Oooh, I would’ve loved a summer camp like that! I did get to go to a few geeky summer classes, and Explorer Scout programs, but a full-on summer camp would’ve been awesome. Modern kids get some pretty cool summer camp stuff.
We built a 8’ water balloon slingshot at my camp. Six strands of latex tubing and a leather basket made by the crafts counselor. Management removed it when it was used to fire rocks.
One of the physicians at work made a reference to genetics camp as a youth … at first, I thought she was kidding. There are coding camps for computer whiz kids too.
Gracie, when you get through with HS consider attending the Colorado School of Mines up in Golden, Colorado. It is an excellent engineering school; one class they teach is designing, building, and racing your own cardboard boat. No wood or metal allowed in the boat is construction. To pass the class you must ride your boat, and it hold together, down Golden’s Clear Creek’s kayak course. Multiple successful trips improves your grade.
When I was in College, someone in our dorm made a Giant Water Balloon Slingshot.
It consisted of a larger Funnel, a 20 foot length of Surgical tubing, and a Handle to pull it back with.
The Surgical Tubing was folded in Half and the Middle fed through the bottom of the Funnel where a loop of it was knotted around a short piece of Dowel to form the pull handle. The Ends of the 2 – 10 foot lengths of tubing were also tied to a pair of Handles.
To operate, 2 people would take the handles attached to the 10 foot pieces and stand about 5 feet apart while a 3rd person would pull back on the handle at the bottom of the Funnel stretching the tubing to about twice its original length. Then, the 4th member of the team would “Load” a water balloon into the Funnel and the bottom handle would be released, firing the Balloon.
Range was spectacular. Or, by elevating the side handles by Having the guys holding them climb up onto a picnic table while the funnel end was held as close to the Ground as possible, you could lob a shot all the way over a 2 story Dorm building and have it drop into the Courtyard.
Some common sense Did prevail and we decided that aiming at People or Windows was a good way to get expelled or even Arrested.
I went to 2 different day camps (2 different summers) and then 2 weeks of Girl Scout sleep away camp. Probably the 3 worst summers of my life – all of them were terrible and I hated them.
Staying home and reading books all summer – that was fun and the best thing in the world.
blackman2732 almost 3 years ago
Count me in.
cdward almost 3 years ago
If you’re engineer-minded, that sort of thing IS fun. I used to go to music camp for the same reason.
LawrenceS almost 3 years ago
One kid’s dream camp is another kid’s Hell.
ajr58(1) almost 3 years ago
calliarcale almost 3 years ago
Oooh, I would’ve loved a summer camp like that! I did get to go to a few geeky summer classes, and Explorer Scout programs, but a full-on summer camp would’ve been awesome. Modern kids get some pretty cool summer camp stuff.
John Wiley Premium Member almost 3 years ago
We built a 8’ water balloon slingshot at my camp. Six strands of latex tubing and a leather basket made by the crafts counselor. Management removed it when it was used to fire rocks.
gingerspike88 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
One of the physicians at work made a reference to genetics camp as a youth … at first, I thought she was kidding. There are coding camps for computer whiz kids too.
MuddyUSA Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Today everything gets complicated?
purepaul Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Sounds better the scout camp ever was.
poppacapsmokeblower almost 3 years ago
Gracie, when you get through with HS consider attending the Colorado School of Mines up in Golden, Colorado. It is an excellent engineering school; one class they teach is designing, building, and racing your own cardboard boat. No wood or metal allowed in the boat is construction. To pass the class you must ride your boat, and it hold together, down Golden’s Clear Creek’s kayak course. Multiple successful trips improves your grade.
Templo S.U.D. almost 3 years ago
That one camp sounds promising. Is it Kikakee with maintenance man Ernest P. Worrell?
tabby almost 3 years ago
Trebuchet!!!!
mikeywilly almost 3 years ago
Build it huge, and launch weather/water balloons!!!! Launch 1/2 a swimming pool at a time(new fire fighting technique)
bakana almost 3 years ago
When I was in College, someone in our dorm made a Giant Water Balloon Slingshot.
It consisted of a larger Funnel, a 20 foot length of Surgical tubing, and a Handle to pull it back with.
The Surgical Tubing was folded in Half and the Middle fed through the bottom of the Funnel where a loop of it was knotted around a short piece of Dowel to form the pull handle. The Ends of the 2 – 10 foot lengths of tubing were also tied to a pair of Handles.
To operate, 2 people would take the handles attached to the 10 foot pieces and stand about 5 feet apart while a 3rd person would pull back on the handle at the bottom of the Funnel stretching the tubing to about twice its original length. Then, the 4th member of the team would “Load” a water balloon into the Funnel and the bottom handle would be released, firing the Balloon.
Range was spectacular. Or, by elevating the side handles by Having the guys holding them climb up onto a picnic table while the funnel end was held as close to the Ground as possible, you could lob a shot all the way over a 2 story Dorm building and have it drop into the Courtyard.
Some common sense Did prevail and we decided that aiming at People or Windows was a good way to get expelled or even Arrested.
DaBump Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Oooh, summer camp with science! Sounds like double the fun to me!
mafastore almost 3 years ago
I went to 2 different day camps (2 different summers) and then 2 weeks of Girl Scout sleep away camp. Probably the 3 worst summers of my life – all of them were terrible and I hated them.
Staying home and reading books all summer – that was fun and the best thing in the world.