{"id":3717,"date":"2013-03-15T10:26:59","date_gmt":"2013-03-15T17:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.jforj.com\/campgilgal\/?p=3717"},"modified":"2013-04-18T12:16:55","modified_gmt":"2013-04-18T19:16:55","slug":"days-pieces-of-the-camp-gilgal-experiences-in-three-vignettes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/days-pieces-of-the-camp-gilgal-experiences-in-three-vignettes\/","title":{"rendered":"Days: Pieces of the Camp Gilgal experiences in three vignettes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jon A., Age 15<\/p>\n

1. Orientation
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long drive today. Starting off from LA, we have twisted and turned ourselves almost 1\/3 of the state.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As we drive up, we are greeted enthusiastically by all who have come up before us, with window bangings and the joyful cries of reunited friends.
When assigned to cabins, the new arrivals look around pensively, not knowing yet what to expect from their freshly assigned companions.
We eat our first meal, getting to know our fellow tribesmen a little better.\"la-vans<\/a>
Later in the evening, we hear from some of our leaders\u2019 life stores, specifically of their experiences with camp.<\/p>\n

2. Yosemite
After we eat breakfast, we are instructed to pack our own lunches.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Speculations abound about what the day will hold.
We pile up into vans. The fuss over who sits with whom is ever present.
We finally drive up into Yosemite itself, and veer left unto Glacier Point.
Half Dome awaits us \u2013 tall, majestic and unmoved.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We squirm our way through a camp photo.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We eat our lunch.
Quick detour for souvenirs, and then it\u2019s a hike down Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A whole 4.6 miles.
Depending on constitution and energy, the hike is either\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 massive fun or a grueling march.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes, a little of both.
At the end, we return home, hungry for a very late supper.<\/p>\n

\"group-photo<\/a>3. Vons<\/p>\n

Thinking of grocery shopping, several words may come to mind:
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dull
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Well-Stocked
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Efficient.
Rarely would anyone call a grocery outing \u2018fun\u2019 \u2013 that is, unless one is a Camp Gilgal camper.
We are in the pool when it starts.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lunch had been wonderful, and most were enjoying a swim.
Thus, when greeted by a sign telling us to grab clothes, money and shoes and to flee to the cars,
it takes us completely by surprise.
As we board up and drive, speculations of where we are going are shouted like cheers at a race.
After the veteran campers recognize the venue, EVERYONE is excited \u2013 first time or not.
We overran the store with our fun.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The independence of shopping for one\u2019s self is a novelty.
As purchases are made, treats are shared;
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ice cream, sorbet, sushi, chips and cookie dough.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A feast.
We finally leave, laden with our purchases and on our toes for the next surprise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jon A., Age 15 1. Orientation\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long drive today. Starting off from LA, we have twisted and turned ourselves almost 1\/3 of the state.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As we drive up, we are greeted enthusiastically by all who have come up before us, with window bangings and the joyful cries of reunited friends.When assigned to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[595,591],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-teen-camp-west-gilgal-gazette-2012","category-gilgal-gazette-2012","post-preview"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3717"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4836,"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3717\/revisions\/4836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jforj.org\/campgilgal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}