Fort McKavett, Texas

Rick Manzanares, Lawrence Pacheco and Bobbe Hultin took a road trip to Ft. McKavett, Texas recently to meet with their NEH partners. A great time was had by all, plus we accomplished a lot. Dates for the next three years were set for camps in Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado and Nebraska. Here are the dates for 2008: Meadowcroft, Pennsylvania - July 13-19; Ft. Mckavett, Texas - July 20-26; Ft. Garland, Colorado - Aug. 4-8; Ft. Robinson, Neb.

Aug. 11-15.

Some of the highlights of the Texas trip were seeing a real live armadillo!

Rick catching some zzz's on the porch!

Sunset at the fort

"Haiku poem

I hate big spiders.

Some spiders are fat and juicy.

And spiders hate me."

Obediah O., Company F.

"Today all of the battalion went to the Great Sand Dunes. You notice finally after an hour of hiking that you've been moving backwards, then when you developed a technique and start to move you climb for an hour then fall over the edge of the dunes and tumble 100 feet and can't get out. But I have to thank the counselors for a helping hand and high spirits. I would also like to acknowledge other campers without them we could never have made it as far as we did. Farewell and DON'T PANIC."

Will G., Company F.

"I'm having a good time so far. I got to meet a miniature horse that was two inches taller than used to be. I met some new friends named Kenia, Yvette, and an awesome counselor named Sean. [There is] this guy named will and he looks like Chris from my school. He was really nice. Everyone is really different from New Mexico, and nice."

Sabria H., Company F

"So far this week I have had a lot of fun. I made a lot of friends. We went to the Sand Dunes and went all the way to the top of the Sand Dune. Tomorrow we are leaving and I guess I can say I'm happy to go home but I'm also sad to leave my two best friends in the camp. "

Kenia H., Company F

"This camp has totally changed, in a good way, the way I look at life but the one I really like is Lawrence he changed a lot and he said some inspiring words and it went to heart and our staff was very funny. I like the friends I meet."

Josh N., Company F.

"Today me and Nicole went to the Sand Dunes. We climbed to the highest dune not like last time because last time we didn't climb all the way. Patrick and Rachel are my counselors and they're really nice and I'm glad to have them as counselors. When we got back to camp me and Nicole and Erika put on our swimming suits and we went swimming. Then we went back to camp. Now we are doing blogs."

Irma L., Company E

"Our company went to see the horses and Irma and I were the first ones to brush the pony. His name was Big John. His name is opposite from him. We are soon going to ride them. He was really pretty. He was 7 or 8 hands tall. He is 14 or 15 years old. I liked all the horses. We learned how to walk a horse, and how to brush a horse and how to clean his hooves. Also how to keep safe around the horses and how to feed and water them. It was so fun learning all this stuff."

Ericka S., Company E

"This morning was awesome. We went to the Sand Dunes, it was awesome. Then in the afternoon we went swimming. It is our last day at camp. Our counselor Patrick is very cool. So is Rachel our other counselor."

Shawn D., Company E

"Today after camping near the Sand Dunes we climbed them. Then we went swimming. I think it was fun. The counselors here are cool. I wold like to come here again."

Albert M., Company D

"What I did this week was we had a topic every day. Monday was Ute Indian day, Tuesday was Hispano day, Wednesday was Buffalo Soldier day, Thursday we went to the Great Sand Dunes. We had a blast. We had a great big campfire and we all sang and listened to the stories. Today was good because we hiked the Sand Dune all the way to the top. It was fun."

Marissa M., Company D

"Today I went to climb a Sand Dune. My counselor Justin he said you can do it when I kept saying I can't do it. Then it was time to climb. It was so much fun! I can't believe I did it! Then we went swimming. It was so fun!"

Iesha O., Company D

"I like camp so far its like wow. I never knew history could be so fun. I don't know who wouldn't come."

Adrianna J., Company C

"We went to the Sand Dunes. My counselors are Dee and Arthur. They are funny. We went swimming today. We had a campfire."

Angelina R., Company C

"This week has been so fun at camp. I finally finished my weaving. It took me three days to finish. We climbed the Sand Dunes, and they look bigger than they seem. At the top of the Sand Dunes the sand is steeper and harder to climb. I also made this cool mountain refrigerator magnet. At a campfire I got to play a coyote that is tricked by a bear. Everyone liked my part. We also went swimming and had a lot of fun."

Matthew M., Company C

"Today I had fun when we went swimming and camping out on the Sand Dunes. Tomorrow, all of us are going home."

Tyler M., Company C

"Today I had a good day, I liked swimming the best. It was awesome. At the Sand Dunes I liked the creek and the view the best too. Mr. Brandon is a fast climber, I'm surprised Mr. Brandon did not slip and fall. Ms. Tessa was in front of Mr. Brandon for about 10 minutes after that Brandon caught up. I HAD A GOOD DAY!"

Mack M., Company B

"One before I slept in the tents. I don't know how but Arthur went in Boots' room and scared the girls by the door and me and my friend were laughing. That was the fun night."

Tazjae H., Company B

"The people at camp are very nice. The food is good, I like it. The counselors are nice. Arthur is fun but he is in Company C."

Amos R., Company B

"It's our 2nd to last day and we're supposed to have s'mores tonight. I'm having fun though."

Kyle S., Company B.