18

June and the Bears’ Camping Trip – Part 3

Where we are: June Longfur went on a camping trip with her best friends, Ilsa and Heather McBear, and their parents. The first evening went well, but when Mummy and Daddy McBear wake up, the girls are gone. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Mummy: Where could they have gone?

Daddy: I’m sure they’re fine. We’ve taught them how to get around in the woods.

Mummy: What if the humans took them?

Daddy: Do you really think humans could take two bear cubs and a kitten without us hearing?

Mummy: I guess not. Where do you think they are?

Daddy is sniffing around the campsite. He straightens up and points into the woods.

Daddy: They went that way into the woods.

Mummy: I wonder why.

They follow the trail for several minutes before Mummy stops.

Mummy: Do you hear that? To the right.

Daddy listens, then starts to run toward the sound with Mummy right behind him. They finally reach June who is crying inconsolably. Mummy picks her up and cuddles her.

Mummy: What happened, sweetie? Are you okay?

June still can’t talk. Daddy comes back with Ilsa and Heather.

Mummy: Why is June so upset?

Ilsa: She had a really bad night.

Heather: We thought she was going to be bird-napped.

Mummy: Bird-napped?

June: It was awful. I was so scared.

Daddy: What happened? Why were you all the way out here?

June started to cry again.

Heather: We didn’t start out here. June said that she needed to use the litter box, so we went a little way from camp. But as soon as she was finished…

Ilsa: A huge owl swooped down and tried to grab her.

Mummy: Poor kitty. That must have been terrifying.

June nodded and snuggled against Mummy.

Daddy: Why didn’t the owl take her?

Ilsa: We heard it swooping in.

Heather: We remembered what you taught us about defending ourselves.

Ilsa: We stood up on our back legs and got as big as we could. As soon as the owl was close enough, we swatted it from both sides.

Heather: That bird didn’t know what hit it. Before he could recover, we grabbed June and hid in the woods.

Daddy: That was quick thinking, girls. Excellent job!

Heather: Thanks, Daddy!

Daddy: Everyone ready to go back to camp?

The girls all nodded. June clung to Mommy as they walked back. Mummy set June down in her fluffy bed.

Mummy: You girls had a rough night. Why don’t you take a nap while Daddy and I catch breakfast?

Ilsa and Heather slept next to June’s bed. Before they knew it, they were smelling grilled fish.

June: That smells wonderful.

Mummy: Thank you! Are you feeling better?

June: I am! That was very scary, but I feel safe now.

Daddy: Do you want to go home?

Ilsa: Why would she want to leave?

Daddy: I thought she might be scared and want to sleep at home tonight.

June: I want to stay, if it’s not too much trouble. Ilsa and Heather were amazing last night. I’ve never seen a bird that big.

Daddy: Of course, you can stay. Just wake us up if you need to go out in the dark. We’ll keep you safe.

June: I promise.

They took a hike in the woods, then spent the rest of the day at the beach.

Heather: Come in the water, June. It’s nice and warm.

June: I don’t really like water. It makes my fur look weird. And I can’t swim.

Ilsa: We could teach you.

June: No thanks. Water’s not really a cat thing.

Heather: That’s too bad. Let’s build a sandcastle.

Mummy and Daddy were having a lot of fun splashing in the lake. When the castle was done, the girls went to rinse off the sand in the lake. June gingerly put her paws in.

June: That’s not so bad.

Ilsa: You’ll dry off fast in the sun. We can help you fluff up, if you’d like.

The last part of the trip passed quickly. Before she knew it, the McBears were dropping June off at home. June couldn’t stop talking about her great time camping with the bears. Ilsa and Heather became the most popular girls in the class.

(Ed Note – We apologize for not getting around to everyone’s posts this week. We are working through them.)

All pictures generated by Gemini AI.

24

Mark and Shane Go To Bear Camp

How to Keep Bears Away from Your Campsite | Pelican

Mama Bear was exhausted. She hadn’t realized how much more work it would be to have twins than the single cubs she’d had the previous two years. They were always getting into someone. Shane was pretty quiet, but Mark was a natural mischief maker. He was always talking his brother into something. When she saw the advertisement for summer Bear Camp, she thought it would be the perfect opportunity for a little peace and quiet.

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Mama: Boys, I have some exciting news!

They raced over and looked up expectantly.

Mark: What is it, Mama?

Mama: I signed you up for bear camp!

Shane: What’s bear camp?

Mama: You go out in the wood with a bunch of other little bears and do fun stuff.

Shane: What kind of fun stuff?

Bear cub looks on with its mother as sibling learns how to fish - and there's even a hug afterwards | Daily Mail Online

Mama: Look at this brochure. You can fish and hunt and pick berries.

Shane: We already do that stuff.

Mama: But you’ll get to meet all kinds of other little bears. You can make new friends.

Shane: I already have friends. I don’t need any more.

Mark (reading): It says we get to sit around a campfire and tell scary stories. And we can play on the beach.

Shane: I don’t like scary stories. I don’t think I want to go to bear camp.

Mama was disappointed. She was really looking forward to some time alone.

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Mama: Why don’t you think about it for a couple of days? Mark, what do you think?

Mark: I think it sounds great! It says there won’t be any parents, just counselors. We can probably do all kinds of cool stuff. I think we should go.

Shane: I don’t know. Let me think about it.

Mama: You won’t be alone. Your brother will be with you.

The boys went to bed. The next morning, Shane still wasn’t convinced it was a good idea. He decided to talk to his friends at school.

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Shane: What do you guys think? Should I go to bear camp? It doesn’t really sound like a lot of fun. I’d rather stay home and hang out around the den.

Jobear: I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like much fun to me. But if Mark’s going, you probably want to go. You guys are twins after all. You’d really miss him.

Shane: That’s a good point.

Danny: Are you talking about Blue Bear Percussion Camp?

Shane: Yeah. I think that is the name.

Danny: Me and a couple of the other guys were looking at that. My brother went a couple of years ago. He had a great time.

Shane: Are you going this year?

Mothers Raise Cubs - North American Bear CenterNorth American Bear Center

Danny: Maybe. I could ask my mom.

Shane: That would be great! If you and Mark are there, I won’t be so lonely. What about you, Jobear?

Jobear: No, thanks. My dad promised he’d teach me how to fish like he does.

Danny talked to his parents, and they agreed to let him go to camp with Mark and Shane. The three cubs decided to do everything together.

Mama: I’m glad you decided to go, Shane. I think you’ll have a good time with all those other cubs.

Papa: And Mama and I will have a good time with the den to ourselves.

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Shane: It won’t be so bad, knowing a couple of the other bears before I get there.

Mark: It’s going to be great! We can play all day, and talk all night. I can’t wait!

Shane: I’m going take a couple of books. I don’t want to listen to scary stories.

Mark: Don’t worry. I’ll be there to protect you.

Shane: Thanks, Mark. I’m glad you’re my brother.

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They took a bus to camp. It picked them up at their school.

Mama: Have a good time! We’ll see you in two weeks!

Papa: Write if you get work!

Danny: What does that mean?

Mark: Who knows? Dad’s kinda weird sometimes.

The boys were still waving when the bus took off.

Bear cubs look like they're shaking on a deal as they play in the water | Daily Mail Online

They arrived at the lake after a short trip. It was very pretty. The camp was a lot bigger than they expected. There were about 20 cubs total; a lot more than Shane was comfortable with. He stood very close to Mark, with Danny on his other side.

Counselor Dave: Welcome cubs! I see a couple of familiar faces and quite a few new ones. You’re going to have a great two weeks. First, let’s get you settled in your cabins, then we’ll get started on activities. Everyone in a line. Count off by twos.

Shane panicked. Mark and Danny were “2” and he was “1”. They were going to separate cabins! Mark saw his face.

Mark: Counselor Dave, I wanted to be in a cabin with my brother. We’re twins. And we do everything together.

Counselor Dave: That’s part of the fun here. You’re going to make new friends. You can see each other during the day.

Shane was trying not to cry.

Next week: Can Shane adapt and have fun?

Brown Bear Cub - Waiting For Mom. | Sad looking little guy w… | Flickr

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.