Hello and welcome to Tollgate Turtle Tells All: A Camp Exposé.
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Coltrane the Turtle. I live in the Activity Center at Tollgate Farm, which allows me to watch camp go down every week. Today, I’m using the Tollgate blog as a platform for my new exposé, which will reveal all the secrets of Tollgate Camp! This week is especially near and dear to my heart because it’s Animal Camp, and I’m an animal! It was also Winged Wonders Camp, which is always a great time. Let’s get into the breakdown of today at camp.
Yours truly
The first thing I noticed about camp this week is how everyone split up. There were five groups: The green peppers (6), the yellow peppers (6-7), the orange peppers (7-9), the red peppers (8-9), and the purple peppers (10-11). After they found their groups, the peppers got busy with animal chores. Animal chores during Animal Camp: how fitting!
Goat milking!
Tag-teaming the goat milking
Making new friends on the first day of camp
After that, campers got to circle the farm on a wagon ride! Campers of both Animal and Winged Wonders got to enjoy a fun ride (even if it was a little hot!)
Ask your camper if they rode in straw or hay; they should know!
Psstt…it was straw!
Camp songs + wagon ride = happy campers
After that, the campers got a chance to tie-dye their shirts. Check out the photo captions below, where I will reveal the brand new color that Ms. Nicole got for this week of camp.
Tie-dying pals
What a masterpiece! Way to use the brand new color: apricot!
The campers also got a chance to play bacteria tag. The MVP of the game? Mr. Mister!
Cooling off with Mr. Mister
Tag, you’re it
By this point, the campers had worked up quite an appetite. We paused for lunch, but it wasn’t long before everyone was ready for the next activity. And it was a good one! Peppers got to take the goats out for a stroll in the woods today. I offered to go, but they said I would “slow everyone down.” Drat.
Girl & Goat
Insider info: the goats just got back from the fair, so they probably enjoyed strolling around back home
Just like walking a dog
After that, campers got to work on not one, but TWO art projects! The first challenge was to create an animal that doesn’t exist. Peppers had to draw and name it. The second was to color a little wheel that displays all the jobs a farmer does.
Insider info: coloring is always nice because we do it in the pavilion AKA in the SHADE
A creation never seen before!
One camper’s finished product– looks great!
Then, peppers learned about ruminants and their four stomach compartments. They did an activity where they had to feel materials inside a bucket and guess which stomach compartment it represented based on how chunky the food inside was.
Insider info: The material in the buckets was not actually chewed up by a goat
Two happy campers
While some campers were busy determining the stomach chambers, others were practicing their fishing skills. Rumors are flying about fishing in the actual pond. My only comment on the matter is that campers might want to dust off their fishing hats by Wednesday.
Fishing with one arm? Easy peasy.
It never hurts to practice your skills
And now, for my insight into Garden Kitchen. The verdict on today’s recipes was nothing short of delicious for both dishes. Take a peek at the cooking action and the recipes:
A five star review from these peppers…
…and these!
Ms. Leah with the assist
Try the recipes for yourself and taste the deliciousness
I even got my hands on the day’s activity card!
And finally, here’s my favorite segment of the exposé: Coltrane’s Captured Moment! Today’s moment is a moment of bliss with Mr. Mister:
Friendship, happiness, and cool water!
Before I go, I want to shed some light on Winged Wonders, because they also did TONS of cool activities. Check some out below.
The migration relay!
Checking out a nest!
Stream hopping
This campers says he found a “twofer” egg– two yolks!
Now, you might be thinking that my exposé isn’t quite up to par because it didn’t even include a photo of your camper. However, my paparazzi skills are even better than what you see here. Check out ALL the photos I took by clicking this link to a Google Folder!
I’ll be back tomorrow for part II of my exposé, but until then, stay cool!