paw painting | Adventures in Cheeseland

Cheeseland Day Camp was a summer tradition that parents looked forward to every summer. For two weeks, they could look forward to having the days to themselves. Every morning, buses picked up the campers from several drop-off locations and took them to Camp Muckamac for a variety of activities.

The campers were divided by age, and each age group had a leader and a co-leader with several volunteer assistants for each activity. Today is Paint Day. Ms Cate is the leader for the youngest group with Mr Arthur as the co-leader. Three young otters are volunteering: Heather, Suzy, and Emma.The otters meet the bus when it arrives at camp.

Emma: Good morning! Over here, Team Green campers.

A few of the campers go to their assigned color, but most of the small animals continue chatting with their friends. Finally, Ms Kimmy, the Director of the camp, blows a whistle.

Ms Kimmy: Listen up campers! We have a big day ahead of us. e, not all going to be painting today. Please go to your assigned color pole

There are four color poles segregated by age: green, blue, yellow, and red.The assigned color was on each camper’s name tag. It was an unfortunate choice for identification. Some of the animals had trouble distinguishing colors. Someone had chosen the tags online, not realizing it was a human site..

Jasper: Ms Kimmy, my mother said that I couldn’t make a mess. She said I couldn’t do the painting. What else can I do?

Ms Kimmy: Every camper had to have their parent sign the same form. If a camper is not allowed to participate in an activity, it is their responsibility to bring something to do. Or the camper can miss that day.

Mimi (Jasper’s twin): My mom says that’s your responsibility. She’s paying good money to have us here, and you have to find something for us to do.

Ms Kimmy: How many other campers won’t be able to paint today?

She looked around. No one else raised their hand.

Ms. Kimmy: Okay, Jasper and Mimi. You can stay in the meal hall and color. We don’t have the money for two sets of activities.

Jasper: All day? That sounds really boring.

Mimi: Yeah. Can’t we watch TV?

Ms Kimmy: I’m afraid not. I’m not sure why that’s here. There is no signal at Camp Muckamac. Maybe the cook can find something you can help with.

The cook and her assistant glare at Ms Kimmy

Ms Kimmy: Or maybe not.

Jasper: We don’t want to be free help anyway.

Ms Kimmy, Jasper, and Mimi head for the meal hall. Everyone else goes to their place at camp.

Ms Cate: Okay, campers. Find a seat at the table. We’ve placed brushes and paper at each seat. Put on the smock on the seat

Antwan: What’s a smock?

Mr Arthur: It’s like a shirt.

Heather: It keeps the paint off your fur,

Celia: What if I want to paint my fur?

Mr Arthur: Unless you have a signed letter from a parent saying you can paint your fur, you’re not allowed to do it.

Zak: That’s not fair. They didn’t say I couldn’t do it.

Mr Arthur: Sorry, buddy. Rules are rules.

Delilah: I can’t put this on.

Suzy: It’s pretty easy. Just put the loop at the top over your head.

Delilah: I want help. It’s all twisted.

The leaders looked at their campers. A couple had figured it out and even snapped it closed, but several were struggling.

Ms Cate: Let’s get you all situated here so we can get started.

Soon everyone was sitting at the table, ready to go and chattering.

Ms Cate: Okay, everybody. Have you all thought of something to paint?

The small animals nodded.

Ms Cate: That’s great! We have three pots of each color, so we’ll need to share. Everyone will pick one color to start with. When you are done with that color, you can take your next color. Mr Arthur, Heather, Suzy, and I will be walking around if you need help.

After some minor disagreements, everyone has their first color.

Vince: Ms Cate, I want to paint my house, so I need the blue to start. I got stuck with brown.

Ms Cate: There must be something in your picture that is brown. What do you mean stuck? There are plenty of other colors available.

Vince: But I want blue.

Mr Arthur: Then you’ll need to wait until someone is done with it.

Mr Arthur turned around to say something to Ms Cate, when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Emma was leaning across the table for a pot of paint.

Emma: No! Don’t do that!

Josh was tipping a pot of red paint onto the table.

Emma: Why are you doing that?

Josh: I want to paw-paint. It will be amazing!

Emma: We’re not paw-painting today. We’re brush painting.

Josh: That’s no fun.

Emma: We don’t want to send you home with red fur.

The painting progressed well until Mr Arthur saw a small lamb crying.

Bethany: I couldn’t find the green paint, so I painted the leaves on my bushes yellow. Now everyone’s laughing at me.

Mr Arthur: They’re wrong, Bethany. You can paint the leaves whatever color you want. (Louder) Campers, quiet down. I want to show everyone Bethany’s beautiful picture. It’s a house with yellow bushes in front of it.

Clara: Leaves are green, not yellow.

Ms Cate: Actually some bushes do have yellow leaves. And some green leaves turn yellow in the fall here in Michigan. That doesn’t really matter, anyway. Bethany can paint things whatever color she chooses. It’s a lovely picture, Bethany.

Bethany: Thank you Ms Cate.