6th Grade Camp Piomingo

6th Grade at Camp Piomingo (23rd Year)

Kevin Johnson

Wednesday morning when the pelting cold raindrops on my window woke me at 5:30 a.m., I was thinking hard about postponing the 6th grade camping trip. I rushed to my home computer and although the forecast wasn’t calling for warm sunny weather it did look as if the worst was passing. Two hours later the excited 6th graders didn’t seem to notice the rain as they arrived and dropped off their sleeping bags, clothes and lunches and I knew their spirit would get them through any weather.

Upon arrival at camp the rain had turned to a light but chilly mist and the 6th graders were ready to start activities which included High Ropes, archery, rappelling, Zip line, Team Building, hiking, pipeline slide, and journaling. On Wednesday night we found enough dry wood for a nice campfire and some welcome heat and we made S ‘mores thanks to Mrs. Dana Barnes' contribution of graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.

Thursday morning came pretty early, especially for those students with breakfast K.P. duty and then all groups were off for another round of activities. On Thursday evening the 6th grades sang some rousing renditions of oldies with two hours of Karaoke in the open pavilion and then back to Mingo for another campfire.

On Friday Mrs. French led the sixth grade in a prayer service at a spot overlooking the Ohio River. With her help and the indomitable spirit the sixth graders showed this year it was apparent that upon their own reflection and from their many responses they understood that they all had shared a unique experience. I congratulate them on showing such resilience given that 2009 was the coldest and very nearly the wettest camping trip in this the 23rd consecutive year that Holy Trinity Parish School has gone to Camp Piomingo. Also to be congratulated and thanked are a group of very capable and flexible parents who contributed their own spirit and willingness to endure the weather and guide all of the students. Those parents are Angie Bell, Debbie Oyler, Peter Brown Sr., Lance Griffin, Bill Simpson, Tim Landoch, Paula Yang, Brett Boland, Christina Elpers, Cathy Hehir, Kim Crable, David Burrusss, J. D. Grimes, Amy Baughmann, Andrew Beck, Jeannie Kallis, and Nanette Vale.  Many, many thanks for keeping this great tradition alive!