet to the end of the tennis court.  Every day we find new damage.  Maybe we should stay in the office and we won’t have anymore damage!  That strategy works for ostriches; maybe it could work for us?

We were asked how the storm would impact Spring Break Camp. Well, I think we could have called this Spring Break Camp, throwback Spring Break.  No riding roof, no problem.  We didn’t have a roof over the riding arena until 1979, and we had no clue what we were missing!  Of course, we don’t swim during Spring Break Camp, but still, we managed for years without a water slide.  No Gaga Ball pits, no problem!  If you have four square, you can play four square anywhere.  No fence at the tennis court, [all together now] NO PROBLEM!  We didn’t have a fence around the tennis court that first summer, which only encouraged long rallies.

In fact, that first summer, we didn’t have a diving board at the pool, nor did we have a sidewalk around the pool.  We had one (yes, one) water fountain.  No mini-golf, gun safety or D2.  I think we had gymnastics under a tent.  We played football and soccer in an open area -- it would really be a stretch to call it a field.  There were multiple things we didn’t have that we have now.  But, we had campers and counselors. From the very beginning, Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy instilled into everyone, that building relationships and having a memorable summer, was all you needed.  All to say, that It doesn’t matter if the roof is literally in left field. Camp Doublecreek has always been, and will continue to be, a safe, fun filled place for boys and girls, because that is our legacy!

PS - Director Dan wants everyone to know all will be fixed by summer, and will be better than ever!

-- Joe Ray

Generations of Love!

Last year, we came up with the slogan, “We’re All Heart”, to honor Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy’s love for all campers and staff.  To me, this slogan has always had a special meaning, and this year it becomes more special, because I am making the transition from Director Dan to Director Dad. My daughter is coming to camp for the first time as a mini camper! It brings my heart so much joy to think of all of the fun she will have and the friendships she will make, just as I did when I was her age.

Some of my favorite memories as a mini camper include, swimming in the Doublecreek pool with the counselors, riding that good ole horse, Star Fire, shooting a bow and arrow for the first time, and climbing on the jungle gym.  For me, being a mini camper meant more than just attending a great camp, it meant joining my grandparents and their extended camp family.  You know that moment at your family holiday when you graduate to the adult table?  Well, that was the excitement I felt coming to camp!

Now, I’ve found myself wondering what kind of camper my daughter will be. Will she jump right in during sing song, or will she wonder why her dad is playing with all of the other kids? I’m not sure, but here’s what I know.  When campers come to Doublecreek, they are loved!  They are accepted!  They are celebrated!  They leave at the end of the day knowing someone believes in them. All my other questions will work themselves out, because really, what else could a dad want?

From our family to yours, Happy Valentine’s Day!

-Director Dan

Happy New Year!

Yes, I can still hear those holiday greetings!  But they're starting to taper off.  Emotionally, January is a transitional month.  You’re coming off the rush of the holidays, into the weight of returning to school and work, and staring at bills you’ve accrued during December.

But, hey!  It’s a new year.  January is my launch month.  All the ways I intend to improve myself:  losing weight, saving money, becoming stronger, faster and smarter, I start in January.  Never mind that I should try to do these things throughout the year – starting self-improvement projects in July doesn’t make sense to me.  Starting in January, that’s the time to start.  Why?  It’s a new year! One year I examined my goals.  Upon closer inspection, I realized that if I achieved all my goals, I would morph into a completely new person.  I don’t need to become a new person – just a better person.

As you already know, Doublecreek doesn’t need to reinvent itself.  But, there are always tweaks that can be made.  As soon as summer is over, we’re working towards next year.  Winter Break Camp is over, and now we’re working towards Spring Break Camp.  The Austin Family Camp Fair is coming up and (ready for my shameless plug?) registration is open!  Some years Doublecreek has major physical additions; other years the changes are so subtle you can’t detect them.  What’s on the horizon this year?  Come visit us at Open House in April and see for yourself!

Some things change, others remain the same.  For instance, some counselors will return; some will graduate and begin new careers.  Some campers will return and some will become counselors-in-training (CITs).  The “heart” of Doublecreek is one thing that won't change.  This intangible trait was developed by Uncle Carter and Aunt Trudy, and has been passed down to Director Dan, as well as our owners, Judy and Jane.  Everyone who has been a part of Doublecreek, either as a camper or counselor, is a part of this legacy.  

I hope you will continue to be a part of the Doublecreek legacy and help us to make this great camp even greater!

-- Joe Ray