WEST KOOTENAI AREA SENIOR BRANCHES WINTER CAMP

Well, about the only thing wintery about this camp was that it was held in February and snowshoes were part of the weekend activities. Due to the severe lack of nature’s insulation and building materials (snow), it was quickly turned into a Pampered Camper Weekend

13 Girls and Guiders from Nakusp, Castlegar, Greenwood, Grand Forks, Trail and a Guider from the United Kingdom took part in an extraordinary weekend of mostly Rest and Relaxation in Nakusp on Feb 7-9, 2003.

The weekend started with service projects for Valentine’s Day for a local senior’s extended care home and for the upcoming West Kootenai Area AGM and then progressed to a double feature movie. The next morning, after a delightful breakfast of waffles and such, it was time to head out to the Nakusp Hot Springs of course! Everyone slipped into a pair of snowshoes (some for the first time) and headed out on the 2 km hike to the Hot Springs source. Once there, they checked out the hot water that flows out from under the rocks and it is so HOT! It was a strange sight to see green grass and moss on the ground with snow on the trees and everyone bundled up to keep warm.

One of the highlight activities once back at the Nakusp Hot Springs was to see the reaction of the many tourists pulling into the parking lot watching the girls laugh and giggle while flipping pancakes with a snowshoe wondering what the heck was going on? Such fun!!!

After a quick lunch prepared on a camp stove, it was time to hit the pools for a long and well-earned relaxing soak! Once out of the pool everyone was treated to a hot oil treatment (warmed by the hot water of the springs of course!) Ahhhhhhhhh no more tangles! The afternoon activities included manicures and pedicures while everyone re-watched a movie from the night before. . . .That’s right, some of them fell asleep! Not that anyone would admit it! A delicious dinner prepared by our Gourmet QM Staff followed.

Then it was time for more fun! A local esthetician helped the girls prepare homemade facial scrubs and a mask and answered many questions regarding skin care. The oatmeal scrub and cucumber mask were a real hit with some commenting that their skin was as soft as a newborn baby’s bottom!!

Sunday came much too quickly, but it was time to prepare to pack up and leave for home. After breakfast everyone made a personal batch of bath salts and finished cleaning up. Once the hall was spit spot, an un-beauty contest was held. Congratulations again to all the girls and Guiders who won ribbons and prizes for a variety of events such as the longest second toe, longest fingernail, smallest bubblegum bubble etc.

It was unanimously decided that another West Kootenai Area Senior Branches Event be held again soon with many of the girls themselves offering to assist in planning the next event.

Teresa Jansen, Nakusp