Thursday Is Senior Skip Day

On Thursday, October 8th,  Seniors (62+) get free admission to America's National Parks courtesy of Humana Health Care!  See here for details - and download a coupon for a free lifetime pass!

Make New Friends But Keep the Old

Whether you've been friends for 50 years, 5 years or 5 minutes, Great Escape is a place to spend time together.  Pick and choose between workshops, outdoor activities, expeditions off-camp, or just hanging out.  A photo is wonderful to jog your memory, but have you noticed that when an activity repeats year after year, it's hard to figure out just what year a specific photo was taken?

That's why we came up with the idea of a yearly photo board to make dating easier.

Here's a couple of nice groups from 2015.  First, Kaye sent me this one of her all singing, artistic crew.

 Committee member Sue with her DDs!

And here's Sue and Rose with Team Smores!  Note the terrific matching t-shirts made by first time attendee Karen!

Next year, ya'll come too and bring your crew!

The Great Escape Book Club

Our discussion of "Last Child in the Woods" was well attended.  Of course, it was preaching to the choir - we all agree that being out doors is important to all children.  One participant noted that as an adult, being outdoors is key to managing her own ADD symptoms - she can feel the changes in her mind and body after a few minutes outside.

All decried schools reducing or eliminating recess.  Taking time away from play does not add instructional time to the day, instead, it adds to the amount of time teachers are disciplining children who can't (and shouldn't) sit still for hours on end.

Screens were also identified as an enemy of children - we noted that when we take girls to camp they get creative with sticks and stones and other natural elements, and play develops in an organic, natural way.

Our second annual book club meeting was a success!  If you have a suggestion for our third book, let us know and check back in mid-winter for our selection.

Thanks, kitchen crew, for providing us with appetizers to tide us over until dinner as we enjoyed the late afternoon sun and the great discussion!  And big thanks go to our book club facilitator Julie (in purple, second on left) for all her work!  Great job!

Apples for Friends

If you and your 'crew' took a photo with the board, send it to us at gsgreatescape@yahoo.com!

The ceremony has been posted on our website at http://gsgreatescape.org/skits-and-ceremonies/

GE 2015 - Dispatch from the Front

It's not over yet but we have some sneak peeks.

Was it restful? The two people in this photo (baby under blanket!) thought so!

Was the food good? Oh yeah!

Did we sing and play?

Did we make cool stuff?

Wish you were here!

Weather, Whether or Not!

 Three days to go!

The weekend forecast is for sun and high 60s. That's the same forecast as last year; and it turned out to be a lot warmer, so let's hope for the same good luck this year.  But our motto is as it's always been...

Bring those layers, because it can be cooler under the trees.  And I think it's worth repeating this advice about sleeping out in cold weather.  All of us agreed that fleece socks were our number one tip! I recommend a camisole under long sleeve fleece pajamas or long underwear,  and a drawstring hoodie with a front pocket for warmth.  One advisor likes two small fleece blankets - one for her feet inside the bag, one for her head, outside the bag.

I asked the GE committee:  “What is the one thing you would recommend people tuck into their backpacks to ensure comfort at GE this year? (Not including raincoat and pants...) Or, what do you sleep in that keeps you comfortable?”

Here are some responses!   Comment if you think we’ve missed something!

I am a huge fan of a thin fleece sleeping bag liner and a hat. Also, change all clothes before going to bed.  – Sue

I like to use the hand and foot warmers. I throw one in the bottom of my bag. Keeps my feet nice and warm. I have also used a thermacare back patch. - Kathy

I like to wear a hat if it's really cold or pull a hood up over my head. But I like it to be a little chilly when I sleep, so usually I end up with 1 foot sticking out of the bag! – Danielle

Last weekend I happened to have one of these beach mats in the car, so I tied it to my sleeping bag - insulation against the cold mattress and a pillow in one!  Genius! - Deb

Always put clean clothes on, especially socks! Hat and fleece hoodie keeps drafts away. Fleece blanket under the sleeping bag keeps cold from the mattress from seeping thru. If you wake up, go pee! Otherwise it keeps you awake and cold, because your body devotes energy to keeping that liquid warm! Pat

Just Nine Days Until GE 2015!

Just nine days until we get in the cars to go to Wabasso!  At my house, we've started to work on last minute details such as assembling auction 'baskets' and purchasing supplies - for workshops we're teaching and those we're taking!

Here are some links back to last year's pre-event posts.
About the Auction
How to Sleep Warm
Kapers

If you are attending for the first time, check those posts for a little preview of what you need to know!

See you at the flag circle!