Hi-ho, Hi-ho…It’s Off To Camp We Go!

Beginning with a brisk 7.5 mile hike in the a.m., campers made their way to Camp Perry, a nearby Boy Scout campground complete with an Archery setup, regulation-size swimming pool, and canoe launch.  This year's exception was that following the 3-hour hike, campers ate lunch aboard MMA's fine dining facility instead of camp brown-bag lunches (awwww-no ants!), then caught the MMA bus to Camp Perry due to a boatload of standing water in fields betwixt Camp MMA and Camp Perry.

Right after high noon the activities kicked off with groups rotating Round-Robin style through Archery, Swimming, and the grand finale - Canoeing. To be eligible to launch a canoe, campers were required to swim 3 swimming pool laps any style, 1 lap swimming backwards staring up at the bright blue Texas sky, and float motionless for 10 full seconds without sinking like a rock. Once everyone passed (all participants! qualified !) the swimming action turned to a whole lot of splishin' and splashin' and summer fun.

Target practice turned up a few Archers to rival the likes of Robin Hood AND his band of merry men, much to the dismay of a few tiny chipmunks popping their inquisitive noggins up just long enough to ascertain the Archery Range was ablaze with MMA Camper action!

Camp Perry's Arroyo Colorado River became the Daytona Speedway of canoeing at its racing best as campers launched their silver bullets in the calm dark waters - "Paddles Ahoy!" .  Once campers were up to par on which paddling approach produces best results, Camp Counselors - a bit more-aptly equipped with an outboard motor - churned up the murky waters to provide a bit more of a navigational challenge, much to MMA Campers' delight.

Wrapping up the Camp Perry fun, all headed back to MMA Campus for Evening Mess and League Play.  Just a day in the life of a young man aboard Marine Military Academy Summer Camp 2008.  Lights out!