Clear skies, warm memories and an abundance of fun and friendship were the highlights of our 2008 Camp Eyabsut.  Campers and counselors arrived ready for a week-long adventure, special outings and camp favorites around the pool, camp fire and at our annual carnival with old and new friends.  Working together our camp family once again reminds us that Eyabsut, our camp name, means “To Rise Above Anything”. 

Counselors arrived on Saturday afternoon from around the Northwest to help set up camp and prepare the cabins. They joined together for a training session for both old and new counselors, followed by a BBQ dinner prepared by Jim Swift and Jeanette Day at the campsite on the river. 

And on Sunday, around noon, campers started arriving by planes, buses and automobiles to help kickoff camp, with sleeping bags and luggage in hand.  After choosing their bunks, they were off to a slate of activities and to see their old friends. Followed by our annual Chili Cook-Off with local fire departments coordinated by Craig Dyer, camp counselor and local firefighter – it was definitely a “hot event”. 

Our first full day of camp sent the older cabins off to Baker Lake for a two-day outing for fun and some scenic hiking, while the younger cabins enjoyed arts & crafts and field games.  Cabins began the week with their exciting cabin rotations through arts & crafts, team building activities, golf time with First Tee, archery with our friends at Traditional Bowhunters of Washington, and pool time—all the while earning their cabin points for the week’s Camp Challenge. Monday evening brought a visit from the Mad Scientist and had the camp laughing out loud, followed by the first campfire of the summer, including: Bearly News and many rounds of camp songs like “Little Red Caboose,” “Squirrel, Squirrel,” and “Desperado”.

By Tuesday, the skies cleared, just in time for the younger cabins, the Shreddy Bears and Pooh Bears, to spend an afternoon hiking with our friends at Edelweiss Acres with their delightful pack goats. Later that day, the folks from Allstate Insurance arrived to host the annual Karaoke Night. Campers and counselors enjoyed many shining moments on stage.  All performers received a special prize, and everyone enjoyed the ice cream bar—and a big thanks for a another great Karaoke event.

Wednesday was designated for our All-Camp Outing. What a fun time for all at the Skate King in Bellevue.  With skates in hand, fearless campers and counselors spent over two hours in the rink and then downed 25+ pizzas before heading home to camp. That evening, our special friends from Outback Steakhouse, hosted their 2^nd annual camp dinner at the camp site. What a great meal.  After dinner, a special guest, Swil Kanim- violinist, professional story teller, and a member of the Lummi Tribe shared his special stories.  It was an inspirational and fun evening for all.

Thursday brought some major highlights of the week—Nancy Mendoza, NWBF Executive Director & Camp Manager, and Steve Emhoff, NWBF Board President, welcomed the VIP Camp Sponsors—SeaTac Taco Bell Association, Pacific NW Kiwanis Club, Allstate Insurance, Inc., Port of Seattle Fire Department,  ConvaTec, and Traditional Bowhunters of Washington. After honoring our sponsors, Jeanette Day, Camp Counselor and Peter Braun, Taco Bell President handed out six scholarship certificates to our graduating campers. Taco Bell franchise owners and their staff made a hit hosting lunch wearing red NWBF aprons and cooking on site. VIP sponsors, campers, counselors and guests were treated to the “Big Box –Taco Bell Meal”.

Everyone loved it and showed their appreciation with a loud roar and a big thank you. The NWBF Board Members, camp alumni, and our team of volunteers also joined us for Carnival Day following lunch. Our carnival team—led by Nikki Smith and Tessie Baird—put together the best ever carnival, with a wonderful day full of games, inflatable toys—like a climbing wall—a temporary tattoo station,  just to name a few. The kids also enjoyed a watermelon eating contest, belly flop and cannon ball contests at the pool, and a Second  Annual Volleyball Tournament coordinated by counselor/board member, Samuel Thompson and nurse Renee Sexton.  Following the Carnival, Troy Smith put the moves on the camp with his 1^st Annual Hawaii Style Camp Dance. Complete with a “Tiki Hut” and fresh camper friendly island drinks, and a DJ with great sounds.

The dance was a great success and lasted into the night, complete with Hawaiian décor, glow sticks.  Joining us at camp this year, were some of our “Bear Cubs”, Abby brought Lincoln for the week, along with Mom, Tony had Tony IV up for the Carnival, along with Sarah and Toby’s newest addition Anders.  Next year, watch out for bear cubs.

When Friday arrived, it was time to put on our annual Talent Show – and the stars were definitely out and on the stage. Everyone shined. Then it was off to arts and crafts to put the finishing touch on some of the campers projects, one more dip in the pool, and off to the field for some games with Trip, our camp facilitator. Then it was time for a fried chicken dinner before heading to the barn for our closing night ceremony “Walk of Fame”.  Our Hollywood style event, was complete with gold star awards and certificates and most importantly, our annual camp video and slideshow which captured the memories of our week at Camp Eyabsut 2008 by the awesome duo Ky Azlein and Jim Lyon.  Tony Scoccolo and Jason Emhoff, Friday night event coordinators,  put together a awesome closing event, complete with Hollywood decorations.  The Eyabsut Camp Song always rings a little sweeter and more poignantly at the end to our last campfire as the whole camp sang: 

. (Chorus) It’s great to be in a place where they’re a little bit more like me. I like to be in a place where they’re a little bit more like me—it makes me free.