gooseberryhigh | OUTDOOR EXPLORATION CAMPING TRIP

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION CAMPING TRIP

It's a sunny morning when the participating Outdoor Exploration characters meet Mr. Thorn and Mr. Covington at the docks. They're packed and prepared for the two night trip to Wolf Island, as selected by Hazel Keating.

Ennis Harper coordinates a bon voyage! sendoff, getting as many students as they can to stand at the docks, wave handkerchiefs and throw confetti at the departing boats. We'll miss you so much! Don't forget us!

Upon arrival at the island, Dahlia Hale has the unfortunate luck of slipping as they get out of their canoe, and they fall into the water. Lachlan Galbraith came prepared, and kindly lends them their spare jacket for the trip.

The campground is on the lake shore, and all the tents circle where a large bonfire will be set up. The clear night promises excellent stargazing to all who are interested.

CAMPING RULES:

Dress appropriately for the weather. Although it's getting warmer, you must bring a jacket, a change of clothes, and appropriate footwear. You will be left behind if you're not dressed properly.
No large electronics of any kind. If you brought something he doesn't like, Thorn's confiscating it, no questions. The only exceptions are: flashlights, small music players with headphones, GPS devices, and cameras. And before you ask, no, portable video game systems are not allowed. Thorn says: "Come on, why sign up for a camping trip just to play on your little no-maj thingies? You can do that when we get back."
Buddy system at all times. Do not go off on your own.
Don't leave the trail.
Respect your tent-mates. If Thorn suspects there's a problem, he's stepping in.
Lights out is 10:00 PM. All students must be quiet with lights off after this hour.
You must help carry the group's equipment.
Clean up after yourself.
All the rules that apply on campus apply here, kids! The only things you're escaping are your uniforms and classes.
If you act up, you're being sent home early with Mr. Covington and will be banned from future OE trips.
Thorn is serious about making sure you kids learn how to survive in the great outdoors without your wands, and therefore insists all the set up and take down be done without magic. He doesn't humor any arguments about wandless magic, either. "Those are the rules. Now get to it!"

HOW THIS WORKS

Students will leave Friday morning to take boats out to Lone Wolf Island. They are permitted to skip class that day.

Upon arrival, tents are set up. It's four people to a tent!

No magic is allowed when working on setting up camp and survival skills.

Although this is a single IC/OOC, the trip is lasting two nights.

Students who don't have sleeping bags, pillows, boating or camping gear will be provided with school loaners.

TENTS:

Kazim, Nathaniel, Neil & Takeru	Sylvester & Jacob	Dahlia, Faye, Henrietta & Sun-mi
Kurt, Solomon & William	Damon & Calvin	Charlotte, Fern & Hazel
Christopher, Jefferson, Zachary & Wilde	Clementine & Adeline	Avery, Estella, & Lachlan
Mackenzie & Iliya	Dominic, Matteo & Wyatt	Cecil, Diego & Levi

» DEPARTURE ON BOATS: Those leaving gather at the docks to boat out to the island. A number of students not leaving on the trip ham it up by standing on the docks and tearfully waving handkerchiefs at the campers as they boat away.

» SETTING UP CAMP: Everyone arrives at the camp site and begins setting things up. Remember: no wands! Henrietta Gray oversees the process.

» SWIMMING, FISHING & BOATING: The climbing temperatures means that it's perfect weather to jump in the lake! The water's still awfully chilly, but if you keep moving, it's not so bad. You can also take the boats out onto the water and do some fishing.

» CAMPFIRE & DINNER: Mr. Covington cooks up a hearty meal, and the campfire roars pleasantly as he shares with you some stories about his youth in Colorado. There's a little live music and dancing for those interested!

» NIGHTTIME: The sun has long since set and it's almost quiet time. Time for everyone to get some rest.

» RETURN HOME: Some of your friends may be waiting at the docks to greet you when you return Sunday morning.

» OOC - Questions, comments, concerns!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something grasps Calvin's wrists as he wraps his fingers around Dimi's shirt. The-Thing-in-the-Bushes pulls him in with a firm, deliberate yank and a snarl that sounds one third a laugh.

Dimi is there to catch him, grinning and pleased with himself, his glasses sitting crooked on his nose. No moose or monster or ghost, just one bastard of an older brother. It's a mean joke, but laughter, light and relentless, bubbles up out of Dimi regardless, like it's been too long since he last relaxed. Forest entities be damned.

"My hero," Dimi manages, sounding sincere enough despite his giggles.

Calvin shrieks, which he's going to regret later, but it's the only reasonable reaction to being dragged into the bushes after thinking your brother might be in danger. There's a split second where his instincts anticipate an immediate (but painful) death. Even after being safely caught in Dimi's arms, that yelp becomes a string of angry curses as Calvin shoves his brother back. Pointless, since they're already lying in the dirt and grass, twigs and branches scratching them up. Dimi's laughter and Calvin's blustery temper can be heard over the camp noises, making it crystal clear no one's actually hurt.

"You're a real arse, you know that?!" Calvin hits Dimi's chest again for good measure, but there's not much force behind it.

Edited 2017-05-15 17:35 (UTC)

"Yes, without a doubt," Dimi puts his hand over his chest, where Calvin hit him, mostly to try and calm his laughter. Tears gather in the corners of his eyes - he finds this all quite hysterical. "And you've got a bit of Gryffindor in you after all, haven't you? So brave! Jumpin' in after me."

Not wanting to linger on what was far more candid praise than he'd intended, Dimi pauses just long enough to take a steadying breath and hold up the tent pole. "In any case, I've found our missing piece. Back at it, then?"

Calvin groans and throws himself on the ground next to Dimi, letting his head bump into Damon's shoulder. It's perfect, because at this angle he probably can't see the way Calvin's face started turning pink at the implication he had even a single lion-like quality. That wasn't the scream of a Gryffindor he let out mere moments ago.

"What's the point?" he complains. "It's just goin' t'collapse on us in the middle of the night."

"Don't be startin' that, now. Never give up. Never surrender!" Dimi warns, giving Calvin's hair an affectionately rough tousling. He can't remember the last time being an utter failure at something was quite so fun. Fleetingly, he thinks of how much he's missed this - horsing around with his brother - and how it'll all be over in a month and a half. For both of them. Back to Hogwarts and the Slytherin dungeons for Calvin.

Dimi refuses to linger on that thought. He urges Calvin up with a pat on the arm as he, himself, makes his way out of the brush. "C'mon, up, up. We'll get this done," Dimi looks back and, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, adds, "And failin' that, we're sneaky enough, we can wait 'til Gray and Thorn aren't lookin' and use magic, right?"

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION CAMPING TRIP

Dimi & Calvin

Dimi & Calvin

Dimi & Calvin

Dimi & Calvin

Dimi & Calvin