I'll be at 'Camp Muse' this summer!

...I must say...this first week of summer vacation has been GREAT.  I mean it.  I have been enjoying it so far, drawing, packing, driving, napping...all on my own time and terms.  And today, it dawned on me.

This is probably the first summer since I started teaching that I have not had some form of camp during the summer.  Really.

• 2002...living in Greenville, NC...my first summer after my first year of teaching.  Thanks to my beloved friend TDove, a fellow ECU Teaching Fellow, English teacher at DH Conley and just all around AMAZING PERSON, I joined the faculty for the Legislators School for Youth Leadership Development.  
  
• 2003...living in Greenville, NC....another legis school summer
  
• 2004...living in Raleigh, NC...I think this was the summer that I worked in the office at Champion and helped with Cheerleading Camp administration
  
• 2005...still in Raleigh, NC...did not do any camps that I remember...I got MARRIED!
  
• 2006...no camps...out in San Diego, CA being a gypsy soul!
  
• 2007...back in Greenville for grad school after living in CA...and another summer with Legis School
  
• 2008...still in Greenville...my last summer with Legis School (shout out to my THETAS!!)
  
• 2009...last summer in NC...taught art camps for Pitt County Community Schools and Recreation
  
• 2010...FL, Armory Summer Art Camp
  
• 2011...FL, Armory Summer Art Camp...met Jessie Prugh...hey, had to mention that!
  
• 2012...FL, Armory Summer Art Camp
  
• 2013...FL, Armory Summer Art Camp
  

So for almost the last twelve years, okay, let's say ten since there are two summers no accounted for...for all those years I have had a commitment to do some form of teaching in the summer. I do not regret any of those summers.  Looking back through the pictures today I even got a little teary-eyed,especially when I was looking through my Legis School photos.  And the art camps...so many little creative minds...so many art projects!  Here is a look at all this camp-craziness;

...which brings me to right now, my first week my summer vacation 2014.  Nothing.  Not one camp lined up...and I am kind of excited about that.  Instead of teaching camp...I am going to have my own camp, 'Camp Muse'...where hopefully I can spend my time making art, moving to our new space (more on that later), prepping for a new school year at a new school (definitely more on that later...positive thoughts this way please, I need'em!), spending time with family, felines and friends...and just...taking a minute to enjoy this time.

And I may still end up doing some camp-like thing...I know myself and I know I like to stay busy so I won't rule that out...but right now I really am relishing the thought of 'Camp Muse.  It's gonna be awesome!