After Woodward

Saying goodbye

So long chicken grill... Til we feed again!

Leaving Woodward...

The bags are unpacked, the laundry is done, the days are shorter and real life has returned.  I'm almost caught up on my sleep... Almost...   Life after WW is a strangely empty.    Gone are the days of endless asking : "what time is it?".  (Next year I'm bringing a clock). Gone are the late night giggles as I shout for quiet.  Gone are the early morning requests to do hair, the endless chants of "Do I have to go to open gym??"  Gone is the laughter and groans of seventeen energetic whirlwinds I fondly referred to at camp as "My girls".  Oh, I was a proud mama hen, proclaiming ownership to all.  "That girl on the bars doing giants over there... Yeah, she's one of MY girls".  "Hmm, what's that? Who's that girl kickin butt on the dance floor....Yeah, that's one of MY girls". "Who are those disciplined gymnasts who run every morning?  Yeah... They're MY girls!"  "Who's that awesome little gymnast?  Yup, My girl!"  Now, that MY girls are no longer my girls but yours once again, I have to say, I miss them in my daily life.  I miss their chatter and their stories.   As the magic of Woodward fades, and real life settles in,  know that a piece of my heart belongs to your girls and the memories we made at WW2013.  Thanks for sharing them with me.  I hope they all returned to you if not a little grimy, with happy memories, great stories and plans to return next year!

Stay calm and flip on

Heather

Ps zip line videos to come!

Friday Night reflections

Kalyna won the crazy dress contest in her group today.  She felt well enough to attend mandatory gym, and then go zip lining with the girls.  It's a dance party tonight, as well as the tap party for our girls who were tapped last year. Stephanie, Cosie, Phoenix and Megan had pizza, cake, and ice cream with the rest of the tap campers from this summer.   Sitting here by the fire thinking back over the week, it's hard to believe another year has come and gone here at Woodward.  This is my third year now and every year gets better and better.  It's such an amazing place, but what is even better than being at Camp Woodward is being able to experience the camp with your girls.  I cannot adequately explain to you the amazing dynamic that occurs between the girls while at camp.  It is wonderful to behold.  They become a family.  Their relationships strengthen and their sense of team solidifies.   They nurture, protect, encourage, and support one another.  It is such a privilege to be able to get to know each and every one of them outside of the gym environment.  They are all wonderfully talented, amazingly beautiful young women.  You should be proud of the way they represented our gym.  They trained hard, played hard, and accomplished so much in just one week.  They will be exhausted tomorrow, but the memories, oh the memories will make it worth all the aching muscle, early mornings, and interesting camp food.  As camp winds down there is a bittersweet tinge in the air.  Then again, there is only 346 more days until Camp Woodward is home again!  

Until next time,

Stay calm and flip on!  

Heather

Ps.  I'll be adding more photos and video to the blog over the next couple of days, so check back.

Friday afternoon

Crazy dress day..... Crazy indeed!

Strange life forms

Aliens from planet Woodward

Turkey Gobbler

Gym magical gymnasts!

More later! 

Friday Morning

Good morning from Woodward!  It's our last full day here!  Here are some ropes course pics

Videos!

Thursday...

Sorry for the long delay.  Much to write about, it's been a crazy day!  Last night was the hip hop dance off.  Three of our girls bravely strutted their stuff on the dance floor.  Kudos go out to Kathryn, Cosie and Hailey.  Hailey rocked the competition and came in third.  The rest of the girls were hoarse from cheering their team mates on.  Last night found me awake at 1 am with a very ill Kalyna.  High fever, shakes, and a sore throat.    We were sent off to an urgent care clinic where she was given antibiotics.  The rest of the day Kalyna spent asleep recuperating.  This experience made me truly aware of how lucky we are to have the health care we do in Canada.  The people at med express were wonderful, but what a bunch of hoop jumping it was to get them to accept our travel medical insurance!  Thank goodness for insurance!  

Unfortunately, I missed crazy hair day while out seeing the doctor.  Cosie won first prize in her group for craziest hair.  I'm sorry that I don't have pictures :( 

Today was also our team rope course event, 13 girls plus me harnessed ourselves up and braved the treetops for an hour long adventure.  Everyone had a blast and the girls were full of support and team spirit.  It was an amazing thing to witness.  Vitali and Mihai came along to cheer the girls on from the ground.  A good time was had by all.  Tomorrow the girls will go back and conquer the zip line.  I, however, will be taking video from below this time! 

A great big thunderstorm blew in just after we returned from the ropes course, cooling things off a bit after a humid day!  The girls are in the gym now, stretching out before the talent show tonight.   They are asleep quickly these days, within minutes of lights out, and up and at 'em at 7am.  Hard to believe that tomorrow is our last full day at Woodward!!! The girls are sad to see the week winding down.  I've heard many of them say they don't want to leave.   They have made many memories this week that will last a life time.

The girls and Vitali cheering on our dancers!

Update later

Off to take Kalyna to medical centre with fever sore throat, eyes swollen.   Update later, all is well

Wednesday evening

Sitting by the fire relaxing.  Life is good at Camp WW.   The girls were given a night off as the coaches were at a dinner.  Guess what they chose to do...... Train of course, and condition too.  Even Julia and Cailyn were back in the gym after their horseback ride.  Both Phoenix and Mikaela got their double twist off the air tramp.  

Cailyn on Surprise.. A Tennessee walking horse

Julia with Star. Also a Tennessee walking horse

Woodward Wednesday

Morning!  Thought I would start the day with an injury roll call.  Thankfully nothing serious!!! Our warrior girls wear their bumps and bruises like badges of honour, as proof that they have trained hard.  Like energizer bunnies, they keep going and going and going.

Julia's double front shiner

Cosie's split toe

Kalyna's knocked knee

Megan's rip

Last night was the ice cream social and the girls were all treated to free yummy ice cream.  A nice cool treat after training hard.  The days are getting warmer here as the week goes on!  

Look out we have some underage drivers on the road!!!

 

This morning is also Woodward Wednesday.  The girls show their Woodward spirit by wearing their WW swag.  Here are some pictures from this morning:

I'll be posting videos later.  Leave your girls some comments and I will make sure they get the message!  

Stay calm and flip on!

Heather

MIDMORNING UPDATE!!!

To answer a few questions, Julia is doing her double front off a inflatable cheese mat into a resi-pit.  Her shiner is from her knees hitting her face as she tucked them in.  Video to follow.  Early morning run again, then gym.  Some girls did some arts and crafts, others attended a bars clinic with the famous Parkette's coach