CQ’s Daily Prophet!

by Samantha Stovel

THUNDER BAY – LIVING – What a day we all had here at Hogwarts. The day started off with a very filling breakfast of pancakes, sausages and leftover pizza. After breakfast, all of our campers had their energy restored and were ready to get the activities for the day started. We welcomed Kelly and Sarah from Highlights for Hope who braided in pink highlights for everyone.

With another beautiful day, some of our campers then chose to go swimming while others headed over to the Craft Shack for plate and bowl marbling. After the crafts and swimming, it was time for lunch! Our amazing kitchen team stuffed us all with delicious enchiladas and rice. After lunch everyone needed a little rest with our toes up time.

Next, Hogwarts welcomed Alan Dickson to take everyone’s photos with their best smiles and magic red t-shirts. While waiting to have our photos taken, the campers were being entertained by our other guests Kyle and Carmine from Home Depot and Kristin and Kasey from Let’s Talk Science who each brought a little magic of their own. Home Depot helped our campers build their own bird houses and bug catchers, while Let’s Talk Science taught others how to make slime and magical dragon’s milk.

With so much fun building and learning at the school of wizardry, it was now time to use some of our magic and creativity in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Cabins were awarded points in this tournament for a chance to win the Tri-Wizard Cup. The winner of the Tri-Wizard Cup will be granted extra points towards their cabin on Friday during our awards ceremony.

The tournament kicked off with a boat-making component where all teams had to work together to build a cardboard boat and then try to paddle their creation from one side of our swimming area to the other. Each team was rewarded with points based on if their boat could float with a camper inside, if the camper could balance on the boat without tipping over and if the camper was able to paddle their way across the swimming area while inside the boat. This activity focused on teamwork and creativity with building and testing out their creation. We were so happy to have one of our campers, Alex, join us via Facetime for this great activity. His team was rewarded the full 15 points for this activity because of their creativity putting Alex in the boat as the camper!!

The second activity of the Tri-Wizard Tournament was the Berttie Botts Every Flavoured Beans challenge.

Two campers and one companion from each cabin were put to the test to try flavoured jelly beans.

These jelly beans were not just any kind of jelly bean, they were either really tasty or outrageously gross flavours.

For example, a brown jelly bean was either chocolate pudding- or dog food-flavoured.

The Tri-Wizard Tournament was delayed by an unexpected rainstorm sent by He Who Shall Not Be Named, so we’ll get to our final leg on Friday.

With some time left before dinner, each cabin presented their house names and flags to the group. Each cabin came up with very creative house names and characteristics of their house.

With such an enchanted afternoon, our wizards were ready for a delicious meal of fish and chips.

Fully recharged, campers visited the ‘Great Hall’ to decorate their own wands.

All of our campers had some very creative wands, perfect for spreading their magic.

With some free time before bed, our campers enjoyed some popcorn and dancing under the stars in the Great Hall.

With such a great end to the evening, everyone was getting tired and went off to sleep. Tomorrow is an early day for us all as we are headed to the Terry Fox lookout and KOA Campground.

Stay tuned for our next edition of CQ’s Daily Prophet!

This is the sixth year that NetNewsLedger.com have hosted the Camp Quality Northwest blog. NetNewsLedger is pleased to support the work of Camp Quality, and the ongoing battle to beat cancer. On a personal note, cancer has taken both of my grandparents, it tried to take my mom. There are few people in Northwestern Ontario who are not impacted by cancer.

When cancer takes on children, it is time for us all to rally to help them.