TANK!!!!!!!!!!

Military Day!


As part of the curriculum this week, we are hosting military day. This is an opportunity for kids to learn about the military. It is also supposed to be super fun.


Last year, we had a helicopter land (on the correct day), had an obstacle course, face paint, etc. This year, the soldier assigned to help plan it came out to camp to meet with me and make plans. I work in camping, so I know a LOT of enthusiastic people, but this guy blew everyone out of the water. He was SO excited. He had so many things planned, I was slightly overwhelmed, but very excited!

Last night, we had 10 soldiers come early to stay overnight. I knew that today we would have 20+ soldiers,lots of equipment and many activities, but I didn't even think about the fact that they would be bringing it all with them. My jaw about hit the ground as giant trucks, humvees, and a HUGE truck/flatbed trailer thing (I think there is a military name for it, but I didn't catch it) rolled up to camp.

Today was an AMAZING day. The soldiers were incredibly wonderful. They were awesome with the kids, really friendly, stayed really enthusiastic all day (despite being in long, heavy uniforms in the sun). There was a climbing wall,night vision goggles, face paint, MREs (meal ready to eat), chemical detecting trucks, compasses, a giant wrecker truck, and oh yeah, a TANK!

I got to ride in a tank! Ride.in.a.tank!!!!!!!!!!!! And then pose for my picture in a tank. And play in a tank.

When I offered to drive, I was kidding. I bang my car into things on a regular basis, clearly I'm not qualified to drive a tank. But 5 minutes later, I was wearing the helmet, getting a quick lesson on which button and which pedal did what and off we went.

I got to drive a tank... I. GOT. TO. DRIVE. A. TANK.

Riding in a tank= AMAZING, awesome, incredible.

Driving a tank= EPIC...... no words can describe........

We did a big loop, probably 100 yards total. I was thinking he would let me pull it up a few feet. Nope, I DROVE A TANK!!!!!!! Pedals, steering, the whole thing. The soldier in charge was riding on top, but I was DRIVING a tank!

Not only did I get to do something absolutely amazing, but my mom and aunt had come up for the day and my dad is back from Alaska, so both my parents got to see me drive a tank. Amazing.

BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!