Zora earned her Overnight Camping badge. We carried our packs 1/4 mile out to the campsite. Zora carried her own snack and blanket, in addition to her regular gear. TEN people went on the overnight camping trip! This was the biggest group ever, according to the camp director. Once at the campsite, we pitched our tents and collected firewood. Zora liked the tent and enjoyed hanging out in the tent with her buddy Dyno.

We made a small fire using the tinder bundles that we had made at camp. We also used the dryer lint fire-starters that I had made at home. Everyone had a campfire-cone cooked over the fire.

After we put out the fire, we went to bed. This is where I realized that I forgot the most important item for sleeping in a tent with Zora, the thundershirt. Everything started out ok, then Dyno, who had found himself a nice comfortable spot by our heads, farted. Liz relocated him to our feet. We settled down and tried to get comfortable. Even though it was hot and stuffy and really uncomfortable, we tried to get some sleep.

Then “WHO WHO”, we heard an owl.

Zora: gonnadiegonnadiegonnadie!

Zora freaked out, convinced that the owl that I’m sure was probably a mile away was coming to kill us all. She attacked the door to the tent and tried to escape, ran in circles round the inside of the tent, climbing all over Liz and I. Liz and I tried to calm her down, but poor little Zora was convinced that the owl was coming to kill us. She eventually just fell over, as if to say, I give up, let it come kill me.

Then “WHO WHO”, we heard an owl again.

Zora: gonnadiegonnadiegonnadie!

This repeated several times during the night. Zora alternated between sleeping on me and then on Liz. Poor Liz, bless her heart for putting up with us.


Everyone was so happy when the sun came up and we could pack up, make our token breakfast and go back to camp.