Shadow Valley Family Camp is not for wimpy women. With the exception of one female cleverly camouflaged behind her camera. Megan, pictured above, is just one of a crew of for women who spent an entire morning peeling logs.

What’s the proof of their heartiness?
These women volunteer for the crews they’re on.

Their crew of four was just one of several crews populated with strong women who don’t blink at daunting tasks like chopping firewood, hauling furniture out of the upper story of a structure accessible via a precariously narrow gang plank, hammering floor joists, and operating noisy power tools capable of removing fingers. The fact that they never blink at the task set before them is a well-documented fact. Just ask the wimpy woman behind the camera. In every picture she takes, these hearty women have their eyes wide open.

They even smile when they volunteer to be on a crew.
Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

And when they’re not at Shadow Valley? These women also volunteer to live in places like Korea. And Siberia. And Alaska. And Canada. And the ones who live in cushier climes? They go on mission trips to Siberia. Or they teach elementary school, which is pretty much the same thing as visiting Siberia.

These women even smile when they return from mission trips.
Or at the end of a school year.

Or when they come to Shadow Valley. Because living here is way easier than life for the rest of the year. Their presence is one reason for coming to Shadow Valley. Being around them is part inspiration, part example, and part encouragement. It’s a healthy dose of vicarious living. The wimpy women get to imagine what it’s like to pound nails or endure through a Siberian winter or a Korean school year, minus the sweat and the shivers.

Plus, being with these strong women makes me smile.
From behind the camera, of course.

For the first time ever, we felt raindrops at Shadow Valley Family Camp. The gloomy, chilly weather had its upside. The deer were out in the middle of the day, which was as gray as dawn and dusk when they’re usually most active. And family members who arrived at camp early instigated a great sleeping space shuffle so those who were planning on tent dwellings (ourselves included) were moved inside. Yahoo!

However, the wet weather had a downside, also. The mosquitos, which like the deer usually wait to come out at dawn and dusk, sucked our blood mercilessly all day long. Campers who hoped to rectify their Vitamin D deficiencies were out of luck. And outdoor games, a favorite activity, were out of the question thanks to bugs and water.

By yesterday evening the gloom was lifting. This morning dawned sunny and bright and stayed clear until almost lunch time. Long enough for the work crews to peel logs and set up the Frisbee golf course, for the play crews to finger paint with pudding and hose off the slip and slide, and for the kitchen crew to tempt diners with more food in one day than they eat in two back home.

The clouds gathered again while we ate Utoff chicken and Pam’s featherbeds for lunch. But that gives everyone a cozy afternoon for catching up on important things like:

• The toy horses eight-year-old Alaisyah received for her birthday a few days ago.
• The progress of wedding plans for this year’s newly engaged couple.
• Budget deficits and government cost-cutting measures in our respective states.
• If there’s a can available for Kick the Can tonight – provided the mosquitoes don’t carry everyone off.
• The idiosyncrasies of the camp automatic coffee makers.
• Who likes which camp desserts best.
• The diets we plan to start the day after leaving the mountain.

One gloomy afternoon isn’t enough time to catch up on every earth-shaking event from the past year. But it’s a good start. So take notice, old man weather. Whether you send the sun or the rain, you won’t dampen our spirits at Family Camp. We’re together, and we’re gonna have a good time, no matter what!