Navajo Trails Adventure Summer Camp

Last Days of Camp for 2011

2011-07-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

We had some funny campfire skits...

A very early morning breakfast...

Everyone was half awake and had puffy eyes from crying, but we finally said goodbye to the best campers EVER! We love you! Keep in touch! (a few more photos:) http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Last-Days-of-Camp/18304115_Ntc2ZP

2011 Horses Week 4

2011-07-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

The horse trip got started on a beautiful morning, but they got hit with rain on the way up.

The views on the way up are amazing. Everyone enjoyed the scenery.

They finally made it to the top.

They were anxious to get a campfire going so they could get warm around the and dry out! More photos: http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/Week-4-Horse-Trip/18291194_hVX2tk

2011 Backpacking Week 4

2011-07-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Backpacking had quite an adventure! The first day they went on a 5 mile hike through water and saw five waterfalls along the way. Capitol Reef is a beautiful National Park

This was the crew on the hike it was a perfect day.

The next day it rained too hard to go on Thousand Lakes, so the Horse trip and the Backpackers went Geo-casheing. They found many treasures and gave many away to the next lucky treasure hunters.

The last day they hiked down a long road into the town of Torrey and in the town they were able to get their milkshakes! Way to go backpackers!

More photos: http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/Week-4-Backpacking/18285129_7TPFRn

2011 WEEK 3 WATERSKIING

2011-07-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

This group had so much fun on the lake this past week. The water was amazing!

The kids did all kinds of activites such as kneeboarding....

Waterskiing.....(Way to go Kento, from two skis to one!)

" airchairing" was a hit....Dan showed everyone how to use it!

Wakeboarding was a popular activity too. It was all smiles this week!

YEA! More photos at :

http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011Week-3-Waterskiing/18174657_JVd82K

2011 Weekend 2 activities

2011-07-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

We did Saturday work parties....we finished staining the fence, washed vehicles and did laundry. There are a few more photos on smugmug, but a lot of them are on my cell phone because my camera card malfunctioned (locked) so I have to figure out how to get them off of my phone and fix my memory card. The other pictures are of campfire (done inside of the dining hall because it was raining hard) and the relay race and obstacle course we set up! When I get them I will post them! http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-2nd-week-weekend/18116041_2xJ38V

2011 Backpacking Week 2

2011-07-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Day hike to calf creek falls....so beautiful!

Starting up Thousand Lakes Mountain was rainy at first, but the kids were troopers!

Such a fun trip! More pictures at : http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Week-2-Backpacking/18100928_Q5pjD3

2011 ROCK CLIMBING WEEK 2

2011-07-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Good looking bunch of climbers ready to rock climb in Maple Canyon!

They started the week by learning climbing skills by "bouldering" near the ranch. The kids had a great time!http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Rock-Climbing-Week-2/18093773_GLsfPr

2011 Weekend Fun-1

2011-07-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Work Parties! Sanding and staining the fence...looks so nice!

Games in the dining hall when it is raining outside.....

letter writing and crafts....

It cleared up enough to play waterballoon volleyball

Campfire skits were fun

These were the winners of the bird house painting contest!

More pictures of the weekend: http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Weekend-Activties/18019367_5Rz2XT

Week 1 Trips

2011-07-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

We had an all girls horse trip,(except for that one cute little boy that Dan allowed to go)

They started off with beautiful weather

They had some rain on the way up, but everyone was all smiles!

The horses have their favorite watering hole

The views from on top are so pretty. See more pictures of the horse

http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Horse-Trip-Week-1/17950250_SPjbBh

The hiking trip was all boys!

This was the top of Hickman Bridge in Capitol Reef

They had fun playing in the falls

There are more pictures that will be downloaded soon.....More adventures to come!
http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Hiking-Trip-Week1/17952057_7THW2s

SUMMER IS HERE! HAPPY 4th!

2011-07-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July is celebrated out west with Barbeques, Parades, Games and good old fashioned RODEOS! This is our crew at the Salina, UT rodeo on the 4th. Our group is the one with the cute kids in the middle of the photo :) For some, this was the first rodeo they had ever been to. The day was filled with swimming, a parade, rodeo and fireworks!

The fireworks were quite impressive for a small town rodeo, but the kids were captivated by the display. It was worth the wait and the kids had a good nights sleep after a long day. More adventures to come!

Camp is almost here!

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

We had a group of boys here for a couple of weeks to help get a few projects done around camp and help get ready for the summer! They planted a few trees.....

Worked on a couple of the cabins inside and out. They worked hard.....

and played really hard. They did the zip-line, went horseback riding, hiking and even had time to relax!

Thanks guys! It was lots of fun to have you here and I think that we are ready for the SUMMER! View the rest of the photos here: http://ntr.smugmug.com/Other/Boysworkgroup2011/17837941_Kqd6Xp#1363898858_86Mt8Hj

Cross if You...

2011-02-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

This is a Classic Icebreaker, Get to you you, First day Game. It would also be fun at birthday parties or other events entertaining youth.

How to Play:
Have everyone sit in a circle with you in the center. You can either sit in chairs, or have place markers behind each person.

Name off something you have, have done, or can do (ie “Cross if you have ever been to a foreign country, you can do a flip on a trampoline, if you own a dog that can do a trick, if you like to downhill ski, if you have a younger brother who likes to spend time with you etc).

Those people that can give a positive answer to the question will cross the circle and find an open seat of someone else that answered positively.

Since you have one less chair then there are people in the group, and you found an opening quickly, there should be one person left in the center. This person then gets to pick the topic. It's a good idea to set some boundaries about appropriate topics that can be used in this game.

Erupting Colors: An Art Experiment for Younger Children

2011-01-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

Materials:

cake pan with edges
milk
food coloring
liquid dishwashing detergent

1. Pour milk into the cake pan until the bottom is covered.
2. Sprinkle several drops of food coloring on the milk.
3. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent in the centers of the largest drops of coloring.
4. Watch the resulting eruption of colors.
5. If erupting slows down, try adding more food coloring and then more detergent. If the experiment will not work after awhile, begin again from clean milk and new drops of color and detergent.

Variations:
Use a clear baking pan. Have someone hold the experiment above eye level and watch the erupting colors from the bottom of the pan.

Milk contains water and fat. These two substances do not mix. Even though the milk looks like one substance, it is really separate water and fat. Detergent is a substance that will mix with water or fat. When detergent is dropped into milk, one end of the detergent molecule attaches to fat in the milk and the other end of the detergent molecule attaches to the water which causes a boiling effect.

About ACA

2011-01-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

About ACA

The American Camp Association (formerly known as the American Camping Association) is a community of camp professionals who, for nearly 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Because of our diverse 7,000 plus membership and our exceptional programs, children and adults have the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character-building, skill development, and healthy living — lessons that can be learned nowhere else.

As a leading authority in youth development, ACA works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience. Our association is committed to helping our members and all camps provide:

Camp communities committed to a safe, nurturing environment
Caring, competent adult role models
Healthy, developmentally-appropriate experiences
Service to the community and the natural world
Opportunities for leadership and personal growth
Discovery, experiential education, and learning opportunities
Excellence and continuous self-improvement

ACA Accreditation Program
ACA accredits over 2,400 camps. ACA-Accredited® camps meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality. (Safety Tips/Accreditation).

ACA works closely with other youth-serving organizations and associations.

Navajo Trails Adventure Camp--video

2011-01-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

Frogs, Insects, and Flowers

2011-01-20T07:55:00.000-08:00

Frogs, Insects, and Flowers

Description

Divide the group into three circles, one inside the next. The people in the outer circle are flowers, and remain stationary. The players in the inner circle are insects, and begin the game with one knee to the ground. The players in the middle circle are frogs -they begin the game standing.

When the whistle sounds the insects have ten seconds to run and tag a flower. They may avoid capture (being tagged by a frog) by flying (touching one knee to the ground). Frogs chase the insects and can "follow" an insect by turning 360° pivot during which the insect can dash off .

After each round, the results are noted. A successful animal remains as that animal for the next game. A captured animal becomes the same animal as his captor. An unsuccessful but uncaptured animal dies and becomes a flower .

Each round creates changes in populations and inter-relationships can be easily observed. A balanced game can go on indefinitely, but if frogs become too efficient, the insects are wiped out whereupon the frogs ultimately die. If the frogs are inefficient they may be wiped out and large uncontrolled fluctuations can result in the insect population.

Benefits of Camp

2011-01-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

Benefits of Camp From ACA

Overview

The camp experience enriches lives and changes the world.

Camp provides children with a community of caring adults, who nurture experiential education that results in self-respect and appreciation for human value. All of the outcomes - self-identity, self-worth, self-esteem, leadership, and self-respect - build personal competencies. These personal competencies are reflected in the four "C's" of the camp community: compassion, contribution, commitment, and character! For years, campers' parents have reported that when their children return home from camp they are more caring, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right and are willing to be more responsible. These are the qualities that will help build a successful nation and a civil society.

Children are at less risk at camp where they have a sense of community, develop intergenerational relationships, and learn through first-hand experiences. Trained, caring adult role models help children feel loved, capable and included. Camp provides children with a safe, supervised, positive environment, which helps children grow.

Camp Professionals have enormous power in conveying simple teachable moments.special moments of passing experiences touched by the human spirit. These fleeting moments of time build three significant ACA values that are reflected in the benefits campers derive from camp.

ACA values people. The moments that result in the camp experience repeatedly express the value of people. We demonstrate that value through respect, honesty, caring, and sharing. Through the camp experience, young people learn to understand the strength of mankind. They also develop an appreciation for the qualities required to protect the fragile relationships needed to protect these relationships.

ACA values the natural world. We seek and appreciate what is real, genuine, and non-artificial. In seeking those qualities in people as well as in the actual world, we foster understanding of the importance of human connections for survival and of the critical connections to our physical world. Campers realize the need to protect not only one another, but also the environment in which they live. Our intent is to preserve and share that legacy with the next generation.

Finally, ACA values a sense of contribution. Our contributions are both obvious and subtle. The benefits of our work are both immediate and slow to emerge. Most significantly, although the experience itself is often fleeting, our impact on the human spirit lasts a lifetime. Children who attend camp develop connections with the world.

We never underestimate the simplest lesson or the briefest wink of time. It may be a star in someone's horizon for all eternity.

Benefits and Anticipated Outcomes of the Camp Experience

Social Skills Development

Leadership
Communication
Participation

Self-respect and Character Building

Responsibility
Resourcefulness
Resilience

Community Living/Service Skills

Caring
Fairness
Citizenship
Trustworthiness

Thoughtful and Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

2010-12-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

1. Kitchen creations. If you are skilled in cooking or baking, put it to good use by whipping up one of your specialties. Give your best friend a box of cookies she always praised or your sister a tray of her favorite home-cooked meal.

2. Handmade crafts. Handcrafted gifts have a personal touch on them that store-bought gifts don’t have. If you have the eye for design, you can make gift items like beaded accessories, paper bookmarks, painted containers, needlework and other decorative stuff.

3. Coupon favors. If you are absolutely out of budget or out of time to look for a suitable gift, the easiest yet meaningful gift you can give is a set of favor coupons. Simply print on a small portion of paper some things you’d be willing to do and spend time on for your loved one such as washing the car, surrendering the remote or cooking for a week.

4. Grocery goods. Wonderful gifts can also be found in the aisles of grocery stores, hardware stores or the dollar store. Think about what your recipient loves to do and gather related items to make an inexpensive gift basket. Here are some examples:

For the coffee lover – a mug, gourmet coffee, sugar cubes, creamer and a cup sleeve.
For the green thumb – Seed packets, garden tools, pots, wind toys and gloves.
For the pet lover – pet food, grooming tools, leash and other applicable accessories depending on the animal.

5. Donation. This is a classic gift for your loved ones who seem to have everything in terms of material belongings. Make a donation to your recipient’s favorite charity and have it named to that person as a tribute or gift.

6. Intangible gifts. Some gifts may not come in a wrapped box. Instead of buying material presents, you can also give intangible but meaningful gifts. How about transferring airline miles to your cousin who loves to travel? You can also give ebooks and music download coupons which cost much less than an actual book or CD.

7. Artwork. Talented or not, anybody can make a decent artwork as long as they put their heart into it. Compose music or write a poem for a special someone. Try to create an abstract painting with your child and have it framed to give to the grandparents. They’ll surely appreciate the effort you put into it.

8. Homemade kits. A DIY kit is a memorable gift you can give to friends and family. These are similar to gift baskets, except the recipient needs to follow a process to be able to appreciate the gift even more. These can be ingredients to a delicious recipe or crafting kit like a recycled paper kit.

Top 10 reasons to give the Gift of Camp

2010-12-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Reasons to Give the Gift of Camp

Camp is truly a life-changing experience — one that provides a lifetime of memories, and develops real life skills needed to be a leader in today’s changing world. For many families, camp is already a holiday tradition. For those families who haven’t considered camp yet this season, the American Camp Association® (ACA) lists the top ten reasons to give the gift of camp:

10. Gift-wrapping a pony has never been easy. Trust us, we’ve tried.

9. Aunt Maude’s fruitcake is still on the top shelf of the pantry.

8. According to research from The Children’s Mutual, 41 percent of toys and presents given during the December holidays are broken by March.

7. No waiting in line! The average American spends 25 percent of holiday shopping time in line.

6. No assembly or batteries required.

5. Camp helps boost confidence! According to ACA research, 92 percent of campers reported that camp helped them feel better about themselves.

4. First-hand experiences with nature! From insects to vegetation and woodland critters to fish, the camp experience surrounds children with nature and develops a hands-on appreciation for the environment and the natural world.

3. Friends come in all shapes and sizes, and from all different backgrounds. ACA research indicates that 96 percent of campers made new friends, and 93 percent of campers met people that were different from them. The camp experience helps develop authentic friendships and a sense of community, while making children more aware of the world around them.

2. Camp helps stem summer learning loss. According to the National Summer Learning Association, most children experience some degree of learning loss in the summer months. Research has shown that participation in an experiential education program, like camp, has a positive effect on children while helping to stem learning loss.

1. Camp is FUN!

Families ready to give the gift of camp can visit www.CampParents.org for resources, expert advice, or ACA’s Find A Camp database of over 2,400 ACA-accredited® camps. A printable gift certificate is also available — families can tuck it in a new backpack, roll it in a new sleeping bag, wrap it around a new flashlight, or put it in a traditional gift box complete with colorful paper and a bow. No matter how it's delivered, the gift of camp is the gift of a lifetime.

About ACA

The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.

Seven Questions Parents Should Ask when Choosing a Camp

2010-12-17T12:51:00.000-08:00

From the American Camp Association April 17, 2009

As summer vacation gets closer, many parents—in fact, parents of more than 10 million children— make the decision to send their children to summer camp. While some families have already decided on a camp, others are still exploring their options. For these families, it can be difficult to choose – especially when the diversity of camps today reflects the diversity of America. There is truly a camp for every child, every interest, and every budget. The American Camp Association® (ACA) recommends that parents ask the following questions to get a better feel for which camp experience best suits their child:

1.What is the camp's philosophy and program emphasis? – Each camp has its own method of constructing programs based on its philosophy. Does it complement your family’s philosophy? Does the camp focus on learning through competition, or through cooperative learning? How does the camp handle homesickness and other adjustment issues?

2.What is the camp director's background? – ACA recommends directors possess a bachelor's degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years, and have at least sixteen weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming the responsibilities of director.

3.What training do counselors receive? – At a minimum, camp staff should be trained in safety regulations, emergency procedures and communication, behavior management techniques, child abuse prevention, appropriate staff and camper behavior, and specific procedures for supervision.

4.How are behavioral and disciplinary problems handled? – This is where the director's philosophy comes through loud and clear. Do they use positive reinforcement? What are the rules and consequences?

5.How does the camp handle special needs? – For a child with special requirements, parents should ask the camp director about needed provisions and facilities. Is there a nurse on staff? A designated place to store insulin or allergy medicine? Are special foods available for campers with restricted diets? Every question is important.

6.What about references? – Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask for references. This is generally one of the best ways to check a camp's reputation and service record.

7.Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association? Why? Why not? – ACA-Accredited® camps meet up to 300 health and safety standards. This does not guarantee a risk-free environment, but it's some of the best evidence parents have of a camp's commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for their children.

About ACA

The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.

Gee Whiz about Bicknell Utah (home to base camp)

2010-12-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

Did you know Bicknell was not the town's orignal name? It's true.

The town was originally called Thurber after A.K. Thurber who built the first house in the area in 1875.

Thomas Bicknell, a prominent educator and historian of Providence, Rhode Island, wished to perpetuate his name to Utah and offered a library of 1,000 books to the town that would take his name. The town's name was changed in April, 1916.

And now you know!

Mexican Hot Chocolate

2010-11-30T12:02:00.000-08:00

Yummy for these cold days!

Simply Mix:

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons instant hot chocolate mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch cayenne pepper

Really hits the spot!

"It Could be Worse" Game

2010-11-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

Super fun creativity game! No supplies needed. Also good for car rides, rainy days, hikes...

The starting player says something innocuous, like "I almost couldn't find the syrup." Next player says something like "It could've been worse. You could have been covered in syrup." Then the next person says something worse, like, "It could've been even worse than that, you could've been on Dancing with the Stars at the time." And then the next player tries to find something worse than that. Or, the next person says "it could be better..." And so it goes...

Thanksgiving Craft: Paper Indian Corn

2010-11-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

I always loved these tissue paper crafts as a kid. Easy to do with simple supplies, but looks great! Something fun to do over the weekend!

Supplies:

Natural-colored raffia paper
Scissors
Glue
Yellow poster board or construction paper
Colored tissue paper

Instructions

To make each stalk, cut three 18-inch lengths of natural-colored paper twist (sometimes called raffia paper). Untwist them, then trim the edges to resemble corn husks.

Fan out the husks so that they overlap and use a few drops of glue to hold them together.

From yellow poster board, cut out an ear of corn (about 10 inches long and 3 inches wide) and glue it atop the husks.

Now crumple a bunch of 3-inch colored tissue paper squares to create rounded kernels and glue them to the ear. Lastly, gather the husk bottoms and tie them together with a strip of raffia.

CUTE!

1-2-3 Look

2010-11-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

Here's a simple little camp or party game:

Everyone closes their eyes and lowers their heads, everyone chants 1-2-3-Look! As the leader calls "look," the campers look up at one specific person. If that person is looking back at him/her, both players are out. If that person is looking at a different person, the camper puts their head back down and waits for the next chant of "1-2-3 Look."

Continue the game rapidly until only two players are left.

We like to play a similar version that avoids players being called out of the games. Simply form TWO circles. When a pair is "out", they join the other circle. Remarkable easy and fun!

Shaded Potato Prints

2010-11-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

A fun simple art activity with supplies you may already have around the house:

Supplies:
knife
potato
pencil
spoon
tempra paints and brush
paper
Technique
1. With the help of an adult, cut a potato in half, with a pencil, draw a simple geometric shape, letter, or any created design on the sliced portion of the potato.

2. With the spoon, scrape away the part of the potato that is not part of the shape. The shape will be raised; the background will be cut and scraped away.

3. Paint any color on the remaining raised shape. Then, firmly press the potato on the paper to make a print. Make several prints before repainting. Each print will be lighter than the first.

4. Shading Step: With the spoon or other digging utensil, scoop away a little more of the remaining shape. Paint a different color on the potato shape and press the potato on the prints already made. Try to print exactly on the area of the first print. This will produce the look of dual colored shading. Continue this method to make more shaded prints or additional prints.

Variations:
Explore making prints with other objects from around the house, such as these suggestions:
bar of soap
carrot
block
nuts and bolts
eraser on a pencil
crumpled foil

Wayne County Trivia Quiz (for impressing your friends)

2010-11-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

Wayne County, home to Navajo Trails

1. How'd Wayne County get its name?
A: In honor of a delegate's son who was dragged to death by a horse.
B. After Wayne State University in hopes they would help fund the building of the elementary school.
C.  After Wayne Newton, Singer Songwritter
D. After Wayne National Forrest in Ohio, the first settlers wanted to honor home.

2: How much of Wayne County belongs to the Federal and State Government?
A:    A mere 13%
B:   almost half 47 %
C:   nearly three quarters 74 %
D:   almost all 97 %

3: How many people live in the county?
A:    2,400 The size of some high schools
B:    8,100 Same as the Blackberry Pearl Phone
C:    21,000 Same as how many people said they were attending a teens 16th b-day party on facebook
D. 120,000 Number of Ipad sales on the first day

4: What's the Elevation Range?
A:    3,000 Feet in capital Reef to 5,000 feet at Boulder Mountain
B:    100 feet at the lowest to 10,000 feet at the highest
C:    8,400 feet  at the west end of the county to 4,200 feet at Hanksville.
D.    2,000 around the center to 11, 500 feet at the top of the mountains

5.   About the county seat, Loa,
A.   It is home to a former Miss Utah.
B.   It has the second highest elevation of any county seat in Utah
C.   The Grocery Store is named, Miss Loa's.
D.   It's home of the county pool and the swim team, "The Seals"

Answers:
1. A.  Wayne dragged to death from a horse, county named after him.
2. D. 97 % of the county is state or federal land
3. A Only 2,400 people live in Wayne County
4.  C. 8,400 to 4,200 elevation (Navajo Trails sits at 7,125 nice and cool)
5. B. I wish it was Miss Loa's or the Seals, but alas it has the second highest elevation of any county seat in Utah at 7,000 feet.    Tell all of your friends.

Scoring:
5 Right your Super Wayne County Smart
3-4 Right Your almost as Super Wayne County Smart
1-2 Retake Quiz to obtain Super Smart Status

Halloween Pumpkin Recipes!

2010-10-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Dip

2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese sofened
1 large 30 ounce can of pumpkin
4 cups powdered sugar
2 teas cinnamon
2 teas ginger

Whip together and serve with giner snaps for dipping!

Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake
Graham cracker crust (buy one premade, or crush graham crackers with melted butter)
2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese
1/2 sugar
2 eggs
1 - 16 ounce can of pumpkin
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Bake crust for 5 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Mix cream cheese sugar and eggs until smooth.
Add pumpkin and spices.
Put over crust, bake for 40 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees

Girl Scout Service Weekend!!!

2010-10-15T19:44:00.001-07:00

Girl Scout Troop 630 from Salt Lake City, Utah came to Navajo Trails the first weekend in October, 2010 to do service for the camp!

They grabbed shovels, rakes, and other tools to clear away weeds and cement from old fence posts to extend the lawn, cleared away dead and down from around the dome, and moved tons of fire wood for campfires for next summer.

The girls worked on two interest project patches: Fashion and Design and Outdoor Survival.

Friday Night they tied shirts for tie Die. Saturday morning they dyed the shirts. After the service morning, they

went to Capital Reef National Park where the girls had arranged for Ranger Lynn to take them on a hike to Hickman Bridge to learn about the Fremont culture, Flora and Fauna, and outdoor survival.

Saturday night the girls played games.

On Sunday, they went on a tour of the old mill and went back to Capital Reef for a fantastic hike down pleasant creek.

Follow this link for the full album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31908&id=121787417853199

(800) 200-Camp http://navajotrails.com

Smug Mug Photo Share

2010-08-06T18:55:00.001-07:00

Check out Smug mug at:

http://ntr.smugmug.com/

Photos from the summer are available for purchase.

Backpacking, survival, rock climbing, waterskiing, horse trips and weekend events from the Navajo Trails 2010 Summer!

http://www.navajotrails.com

Rock Climbing Journal

2010-07-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

June 30 2010,

We are on the ride back from Maple Canyon. It was fun watching people play Abulaba. People here climbing and me Trevor, thomas, Mistie and Amy had a fun van ride to the Sinclair. I completed every route I attempted even a 100 footer. Cya soon,

rock Climbing camper

This week has been very fun, and I am with a lot of fun people. We had a lot of fun times. We went to the pool and showered. The pool was so cool.

rock Climbing camper

This is my 4th time on this trip and I can't stop enjoying the trip. It's so fun and funny. I improved my climbing and did a 5.10 a which was super hard. I also get to do a few 5.9's, 5.8's and 5/7's. I'm glad I went with the people I went with. I had fun playing games. I forgot to tell you about Austin. Austin is our main lead climber. He was pretty cool. This is the last week of camp for my 3rd year and I hope to come back next year.

rock climbing camper.

I have been on the trip once before but last time I only climbed twice well three times and I didn't make it up once, but this time I completed 9 climbs. It was way fun!

2010 rock climbing camper

Follow this link to see the entire Album:

http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?aid=18421&add=1&id=121787417853199#!/album.php?aid=18421&id=121787417853199

Survival Trip Journal 2010

2010-07-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

The survival trip has been very fun. We swam and saw petrogyphs. We are on time to do a solo. in the night we saw satelites and Venus in the sky. We told a lot of jokes. Jared Carried 2 packs and was a pack mule. It was awesome.

Survival Trip camper

This trip is very fun. I love going in the water, it make me feel good. I love looking at the stars at nigh and the people are funny. I am looking forward to the solo's. It's not bad carry your pack for a while. It was AMAZING

survival Trip Camper

This trip is my last trip until I've done every trip at Navajo Tails!!! Woo woo. This Trip I've learned more than any other trip at Navajo Trails. I learned how to make a fire, make a broom, make cordage bracelet, and most in important how to survive with a wool blanket as a pack! I had fun.

Survival Trip Camper 2010

This was a new exciting experience for me. Although this scenery is not mundane, it is familiar to me. i have taken trips to parts of Utah that are very similar to this, but I usually don't camp when I visit this part of Utah. I have camped but never like this. I have learned a lot from this trip. I especially liked making ask cakes, every meal for Wednesday was salubrious and delicious. This was a great experience and will be hard to forget.

Survival Trip Camper 2010

2010-07-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Waterski Trip at Otter Creek. After breakfast on Monday we headed out to Otter Creek. We spend as much time possible on the ski boat waterskiing. It rained a little in the week, but it was awesome, we had a dance party in the van. We ate good food like Russian Chicken, French Toast and Scones.

We swam, played on the beach, and made bracelets!

On Friday we went into Capital Reef to hike to Hickman Bridge, see the petrogyphs and go swimming underneath the waterfalls.

Follow this link to see the entire album:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Summer-Camp-Utah-Navajo-Trails-Adventure/121787417853199?v=photos&ref=sgm#!/album.php?aid=18007&id=121787417853199

Video of first time up on Waterskis!

Survival Trip

2010-07-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

The Survival Trip spent the day getting ready for our trip.

Long Time Trip Leaders Jon and Anne Smith (who were counselor when Dan went to camp) taught everyone how to roll a survival pack and how to tie the right knots to make a pack out of a wool blanket. We practiced a few times until it was easy.

We learned how to sharpen our knives.

We all helped package our food by day per meal.

Then we learned out to make cortage (rope) out of milkweed and other fabrics.

We also learned how to carve our own spoons out of cottonwood.

Jon showed us out to make a bow drill fire.

Tonight we will make dinner and learn how to navigate using the stars.

We are really excited for our trip that begins on Boulder Mountain and ends in Capital Reef! We are going to hike along the stream the entire way so we will be cool and have plenty of water. We're excited to learn skills like how to build a trap, cook our own food, and to build shelters.

Follow this link to see the full album:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?id=121787417853199&pid=238738#!/photo.php?id=121787417853199&pid=238731&fbid=136642463034361

Rock Climbing Journal

2010-07-19T19:18:00.001-07:00

Climbing in Maple Canyon has been great! I haven't been rock climbing at all before this, but everyone says that I've been doing good. The other good thing is that I have learned to belay. I am soooo glad that I came on this trip, because now I think I have found my new sport after gymnastics! The harest I have climbed is a 5.9, but I'm gonna try to do a 5.10 before we leave.... even though I don't want to leave. This whole entire week has been wonderful and I wouldn't change it for anything!!!

2010 Rock Climbing Camper

Horse Journal

2010-07-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

This week has been great!

It brings back all of the wonderful memories from camp from all my years at camp.

I have loved being back at NTR as a counselor this week. Riding horse has been great this week.

The kids are great and get all so well and do wonderfully with their horses. I love seeing Cori's smile after she got Ashely Moon to lope and hearing Trevor laugh and smile the whole time. Alice loves horses and you can really tell whenever she's around Babe. Helena came all the way from Spain and she rode Bravo like a champ! Asher did great with Utah. Ben did great. He is always positive and smiling. One day he will make a great horse trip leader.

We also had all of the backpackers with us for the last couple of days, which has made our quiet campsite quite the party spot. It has been fun and I've really enjoyed watching the kids learn this week!

Weekend at the Ranch!

2010-07-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

On Friday after our trips, showers, and dinner. We got together to play some team building games like Everybodies It, Mario Brothers, and Blind Tag.

Our world cup soccer game continues after every meal.

On Saturday morning we did laundry and some work projects like cleaning up our cabins and bathrooms.

After lunch we went into Bicknell to go swimming at the pool. We love the high dive!

After the pool some of us went to the movie Toy Story 3 and some of us played board games back at the ranch.

Then we played more games after dinner. Then we had a campwide sleepout under the stars, when the rain came we moved to the dining hall where we slept IN.

On Sunday morning some of us made Tie Dye T-Shirts, they turned out AWESOME! We made up our skits for campfire and signed up for next week's trips.

For lunch we had our favorite Tare Bread with honeybutter. Yummy!

Sunday afternoon we went to the pond, some of us went on the zip line and played casino games like black jack and Uno.

Sunday night we wrapped things up with a campfire and our skits about the last week!

We're excited for our trips tomorrow!

2010-07-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

The Rock Climbing Trip was awesome!

We camped at Maple Canyon all week. We started climbing easier climbs like 5.4's at the beginning of the week and progressed to 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, and 5.10s.

We went to a park and slack lined. Our counselor Cassey is a very good climber and slack liner.

We went for a short hike and watched some professional climbers climb practically upside down out of a cove.

The last night we played Ababulae, we went to a dark cave with glow sticks and played hike and seek.

Our food was so good! Stir Fry, Mexi Salad, Taco Soup, Scones, Pancakes, French Toast, Pita Pizza, and our favorite fudge goo!

Follow this link for the full photo album:

http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?aid=17458&add=1&id=121787417853199#!/album.php?id=121787417853199&aid=17458

The Weekend!

2010-07-11T15:55:00.001-07:00

After our trips we went to town for milkshakes and cleaned up. Friday night we did an ultimate challenge with giant dice. We had to complete team challenges like human knot, horse shoes, charades, and poison peanut butter swamp.

Saturday morning we did work projects around camp. We painted fences, pruned the orchard, or helped take hay to the horses. Saturday afternoon we played Water Ballon Volleyball and World Cup Soccer. After dinner we played steal the flag at the cove.

On Sunday we did hemp, knitted hats, and boondoogle in the morning. After lunch we went off the zip line on the pond. Then we watched the World Cup Soccer Match. After dinner we'll choose our trips and do our skits at Campfire!

Follow this link to see the entire Album:

http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?aid=16862&add=1&id=121787417853199&flash=1#!/album.php?id=121787417853199&aid=16862

Backpacking Trip

2010-07-11T15:45:00.001-07:00

The backpackers started on Tuesday on Thousand Lake Mountain. We hiked about 3 miles to camp by a beautiful lake. We had backpackers dinners, instant oatmeal for breakfast, then hiked about a mile to meet up with the horse group.

We cooked hot dogs on the fire, then hiked up to flat top to Dairy Queen for snow cones. Then we hiked another two miles to horse camp.

On Thursday we had exploration day. We hiked about a mile to the top of this peak where there is an Indian Rock Tower. Cassey our counselor found two arrowheads. After lunch we did another day hike, about 4 miles to see an overlook of Capital Reef.

Friday we woke up early and hiked 10 miles to Torrey for Milkshakes.

Follow this link to see the entire backpacker album:

http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?aid=16414&add=1&id=121787417853199&flash=1#!/album.php?id=121787417853199&aid=16414

Horseback Riders

2010-07-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

The horse back riders rode up to

base camp the first day.

Then did day ride adventures each

day.

This is there ride up to flat top to

Dairy Queen for snow cones!

Delicious!

Below is the link to the facebook album with all of the pictures from this horse trip. Tell all of your friends and family to Like our Navajo Trails page on facebook to see all photo albums.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Summer-Camp-Utah-Navajo-Trails-Adventure/121787417853199?v=photos&ref=sgm#!/album.php?aid=16412&id=121787417853199

Pleasant Springs! Capital Reef

2010-07-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Backpacking group on our day hike to Capital Reef!

We started here on Monday to get used to hiking and the altitude. Just a super fun hike through Pleasant Springs!

It's a beautiful hike and a great start to the week!

Follow this link to see the entire album:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Summer-Camp-Utah-Navajo-Trails-Adventure/121787417853199?v=photos&ref=sgm#!/album.php?aid=16864&id=121787417853199

How Trips are Chosen Each Week

2010-07-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

We leave the decision making of trips up to the campers as to what trips they want to go on. We don't do a pre-registration of trips because many kids change their minds while at camp for several reasons. For instance, they might make a new friend at camp and want to go on trip with that friend or they may decide to try something new that they hadn't considered before. We work with each camper to make sure that they are happy with their experience.

Each week the camper chooses which trip he/she would like to go on for the week. Some trips are limited to a certain number of campers. So to best accommodate the campers we ask the campers for the top 2 trips they would like to go on while at camp. This gives us a good idea of what trips we need to offer the following week. The number of trips we run in a week varies depending on campers interests, resources,staffing,etc. Campers who stay only two weeks to get first priority on trips first, because campers staying longer will have the opportunity to do what they want later on in the season.

We try our hardest to accommodate every camper in their wish list for trips. As long as the camper does not care what order they go on the trip we usually can accommodate their wishes for certain trips.

For example: If a camper has a wish list of say a horseback riding trip and a rock climbing trip and they are only at camp two weeks, we try our very hardest to make sure that camper goes on both trips. So we will offer a horseback riding, biking & kayaking trip one week and a rock climbing, backpacking, horseback riding & waterskiing trip another week.

Another example: Now lets say a campers wish list is kayaking and mountain biking, but they are staying four weeks. We may offer a horseback riding, mountain biking, waterskiing & backpacking trip the first week. A mountain biking, rock climbing & waterskiing trip the next week. A rock climbing, kayaking & horseback riding the third week, and a kayaking, backpacking, waterskiing & rock climbing trip the fourth week.

(Note: the above examples are just examples and not the necessarily the order of trips that are offered for this summer. We do not have a set trip schedule for the summer only a tentative one incase campers change their minds. That is why we do not post the trip schedule.)

Camp Has Started

2010-07-06T14:25:00.001-07:00

This is the first week a of camp for 2010,it started of July 4th. We have campers from all over the world like Japan, France, and Spain. We also have campers from around the nation like Missouri, New York, Florida, Illinois, California, Colorado, and Utah.

So far this week we had a awesome campfire, played tons of cool games, got used to the elevation (around 7,000 ft.), and got ready for the trips.

We have two trips this week. One trip is going Horseback Riding and the other Backpacking. The horseback riding group went on an amazing day trip around the camp, up the mountain, and back again.

The backpacking group went to Capital Reef National Park and went on a day hike where they hiked up a stream, went down a nature made slide, and ended up at the base of some super high and really amazing red rock cliffs.

Now both trips have left for the week. The backpackers we dropped of at their starting location first thing this morning. All the campers and staff were super excited to get going. They will hike for a while today and camp at a lake tonight. Can't wait to see their photos when they get back.

The horseback riding group, packed up their saddle bags this morning loaded them onto their horses and took off for the adventure. They will ride all day today till they make it to base camp where they will kick back and enjoy the beauty all round them. They each got assigned their very own horse for the week and have the responsibility of taking care it. After their day ride yesterday, the campers could not wait to get back on their horse and ride up to base camp.

Later this week the two groups will meet and go to "Dairy Queen" on top of the mountain where they will make "Cool Treat & Hot Eats". Cool treats of snow cones from the snow fields and have a snowball fight, and hot eats of their supper yummy and delicious dutch oven cooking.

The Adventure has Begun!

Spark in the Dark- -Wintogreens, How does that work?

2010-07-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Live in the Mountains and cannot get to see the fireworks?

A pack of Wint-O-Green Lifesavers and a dark tent or room and you can have your own fireworks! A camp holiday classic. Chomp down on the lifesavers to see the sparks fly.

How does it work?

This effect is called triboluminescence, which is similar to the electrical charge build-up that produces lightning, only much less grand. Triboluminescence is the emission of light resulting from something being smashed or torn. When you rip a piece of tape off the roll, it will produce a slight glow for the same reason.

Triboluminescence occurs when molecules, in this case crystalline sugars, are crushed, forcing someelectrons out of their atomic fields. These free electrons bump into nitrogen molecules in the air. When they collide, the electrons impart energy to the nitrogen molecules, causing them to vibrate. In this excited state, and in order to get rid of the excess energy, these nitrogen molecules emit light -- mostly ultraviolet (nonvisible) light, but they do emit a small amount of visible light as well. This is why all hard, sugary candies will produce a faint glow when cracked.

But when you bite into a Wint-O-Green Life Saver, a much greater amount of visible light can be seen.

This brighter light is produced by the wintergreen flavoring. Methyl salicylate, or oil of wintergreen, isfluorescent, meaning it absorbs light of a shorter wavelength and then emits it as light of a longer wavelength. Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength than visible light. So when a Wint-O-Green Life Saver is crushed between your teeth, the methyl salicylate molecules absorb the ultraviolet, shorter wavelength light produced by the excited nitrogen, and re-emit it as light of the visible spectrum, specifically as blue light -- thus the blue sparks that jump out of your mouth when you crunch on a Wint-O-Green Life Saver.

Root Beer Recipe

2010-07-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

Home Made Root Beer is always a hit for Harry Potter All Camps and 4th of July Parties!!!

Ingredients:

(This makes 4 gallons/ 64 servings)

6 cups white sugar
3 1/3 gallons cold water
2 oz root beer extract
4 lbs dry ice (use more dry ice for more carbonation)

You'll need a large clean plastic container to make the root beer in.

(Tip: don't use a Orange Gott drinking cooler-- experience tells me the dry ice will bubble the cooler)

Large plastic tubs work well and are pretty cheap from Wal-Mart.

Directions:

1. Mix sugar and water.

2. Add the root beer extract. You can add more or less to taste.

3. Carefully add dry ice. Don't seal the container.

Watch the mixture bubble and mist! (This is where the hit comes into play)

It can take an hour for the mixture to be ready.

Make sure all of the dry ice is dissolved before serving.

(You can store left over root beer in a jug to give the nice food service delivery driver who will give you dry ice for free for your 4th of July or Harry Potter All Camp)

Pull Recipe out again for Halloween Parties!

4th of July Salt Dough Pins

2010-06-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

By: Amanda Formaro

Difficulty: Easy

Age: 5 and up

Show your love for the USA by making one of these fun and patriotic pins!

What you'll need:

½ cup salt
1 cup flour
½ cup water
Acrylic paint: red, white and blue
Pin backs
White craft glue
Small cookie cutters: heart, star (optional)
Acrylic sealer spray

How to make it:

Mix together the salt, flour, and water. If dough is sticky, add additional tablespoons of flour one at a time until the mixture is smooth a pliable. Be careful not to add too much or your projects will crack.
Roll out or press dough with your hand and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes or form your own shapes.
Place shapes on cookie sheet and heat oven to 250 degrees F.
Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, or until items are dry. Remove from oven and let cool.
Paint all the shapes
Turn pins over and glue on pin backs. Use a generous amount of glue and let them dry completely before wearing.

Tips:

Salt dough can be kept in a covered container for a couple of days.
It is not necessary to dry out salt dough in the oven, you can air dry it, but the oven is faster.

How to Make Your Own Rock Candy

2010-06-29T16:23:00.001-07:00

A fun simple summer activity!

You will need:

1 Glass jar or drinking glass
1 Piece of cotton string
1 Pencil or stick
1 Paper clip
1 Food coloring (optional)
1 c Water
2 c Sugar
Additional sugar

Tie a short piece of cotton string to the middle of the pencil or stick. Attach a paper clip to the end of the string for a weight.

Moisten the string very lightly, and roll in a bit of sugar (this will "attract" the sugar crystals from the syrup to the string). Place the pencil or stick over the top of the glass or jar with the string hanging down inside.

Heat the water to boiling, and dissolve the 2 cups of sugar into it. For the biggest crystals FAST, heat the sugar-water solution a SECOND time, and dissolve as much additional sugar as you can into it. Add a few drops of food coloring to the solution if you want colored candy.

Pour the solution into the prepared glass or jar and leave undisturbed for a couple of days. Depending on how much sugar you were able to dissolve into the water, you should start to see crystals growing in a few hours to a few days.

Spinach Smoothies!

2010-06-20T13:25:00.001-07:00

My dietitian friend, Janae "Pepper" introduced me to spinach smoothies!

You and your kids will never know there is spinach in this delicious drink!

Smoothies are a camp favorite!

Just add a handful of raw spinach to your favorite smoothie ingredients!

Yummy Smoothie with Spinach

1-2 ripe bananas (or ones that you have frozen)-- bananas act as a sweetener
a handful of spinach leaves
about 1/2 cup frozen blueberries (frozen ones are cheaper, plus this is what makes the smoothie cold and icy without having to add ice)
any other fruit you if you want to add, fresh or frozen
half of a small yogurt, or more if you like
a dash of liquid, either milk (dairy or non-dairy) or any kind of juice, apply juice works very well

Blend all ingredients. If the smoothie is too runny, add more banana and/or frozen stuff or ice. If you are having trouble getting it to blend, you need to add more liquid — just a little at a time.

You can also try adding vanilla, honey, or cinnamon!

Enjoy!

Home Made Finger Paints

2010-06-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Fun and easy activity for the summer!

Homemade Finger Paints

Total Time Needed:: 1 Hour

Inexpensive easy to make with items likely to have from home!

Materials

1 cup of cold water
1/4 cup of cornstarch
1 tablespoon of light corn syrup
Washable, nontoxic tempera paint

Bowls
Finger-paint paper or freezer paper
Masking tape

Instructions

Before you begin: Spread out a plastic tablecloth, keep wipes handy, and wear a smock or old clothes.
In a small saucepan, stir together the cold water and cornstarch. Whisk the mixture over low heat for about 5 minutes until it thickens and clears -- this will happen all at once. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup, then divide the mixture into bowls and stir a squirt of tempera paint into each one.
After the paint has cooled, scoop blobs of it onto finger-paint paper (taped to your table) or let your kids scoop it out themselves -- whichever they prefer -- and commence smearing. Leftover paint can be stored in sealed containers in the fridge for a day or two.

Kool Aid Playdough!

2010-06-11T17:16:00.001-07:00

1 batch dough

Easy to Make! Fun to Play with and smells yummy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 (4 g) packages unsweetened Kool-Aid powdered drink mix
2 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons oil

Directions

1
Mix flour, salt, Kool-Aid and oil until blended.
2
Add boiling water, mix with spoon until cool enough to knead.
3
Continue kneading until color is blended.
4
Store in air tight bag or container in the refrigerator.

Family Camp Has Its Days in the Sun

2010-06-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

Family Camp Has Its Days in the Sun

By Gregory Keer

When my wife first dragged us all to family camp a few years ago, I had mixed emotions. I recalled my own overnight camp experiences of painful shyness around other kids, fear of mountain lions that might randomly attack me, and general cluelessness about campfire song lyrics.

Four years later, I'm itching to get back for our fourth annual week at the UCLA Bruin Woods family camp up in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. Maybe it has to do with the way my sons pal around with their fellow campers; hike, fish and swim fearlessly; and scream out silly songs so the whole facility can hear them. And maybe it has to do with the grown-up activities of inner-tube water polo, high-wire walking on the ropes course, and after-dark games of "mafia."

Apparently, my love of the family-camp experience is not unique. This kind of vacation has grown increasingly popular as adults learn that camper bonding, lanyard-making and lakeside overnights are not just for kids anymore. The American Camp Association (ACA), which accredits camps according to certain quality standards and represents about a quarter of the industry, notes an increase in family camps of 24 percent over the last four years. This means there are plenty of options, in every part of the country.

Like a rustic version of an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation, family camps' appeal seems to stem from Americans' desire to stay domestic and, in the case of some camps, save some money. These camps offer numerous features, including groups for the kids, prepared meals, comfortable accommodations and enough sports, arts-and-crafts and outdoor recreation to make adults feel young again.

Reasons to Go to Family Camp

Aside from having all the play opportunities, family camp is a unique chance for parents and children to deepen their bonds. In an environment far from the hustle and responsibilities of home and work, families can focus on each other.

They can try new things together, such as waterskiing and archery. At the camp my family attends, we've gone on counselor-led parent-child overnights under the stars and giggled through campwide picnic games. Though I haven't gotten the guts to do it yet, lots of parents perform with their kids in a talent show as well.

More Camps Offered

2010-06-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Navajo Trails Adventure Camp offers 2 week, 3 week, and 4 week camps for kids ages 9-16 years old. Choose your own adventure, you decide what adventure you want to go on for the week, then come back on the weekends and hang out, play games, and so much more. Adventures include: Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Wakeboarding & Waterskiing, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, and more.

Types of Camps

2010-06-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Navajo Trails has a camp for just about everyone!

Family Camp is a three day, two night camp for your entire family and friends. Activities include: photography, hikes, drama games, leather work, bracelet making, watercolors, water balloon volley ball, other water games, pottery, sushi making, yoga, cake decorating, games, and campfire!

Sleep in cabins or bring your own tent. $90 per person per cabin $60 per person bring your own tent. Babies 3 and under free. Plus $10 per person nonrefundable registration fee.

Detailed schedule and program information found in Family Camp Events on "Summer Camp Utah (Navajo Trails)" Page.

Contact navajotrails@comcast.net.

Tip of the Month

2010-06-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Fruit Flies

To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2 full with apple cider vinegar. Add 2 drops of dish washing liquid soap; mix well. Set cup on counter and leave for a little while. You will find that those flies are drawn to the cup and gone forever.

Recipe of the Month

2010-06-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Granola

4 1/2 cups old fashioned oat, uncooked

1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup apple juice

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup sliced almonds

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine oats, almonds, coconut, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together honey and apple juice, pour over oat mixture and stir to coat.

3. Spread mixture in an even layer on a large baking sheet. Bake 25 to 30 min. until golden brown, stirring twice during baking time.

4. Let cool, add raisins and cranberries. Enjoy!

About the Camp & Directors

2010-06-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

Navajo Trails is a summer camp for girls and boys ages 7-16. It was started in 1966 by Don Sampson & Mont Ellet. He was a really neat guy. He loved the outdoors, adventures, and helping kids. He had a dream ever since he was in middle school to open his own summer camp and made his dreams come true in 1966. Now the camp is owned and operated by his son Dan Sampson and his wife Jenny Sampson. Dan grew up at the camp, now him and his wife raise their 4 sons at the camp in the summer. Along with raising their kids and running a summer camp Dan works at the U of U and Jenny runs her own floral shop.

This year Amy Hugh and K'Leena Mellor have joined up with Dan and Jenny to put out the best camp program around. Amy has been a camp director with the Girl Scouts of Utah for nine years. She graduated with her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and her undergraduate degree is in Sociology. She loves hiking, backpacking, photography, pottery, and wants to maybe get into scuba diving for fun. She even has a entire room in her house dedicated to pottery. In addition to directing this camp she owns a photography company and lifeguard and other life saving instructing company.

K'Leena Mellor grew up at summer camp. She comes from a long line of camp director and loves the outdoors. Her grandfather ran a camp, her mother was a camp director, several of her uncles are camp directors and she was a camp director for four years. Now K'Leena is raising her daughter at camp and hoping that she loves summer camp as much as the rest of the family. K'Leena also got her degree in Sociology. She loves to do art stuff like painting, photography, pottery, crocheting, and on and on. She loves to swim, hike, backpack, dabble in horseback riding, garden. She assists Amy in running the photography and instructing companies and loves life.