Family Hike to end week 2 of camp

A family hike is held in the evening on the last night of nature camp.  Thomas had been waiting for this night for a long time and couldn't wait to show us the places he had hiked and what he had learned.  The day leading up to it though, was very challenging.

Today was one of those days where everything was difficult.  Liam and Thomas fought all day, there were several time outs and it was 95 degrees with humidity.  I was exhausted come 6:00, but we got our hiking clothes, sneakers and bug spray on and headed out to camp.  We were given glow sticks for when it got dark and binoculars to get a closer look at nature.  It was hot and it was a LONG (2hr) hike with a toddler in tow, but both boys did great and it was actually an amazing night and a really fun, therapeutic hike.  It was such a nice family activity and seeing Thomas pointing out plants he learned about, spotting deer and catching frogs was just so special.  Being in nature really has a calming effect on him and our whole family.  By the time the night was over, the boys were happy but exhausted.  Thomas cried the whole way home, because he was so sad camp was over and Liam cried because he dropped his glow stick and couldn't reach it.   I smiled the whole way home though, because I knew we had found something special for Thomas for future summers and eventually Liam when he gets older.  Here were are at Beaver creek on our hike.