June 28, DC08 News

Please note that it's most likely that updates from now on will be coming from acowells@yahoo.com. You might want to add that address to your email address book, to help prevent it from ending up in a spam folder.

We're gettin' close, and I can tell by the number of kids contacting me excitedly, even as my own sense of "what-was-I-thinking?" predictably rises as well. (-;

Several points:

Please arrive promptly on Monday at 7:15PM in the back of the junior high. We'll have someone designated for you to check-in with, and a spot picked out for luggage that will be going underneath the bus. Kids, remember you won't have access to that underneath luggage for about 24 hours, so keep basic toiletries and perhaps a simple change of clothes in your carry-on bag. Guardians, please keep your kid with you during the meeting; they're going to be so hyped-up we'll need your help in getting them to at least partially focus.

As you pack, keep in mind:
The weather is looking fairly good for DC -- it looks like we'll avoid the typical DC sweltering mix of heat and humidity, but it will be pretty warm most days (up to low 90's) and some storms are forecast. The Hanes family has graciously offered to send rain ponchos for all the kids, so no need to pack rain gear.

Unless you've got a pair of well-broken-in flip-flops that you know you can walk in for miles at a time without soreness, I suggest you bring some walking/running/tennis shoes. You can always switch back to flip-flops when we aren't walking so far.

Of course we caution that bringing valuables like cell phones, iPods, digital cameras, etc is risky; we also know that a number of you will bring such items in addition to your wallet. If there's some way you could label all of these and your wallet with contact info, I'd advise you to do so.

Also as you pack those electronic items, remember to include chargers and/or extra batteries. And, if bringing a digital cam, a usb cord so we can download straight to our teacher laptops.

If you are bringing disposable cameras, I'd suggest you purchase an extra or two -- kids tend to burn through those quite quickly.

We will have a number of times with free time on the grass. Soccer balls, frisbees, footballs and volleyballs would be a wise addition, but, again, label your item -- not just with your name but with a contact # as well. If your luggage is too full, bring the item separately and we'll put it in a crate underneath the bus.

I'll probably put out at least one more update before Monday, and -- since a number of kids are asking -- I'll try to offer some advice about how much money to bring.

If you (or your kid) is planning to bring a cell, and hasn't yet sent me a text with your name, do so. 574-333-4673.