Left to Right: Alena Braman, Caroline Shaha, Avery Hart, Emily Shaha, Sam Marolf, Evenlyn Denyer
We had such a great weekend at the Girl Scout Campout at Šobec, next to Bled. Being out in nature with friends and family while somebody else has planned it all, what's not to love?
Our wonderful leaders Carrie Braman and Amanda Hart planned and organized everything. So so grateful for all their hard work and dedication!
Hiking to the Sava River... Max Marolf, Ethan Hart, James Shaha
Girl Scouts has been a saving grace for my girls. With the American school closing and then having to start over at an international school as the only Americans in their classes, combined with the pains of Covid restrictions this past year, GSA has been a haven for them. Every two weeks they can let down their guard, relax, and be themselves around other like-minded anglophones. This pictured group of Americans go to four different schools, but they all come together every two weeks for GSA. (I know you're thinking, "But there's boys in this picture!" Siblings and parents were invited to the campout, but they don't attend the meetings.)
For several months they had to meet on zoom, but the past couple months with restrictions lifted, they have been meeting in the spacious backyard of the ambassador's residence which is currently unoccupied. They've been having a blast.
Group effort setting up the beast of a tent
It was a very cool and mild weekend, and constantly threatened rain. The rain didn't come until Saturday night, and the girls got drenched in their fair-weather tent. Luckily for the parents, we were warm and dry in our "bungalows." That's the secret to happy camping... kids in tents, parents in bungalows.
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Saturday morning they rotated to different stations at the bungalows. The Harts are teaching knot tying.
The Bramans taught tie-dying
Kyle helped them make trail mix.
Hi Kyle!
The Denyers led jar painting to make little lanterns
And the Shahas led rock painting.
That afternoon JB led us on a long hike. We found frogs, tadpoles, cows, snails, and dead mice.
Why hasn't somebody told me to burn those pants? You have all failed me.
Could anything be cuter???
Cosette just ran around the whole weekend like she was one of the scouts.
The infamous Girl Scout fair-weather tent.
Euorpean campground rules are weird. No open fires! The grill was the extent of our outdoor fire.
Someone even brought sparklers!
Another weird aspect of European campgrounds: they come with fancy restaurants. Saturday night we enjoyed a lovely dinner, and they had a wonderful outdoor playground just outside from where we were eating.
Sunday morning, pancake breakfast and closing circle. We had to leave before 9:00 to make it back in time for our first day back at church in 11 months! We had to go because Ben was being called as branch president! Couldn't really skip out ;)
