By Abigail E. and Maia S., Machon (CIT) 2011
Nine CITs. Two supervisors. One city. An unknown destination. The possibilities? Endless.
The adventure began at 6:30 in the morning on a cold summer’s day. The nine counselors in training met outside the Chadar Ochel with several small bits of information. All they knew was that they needed to wear comfortable clothes, closed toed shoes, that Portland was the final destination, and that there would be a pitstop made at 7-11 for Free Slurpee Day.
Seven long hours and nine delicious slurpees later, they found themselves stranded in the woods. However, these weren’t just any regular woods. This was the location of Tree to Tree! The CITs could hardly contain their excitement as they learned that they would be Tarzan for the day. They enthusiastically watched the safety video (They learned well that safety is always first!) and strapped themselves safely into harnesses. Soon they were hoisting themselves into the trees for this was a high ropes adventure course! Tree to Tree was a CIT heaven. The course exhibited a mixture of fifty feet tall courses consisting of challenge courses, zip lines, wall climbing, and rope swinging. (The rope swinging, of course, was combined with multiple Tarzan calls.) The course began with Green level and moved to Double Black, the Voodoo Triangle. Warily, many of the CITs embarked on the Double Black course, hazardous and terrifying. Woodland creatures everywhere were most likely concerned due to the numerous screams of terror coming from the CITs as they faced their challenge. Unfortunately, the fun came to an end as the CITs boarded the charter bus and left the course. Tree to Tree was the adventure of a lifetime for them all and one they would never forget.
Their woe soon came to a finale as they found out they would be going to a spelling bee! (Who knew that high schoolers would be so ecstatic about spelling during summer vacation?) Portland is home of the Mississippi Pizza Restaurant. Said restaurant is the host of a weekly spelling bee where any customer can participate in. Multiple CITs entered the contest, confident and ambitious, they were in it to win it! To no avail did any one of them become the champion, they did however win many free drink tickets!
They continued on their journey by traveling through the wild jungle we call downtown Portland. After having been trapped in the wilderness of Camp Kalsman, the CITs were unfamiliar with such territory referred to as civilization. They cautiously approached a icecream shop where they all enjoyed the delicious wonders of frozen dairy! With the night approaching fast they soon realized it was time to scurry off to the hotel. After settling in a tad (and enjoying the free wireless) they all scampered into Emily’s room where they played a game of Harry Potter Clue in honor of the soon approaching premier. Chock full of exhaustion from an adventurous day they retired to their chambers.
Bright and early the next day, the CITs all met in the lobby packed and ready for the adventures waiting to come. Next stop on the list? Voodoo Donuts of course! There they all chose their poison from a plethora of donut options. Many of which names were moderately risqué but amusing nonetheless. In addition to the group’s breakfast, an order of eight dozen donuts was made, a little surprise for the rest of staff. Their journey home was an uneventful one which consisted mainly of a stop at Alderwood Mall in order to stock up on supplies necessary for being the best counselor they can be. (Mainly for watches.)
Sooner than later, they arrived back at camp where they jumped right back into fun and games and prepared with their co-counselors for the upcoming session! The moral of this story? The CITs had more fun than they could ever have imagined and cannot thank Max, Emily, and the whole Camp Kalsman family for such generosity.
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