Just a note of introduction! We want to broaden our base of blog contributors. Families come in all shapes and sizes, so I am reaching out to friends and associates who are doing some great things with their grandchildren. Also, I invite you to submit the wonderful things you are doing with your grandchildren, sprinkled with some photos or videos.
This week I want to feature my dear friend, Marshall Welch. He and his wife, Julie, live in Oregon. Here’s his contribution: Camp Grandpa.
My son and daughter-in-law are both educators so they're both busy with teacher workshops for a week before kids return to school. So...I take care of my granddaughter for a week and we call it Camp Grandpa.
I usually have a theme for the week. It may include transportation, food, Oregon Pioneers...etc. So we do something different every day along that theme. We always start by making a list of things to do for the day which includes mundane routine things that must be done first before we do fun stuff like field trips—ah ha—a dirty trick GP [grandpa] pulled on her to instill work ethic.
We also build a story fort out of blankets and sit in it to make up stories. Sometimes we turn them into a book and add pictures to illustrate it.
We always make a video report and post it on Facebook. We just make a kind of "storyboard" of events and then I follow her with the camera to make a video of it.
Check out their video!
Imagine the power of 14 cupcakes in thanking someone!
I am certain this spry and adorable granddaughter will never forget her weeklong Grandpa Camps. Grandpa Welch does a great job of sequencing and planning activities that his granddaughter thoroughly enjoys. These activities are engaging, rich with learning, and totally fun. Also, these experiences deepen and sustain their relationship with each other.
Lastly, Marshall is helping his granddaughter grow her talents, build her positive dispositions, and develop a work ethic. Also, he is helping her discover herself.
Wow! What a grandpa! We’ll hear more from Marshall and his wife, Julie, in the near future.