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Photos and Articles by Matt Lurrie

It is safe to say that here at Campus Kids, on the grounds of Centenary College, we do not rough it.  We sleep on mattresses in dorms, walk a few yards from our room to the bathroom, enjoy an array of food provided by a college cafeteria (and have a cappuccino maker) , and don't have the insect problem that camps in the wilderness have (with the exception, possibly, of Reeves Lounge, void of screens).  Many take these things for granted.  Well, after a day trip to Schooleys Mountain Park, such accommodations seemed wonderful.

That is, of course, not to say that a great time was not had by all.  After a quick bus ride, campers were led into an open field.  Ryan Belline, day trip coordinator, began teaching campers a game new to Campus Kids (it still remains nameless, so suggestions are welcome).  Every player has a flag-like belt attached around their waste (or for those for whom the smallest size was too big, as a sachet).  The object was for each team (red and orange) to pull off all their opponent's flags.

After a few games of this unnamed yet highly competitive sport, it was time to hike.  The path that would lead to our eventual destination was Patriot's Path.

Schooleys Mountain Park is a beautiful 797-acre park, with an 8 acre lake, and many, many trails.  Opened in 1974, the park was named after the Schooley family, German immigrants who originally owned the land in the 1700's.  Throughout the hike, campers could see gorgeous open fields, luscious green trees, and a stream that would follow them to their final destination.

This reporter was temporarily left behind to help a fellow counselor, who was having some shoe issues.  After a brief hike to catch up to the rest of the group, I had just climbed over a large rock, and I saw a waterfall.  Underneath the waterfall was a handful of campers already in the water, a few even standing under the falling water.

Apparently, we had followed a separate path that should have tipped us off to where we were about to go.

It had been a long hike, preceded by a good deal of running in the hot sun.  Campers were eager to get into the cool water.

Alas, because lunch was not being given on this particular trip, we would have to make it back to camp in time for the normal lunch.  Some did not wish to leave (some showed such wanting greatly), but as everyone climbed out of the water, and dried off, they all began making the ascent back to the yellow bus to drive them back to Campus Kids.