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