Cousin Campin'

I once read that the only people who know you your whole life long are your siblings and your cousins. They are there from the beginning, knowing all of the childhood history that even a spouse likely doesn't know. Cousins are special -- no doubt about it. Nurturing those relationships strengthens family identity and gives kids a sense of where they belong and where they come from in this world.

My nephew, Gabe, is going to be a freshman in High School this year. Keeping Cousin Camp going is more important than ever as I realize how few years we really have left with him (Waaaahhhhhhhhhh)!!!! It's going to be as hard on me as his mother when he goes to college!!

We began Cousin Camp when the kids were young. It was a fun way for them to bond, and a good way for us to have a chunk of time to get projects done without a toddler at our feet -- a total WIN/WIN. As the kids have gotten older, we don't need the time as much anymore, but the mission of bonding the family together remains the same. Here is the basic format we've created:

• The camp usually lasts 4 days -- 2 days at my house, and 2 at my sister's
• We pick a theme verse and reinforce it throughout the time together.
• Whenever we go places, each child is assigned a "buddy" (a younger and an older cousin are paired). They are to stick together no matter what.
• We focus on activities and skills -- fun things they normally don't get to do, or skills they don't know or could improve upon. Here's a list of life-skills we planned to do at my house this year (we got to almost all of them):

How to change a bike tire

How to unclog a toilet

How to build a fire

How to make a dinner for someone special

How to tie various knots

How to calculate your heart rate

Simple technique for studying the bible

What to do in an emergency medical situation

How to compare prices

How to sew on a button

Execute a spin dribble

How to catch a football

How to answer a phone

How to engage adults in conversation

How to tie dye a shirt

Here is a visual snapshot:

Sometimes we do T-shirts

Backyard Movie Theatre

Lots of "Buddy Time" Bonding

We go on fun outings:

The Cherry Picker's Trot Kids' Race at Greenbluff

Silverwood Theme Park

New Skills are Learned:

I even got my nephews sewing camp laundry bags one year!

They spend time enjoying each other's houses..

Here we just finished the Cousin Camp Olympics

Cousin Camp Visits Great-Grandma!

Lots of Crafting

Daisy Chains

& Tie Dye!

We have even had them create a theme song some years

The memories we have made are priceless, and the relationships forged will hopefully last their whole lives long! Cousining is just THE BEST!

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