The XXth Annual Womens Campout

It is officially here. This weekend is the Womens Campout. This little outing was organized by a handful of friends about 20 years ago. A few "gals" from the Waterloo area would all get together and go winter camping (long before I knew any of them). A new campsite was chosen every year and "yes" they actually camped and slept outside in February. I have seen the pictures!

As friends were added over the years (a friend of a friend, and so on) it has grown to around 16-18 women that still get together every year the last weekend in February. They come from all over Iowa, a couple come down from MPLS and a sprinkling from here to there converge upon Strawberry Point, Back Bone Park. While the camp outs have been moved inside now (we rent a large Cabin), it is a fabulous weekend spent in the middle of nowhere with some of the most colorful women I am privileged to know. This will be my 5th year in attendance.

The weekend is spent eating, talking, building fires, telling stories and the occasional game with electricity. (This game was brought one year by Jackie, bless her heart, you hold onto handles and a random color scheme dances in front of you and when it stops you have to let go - or get a SHOCK. Not for children. I only played once and walked way thinking they were all on crack.)

The women range from nurses, teachers, interior decorator, car salesman, CEO of a family business, personal trainer, the unemployed and a professional chef. This random collaberation is the backdrop for some pretty amazing conversations. But for the most part, it is the silliest weekend of the year and I always drive home feeling so lucky to know these special, funny, witty, talented women!