Just wanted to give y'all an update about Woodward. CP and I started our venture from Texas to Woodward on Saturday morning. We drove 4+ hours to the Houston airport....on the way, our windshield was smashed when it was hit with a golf ball (while we were driving at 70mph)...but we kept going because stopping and not making the flight was not an option. :banghead: Anywhoo, we flew into Philadelphia which is about a 4 drive from woodward, so we drove 3.5 hours to college station and spent the night. It was quick 30 minute drive to Camp Woodward. I would recommend flying into Harrisburg or college station as it is a much shorter drive.
On the morning drive to Woodward, CP was so excited she could hardly stand it!! We got to the entrance and it the first impression of the location was amazing! It's definitely the coolest camp I've ever seen. We were greeted at the gate by 3 teenage girls (most likely cheerleaders) who were SUPER sweet and very helpful. We then went into the "Barn Gym" for registration. Cool doesn't even begin to describe it. The rock wall in the back, music blaring....just an overall feeling of awesomeness! We walked by all of the activity sign ups on the way to the actual registration. There was no one at any of the stands...EXCEPT for the horseback riding stand where there were three (very nice) people who were really hard selling the horseback experience. We had already decided against it based on feedback from this board, but even had I not already known about it, I would have passed on it. It seemed way too salesy and contrived to be something that we would sign up for. And honestly, CP just wanted to get to the cheer gym anyway!!
Because CP is 9, she was assigned to the "mini cabin". Even in week one, it was almost full. There were girls from all over the country, some who came solo, some who came with a group and some who came with 1 or 2 friends. Shanan, the mini-mom was awesome!! SHe was super sweet and very helpful. CP felt comfortable immediately....so she picked her bunk (top of a 3 tiered bunk). I took y'alls advice and packed everything in ziplock bags. While I think it may have been a bit overboard, CP really liked it and it will help prevent the suitcase chaos that would have happened with regular packing. They do have a laundry service. It is a 24-48 hour turnaround. It is $1.95 per pound and they will wash/fold and bring the clothes back to CP's cabin. I am only going to have them wash her theme day stuff as those are the only things she will need to wear a second time.
I'm really glad we knew about the theme days. We made shirts and put together outfits for each day. We made shirts that used song titles that we changed into appropriate theme slogans...
Day 1 - nerd day - Front of shirt: I'm Nerdy Back of Shirt: And I know it. (play on song "I'm sexy and I know it"
Day 2 - Neon - no need to make anything....plenty of neon to go around
Day 3 - Hawaiian Day - Ironed on front of shirt - "Rockin the Aloha" ) play on song - rockin the beer gut)
Day 4 - Skill day, shirt with skill you are trying to get - Front of shirt - "Gotta get that" Back of shirt - FULL FULL FULL. Play on BOOM BOOM POW
Day 5 favorite all star team. Her gym of course, so that was easy.
So we unpacked, made up her bed and set out to check the place out. There is SOOOO much to do!! Gyms, games, a pool, a mechanical bull in a bouncy thing, scheduled parties, food, you name it, it was there. There also seemed to be a great blend of kids, counselors, parents, adults, etc. Everyone had a GREAT attitude. They even have a "homesick" team which is two totally awesome gals who will give your CP a little extra TLC if she is missing home. All the girls in the cabin had a phone or an ipad....so I felt better and knew that I wouldn't be completely disconnected from my CP for two weeks.
Anywhoo...everything seemed VERY organized. The cheer campers did testing at 2pm (I had already left by then to fly back). Each CP does their best pass in front of everyone and then gets a slip of paper to give to their coach so that they are all grouped according to skill. My CP threw a front punch step out round off back handspring layout. She was really excited when she saw her paper cuz the only skills above hers were full and double full....and she is there to get her full (hell bent on it actually). I spoke with her after testing and she said that all the girls in her cabin at least had a back handspring, some had tucks and a couple had layouts, so it seemed like an AWESOME mix of campers!!!
So as I said goodbye to my CP (who was ready for mom to leave at that point), I held back my tears, hugged her till she almost popped, waved goodbye and got in the car and sobbed like a baby. Not because I was worried....but because I was not going to see that awesome little girl for 2 whole weeks. But as I drove away, I knew that Disneyland had nothin on Woodward at that very moment....because to my CP, she was at the best place on earth!!!!! :cheering: :cheering: