6-Year-Old "Rite of Passage" Camp Out / Family Visit at the Park


Friday, May 18th - In the evening, Jack prepare X for what they were going to do on Saturday and Sunday and began explaining the "Rite of Passage." Jack's great, great, great grandfather was an Indian and Jack explained the detailed lore behind ritual. As we found out on Saturday from one of his aunts, X and A are actually descendants of an Aztec Indian tribe from their great, great, great grandfather (or something like that).

Jack carefully painted a two-inch henna tattoo of a Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) footprint on X's right hand symbolizing "knowledge" and the need to think before doing. He did one over his heart for "compassion" for the land, animals and people. Finally, he did one on his right foot for "courage" and the need to be brave in the face of danger. As the legend goes, a tribe of the Tawakoni Indians (http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/caddo/tawakoniindianhist.htm) (and including later Jack's great, great, great grandfather) found some of the first theropod (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theropoda) footprints in Texas (a T-Rex is the most famous of the theropods). This tribe was so impressed by what they saw that they used the three toes of the theropod to represent the three phases of the "Ata'wa" (meaning "Ready Boy") ritual for when a boy turns 6 years old. There are also similar, but more advanced rituals at 11 ("Awa'ko" meaning "Young Man") and 16 ("Ako'ni" meaning "Man of the Tribe").

The henna tattoos (which would have been originally been done by other plant dyes that are not readily available) took about an hour and a half to dry and would last up to two full weeks.

X was thrilled to show everyone and told everyone that would listen about the legend and mainly what the three symbols stood for.

Jack explained what he would have to do for each. Fortunately, each generation of Tawakoni Indians has leeway for what constitutes completing the phases.

KNOWLEDGE: X would learn bird shadow identification and have to correctly identify several birds in the wild. He would also have to learn animal tracks and identify those as well. All of these are also both Junior Park Ranger requirements (to earn a badge).

COMPASSION: X would have to take care of the land at the State Park (including picking up trash as we came across it, clean up after our campsite and "leave no trace"). Also part of the Junior Park Ranger requirements (to earn a badge) as well as Boy Scout pledges for camping and hiking.

COURAGE: X would have to do a night hike with Jack of at least one mile. Jack knew this would be tough because the trail is dark, steep and winding, but, of course, they both would have headlamps for the hike.

Saturday, May 19th - Today was destined to be a very packed and crazy day long before it happened.

First, we all had a visit in a local park with the biological mother and baby, maternal grandmother, two aunts and three child cousins. We started at 10:00 because X and Jack had plans for later that day. All the kids played very well and X got to have yet another birthday party. Following the park play, we all went to McDonald's for some food and more play on the big indoor playground. While the biological mother and baby had to leave early, everyone else stayed for the full time and then a little extra. X loved all the attention, but even more loved all the play (as did A).

The Nelson's rushed home and packed all the final things into the car in less than an hour for the big camp out.

As soon as we  (Jack and X) arrived at Eisenhower State Park and got our campground assignment, we set up the tent. We had practiced setting it up once before, so X knew what we needed to do. We also started a fire in the fire pit. We then quickly got dinner started on the Coleman stove (beans) while X roasted the hot  dogs. We were fighting daylight hours and I knew we wanted everything completely set up BEFORE going on the night hike (since it is tiring and we would want to go to sleep soon afterwards). Cleaning up the dishes was a time consuming as was trying to find the utensils. While I had done a good job of gathering everything before leaving, I needed to have spent more time in logically packing (so I knew where everything was).

We started the hike soon after eating. It was pretty dark, but we had on our Black Diamond headlamps (http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/lighting/wiz-headlamp) that worked great. Regardless, it was kind of scary for X, but I kept reminding him about courage. We walked from the top of the trail to the creek bed of the trail (about a half a mile or maybe more) and then turned around and went back up to the trail head. Normally, in daylight, we go from one trail head to the the end and back - twice as far. He did great and was very proud that he made the hike (later telling several random people).

When we got back to the tent he got his first bead on his leather lanyard - a very cool dark blue and white glass bead - for Courage. He would later get an orange and white bead for Knowledge and red and white one for Compassion (all hand-blown glass). He was very excited about his first bead.

We also put together a large Star Wars puzzle (2 ft x 3 ft) that he got for his birthday, but then promptly went to sleep around 10:00 PM (2 hours after his normal bedtime). We both slept pretty well - waking around 6:00 AM.

Sunday, May 20th - We then did iron skillet scrambled eggs and bacon (which was again a nightmare to clean up) and packed up some of our things. For knowledge, we used the Eisenhower State Park Junior Ranger Program http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4503_0032m.pdf guide and simultaneously earned his Junior Ranger Badge. We had worked on some the night before. The main things we focused on was the bird identification and animal tracks identification, but we did well more of the activities than required for his age. As we went the entire trail on Sunday, we stopped for awhile throughout the hike to do the "Use Your Senses Nature Hike." He really like this and got to appreciate everything that was really going on in the outdoors (which was part of the purpose of the campout). It was still early in the morning, so the heat had not gotten to us and there was nothing rushing us to make it through by a particular time. He really enjoyed stopping and spotting birds. The Knowledge portion was a huge success. For Compassion, we picked up any trash along the trails and roadways that we saw and, after returning to the campsite, made sure that we left the site even better than we arrived the day before.

By noon, we had completed everything and had everything packed up. We were exhausted and X even opted not to go swim. He was very happy with the camp out. Now, with all three beads earned, he was as an Ata'wa!

We headed to the Ranger Station for one last thing, to get him certified and sworn in as a Junior Ranger. We had practice the oath several times before arriving. They Rangers were very accommodating as X proceeded to give a long version of what we had done. They were impressed by how much we did on the program and what all he knew. The Ranger that actually swore him in had the same name (X) - but as a middle name. X thought was pretty special. X got his Junior Ranger badge and to celebrate, we got X the official Junior Ranger vest (we already owned the hat) and a nice, laminated bird identification flyer that would have come in handy earlier that day.

After taking a picture with X and his new friend the Ranger, we got back in the car and headed home. X made it 1,000 yards before he was fast asleep! I had to fight the urge for another hour until we got home.

Overall a very, very successful camp out and birthday. He would talk about this for weeks to come.

Playdate for A / Practice Camp Out / Cedar Hill Park / The Start of A's Birthday Parties!

Wednesday, May 2nd - A friend from school named Jack came over to play with A. This was a special treat, but something we intend on doing much more. Melinda has gotten with Jack's mom and is planning on many play dates over the Summer. A had a great time!

Friday, May 4th - Unbeknownst to A or X, Jack (the foster dad, not little friend of A) did a "practice camp out" in the backyard. One of X's big birthday presents is a ""Rite of Passage" overnight camp out at Eisenhower  State Park (see May 18th). For the last two months Jack has been carefully researching and buying all the gear to make this the best birthday present ever. Things included sleeping bags, tent, lanterns, headlamps, Coleman gas stove, games, puzzles, henna (for temporary tattoos) and much, much more. The test was successful even through heavy rain and a very muggy night. He would have waited until a little closer to May 18th, but every weekend day was already booked up with fun activities for X and A.

Saturday, May 5th - Changing it up a bit... off to Cedar Hill State Park and Joe Pool Lake. This was a very hot day and the hike was over 2 1/2 miles of very little shade (unlike all the other hikes). Melinda and I dubbed this the "Death March" because the hike just would not end and we were getting annoyed by the weeds and grasses that were taller than A. This was not our favorite hike and we vowed not to do this one again. HOWEVER, the lake at Cedar Hill State Park is Joe Pool Lake and they have the best beach we visited in a state park. It was large and a very gradual slope, so X and A got to run around a lot more. It was actually quite packed that day with other families and kids, but X and A never minded (and, of course, played with everyone). Since the swim is always the last thing of the day, X and A decided it was a great day!

Friday, May 11th - The first of what would be MANY of X's birthday parties that even extended into June. This one was with his friends at school. They had cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday" (cha-cha-cha) to him. x Since the 11th is X's actual birthday, he turned six and we also had a party at home and gave him his tent, headlamp, sleeping pad and more in anticipation for the camp out. He was very happy to be celebrated.

Saturday, May 12th - X's big swim party (birthday celebration number 3 already). He had several school friends and even some old friends show up. The water was a little cold due to recent rains, but the kids still played wildly. After getting out of the pool. all the kids played with Hexbug Nano robots on tracks for about an hour before opening presents and having a sheet big cake.

Sunday, May 13th - The family went on a short, local-trail hike. We had to cut it short due to a death in the family that required Melinda to travel down to Houston for a funeral.  Regardless, we all had fun on the local hike and will definitely do that again.

And this is only the FIRST half of the month!

April Fun at Church and Eisenhower State Park

Sunday, April 15 - X and A attended church and had plenty of time to play on "The Tubes" after eating a nice meal.

Monday, April 16 - X got to go on a field trip with his school to the Environmental Science Center where he learned all about recycling and taking care of the earth.

Saturday, April 21st - A rare Saturday church visit for X and A as Melinda and Jack attend a special fostering/adoption -related meeting on integrated medical/psychological child care. Afterwards, the kids got to play on The Tubes again.

Sunday, April 22nd - Back to Eisenhower State Park - our favorite, nearby destination. Of course we did the Nature Trail hike, picnic and swim at Lake Texoma routine. The beach was not too crowded today.

Saturday, April 28th - Grillin' time in the backyard - complete with hotdog roasting and s'mores making over the gas grill. We are trying out new wiener-roasting sticks.

Sunday, April 29th - Yep, another hike, picnic and swim at Eisenhower State Park! This time we went over the Texoma Dam and crossed into Oklahoma where we took pictures with X and A at the "Welcome to Oklahoma" sign then backtracked into Texas and found the similar signage for Texas.

As a reminder, all this hiking is not only for fun, it is try and condition us for our long end-of-summer trip for Foster and Adoptive Families.