A Summer Adventure
The DiNozzos, McGees and Palmers go to an extended weekend adventure camp. Summer 2029.
Chapter 1: Thursday 1800, Check in
Delilah parked her minivan in the nearest open handicap space as Tony pulled the DiNozzo family van into a space nearby. The Palmers had arrived about ten minutes earlier and were unloading their bags as the others arrived. Ziva reminded her five that they needed to stay together until the family checked in and settled into their assigned cabin.
The three families walked together to the main building to check in for the long weekend. Tim had found the family adventure camp in the northwestern Virginia mountains on the way home from a case the previous fall and the three families had signed up together just before Christmas for their four days of fun. As the group moved up the walkway to the building, the kids chatted with excitement. Tali, Anthony, Katie, and LJ were looking forward to the zip line; Rivka, Beth, Tori, and John wanted to learn to stand up paddle board. Charles had spotted the climbing walls in the brochures and online.
In the lobby, the brightly colored posters and photos highlighted the available activities:
Rafting
Sailing
Canoeing
Kayaking & stand-up paddle boarding
Swimming
Alpine tower & giant swing
Zip line
Rappelling
Rock climbing wall
Archery & riflery
Tennis, basketball, and volleyball
Arts & crafts
Hiking
Yoga & Meditation
Bonfires nightly
Star gazing
Night hikes
There were four families in front of the group; as they waited their turn to get signed in LJ spotted a cat sitting on one of the tables in the waiting area. He slowly walked over to the animal and held out his hand. Surprised that the cat didn't move, he reached out to touch it and jumped back. Once he realized that the cat was a stuffed cat, he laughed and read the sign next to it: "Please touch the stuffed bobcat carefully."
"Ima," he called out, "It's a stuffed bobcat!" Ziva turned and smiled at LJ and motioned him to come back with the rest of the family.
"Please stay with us," she cautioned her youngest. "I do not want to have to go looking for you when our turn comes to check in."
"Why, Ima?"
Tony turned to the boy, "We each will get a picture ID card for the weekend when we sign in. That way you can't lose us!" Tali and Anthony shared a look and groaned to each other; both were looking forward to being able to choose activities without having a parent present. The first thing both wanted to do is to "lose" the parents.
Finally the family was at the check-in desk. "Palmer family?" the desk clerk called out. Jimmy, Breena, Tori, and Charles stepped over to the photo area to have their ID cards made. Afterward they were directed to the cabin assignment area. "McGee family, you're next." Tim, Delilah, John, and Katie moved to the photo area.
LJ tugged at his Abba's sleeve, "Abba, why are we last? DiNozzo comes BEFORE McGee and Palmer in the alphabet." Tony shrugged; he really didn't have an answer for his curious son.
"We have the most people in our family," Beth offered to her brother. "Maybe that's why we're last?"
Rivka overheard her sister and added, "Yeah, we have almost as many in one family as they have in two!" LJ seemed satisfied with his sisters' explanations and he turned his attention to a large picture on the wall behind the check-in desk. He was about to point out the collage of the animals from the waiting area to his Ima when the desk clerk called out, "DiNozzo family!"
Tony herded the kids to follow Ziva to the photo area. Each one had their picture taken and then printed on an ID card that was laminated and then put on a lanyard. The lanyards were color-coded by age group, with the adults all having blue lanyards. Tali, Tori, and Anthony had red lanyards for the twelve- to sixteen-year-olds group. John, Katie, Charles, Rivka, and Beth had green lanyards for the nine- to eleven-year-olds group. LJ had a yellow lanyard for the six- to eight-year-olds group. The family's check-in navigator explained to them that the colors would help them choose age-appropriate activities. To be able to participate in an activity, it had to have the color for the person's lanyard. Some of the green and yellow coded activities would also have a blue stripe with the color to indicate that a parent or other adult had to be present with the child. The family had already arranged that any of the six adults could accompany any of the kids. LJ and Uncle Tim had even picked out an activity on Saturday that they would attend together. Ziva and Tony had also told Charles that they would be his adults for the rock wall climbing activities.
The Palmers and McGees were assigned to a four bedroom/ four bathroom cabin that could be split into two sides if desired. Katie and Tori would share a room as would John and Charles. The DiNozzos were assigned to another cabin of similar design, the only difference being that it could not be split to two sides. Beth and Rivka shared a room, as did LJ and Anthony. Tali had her own room, but she told her sisters that they could swap out who had a room alone if they wanted. The shuttle to take the family to the cabins arrived. They loaded their bags into the cargo area and Tim helped Delilah get into the accessible seating. Tony folded Delilah's wheelchair and put it with the bags. The others took seats in the twenty-seat shuttle and the driver headed to their cabins.
At the cabins, which were side by side in their own clearing, the driver showed Tim and Delilah how to operate the lift to the cabin porch and reminded all of the family about the nightly bonfire at 2030. He showed them all the eagle logo on their cabins. "When you are in break out group activities and need to get back into your family group, find the eagle logo near the activity area. That is your meeting place. You will also have a table with the eagle logo at the dining hall. Also note that the eagle logo is on the back of each of your ID cards. Have a great visit!"
Everyone grabbed their bags and headed to get settled in the cabins. Before the families went inside, Ziva arranged with Dee and Breena to have all of the family meet back outside in forty-five minutes to go to the bonfire. She followed her family into their cabin.
"Forty-five minutes to get settled," she called out to her five who were already exploring the cabin and choosing bedrooms. She headed to the largest bedroom, where Tony had placed his duffle bag on a side table.
"Nicer than what I first thought when we found out we'd be staying in cabins," he remarked to Ziva as he sat on the bed. He leaned back and lay down, "Bed's pretty comfy, even if it's a queen." He patted the empty side next to him, grinning at his wife.
"And when do we ever take up even that much space to sleep?" she brushed a kiss on his lips as she sat down. "We will have to remember that the other bedrooms are not on the other side of the house as they are at homeā¦"
They were interrupted by Beth, Rivka, and LJ running into the room; the three wanted to know when it would be time to leave for the evening bonfire. Tony glanced at his watch and reminded the kids that their mother had said forty-five minutes from the time they arrived inside. They had about fifteen minutes remaining.
"Thanks Abba; can we go outside to see if the others are ready?" Riv inquired.
Tony glanced at Ziva, who nodded, "Sure, just stay close to our cabins so you know when the rest of us are ready to leave."
At the designated time, the three families assembled in the area in front of the two cabins and headed towards the bonfire site. There was a paved path so Delilah could navigate her wheelchair only needing a bit of help on one uphill-sloped spot.
When they arrived at the bonfire, the flames were wrapped around the tee-pee structure of firewood, lighting the whole area fairly well. Two couples had guitars to lead fireside singing for whoever wanted to join in. Around 2245, the families headed back to the cabins, ready to get some sleep before the next day of activities.
