[center][h2]Contest of Children[/h2][/center] Aster had no issue following Emily as she went to change, sighing at the description of the water. [color=00FCD8]“Cold is fine, I suppose - It's far better for the skin than hot water, but I'd prefer the lake water to be at least somewhat warm.”[/color] Aster heaved another sigh. [color=00FCD8]“Still, nevertheless, you should consider yourself lucky Dobbs didn't decide to lurking near the lake and catch you slacking off or the strange stories didn't snag your foot and drag you under.”[/color] [color=2B9311] “Bye dear.”[/color] Em waved Marco off, smiling. [color=2B9311] “We’re pretty high up and I think most of the lake is snowmelt. I doubt it is ever warm.”[/color] Especially since right now it is nearly the height of Summer. It was unlikely, though she supposed not impossible. [color=2B9311] “As for Dobbs, the most he could really do is tell me to get back to work, which I will. Soon. I’ll get the trails all cleared up before the kids get here. If he had more specific things for us to do I’d probably be more worried. But he gave us such general stuff.”[/color] Emily shrugs. [color=2B9311] “What do you plan to do the rest of the day?”[/color] It had gotten hot enough that Emily didn’t want to keep working on the trails. That was absolutely an early morning task. [color=00FCD8]“Blah, snowmelt.”[/color] Aster waved the thought away. [color=00FCD8] “Well, I don't particularly want to stand outside baking in the sun any longer. There is still plenty to clean around camp, so I may start working inside all the main building rooms or maybe work a little on an actual activity schedule now that I know what we have for our future campers. Zeke seemed to be interested in helping with my things, but he was more focused on talking about relationships. One would think he'd have settled down now that he got his cat, but still so focused on it.”[/color] Emily snorted at Aster’s judgement about Zeke. She didn’t know Zeke very well except for the time in the kitchen. He seemed pretty level headed for the most part... except where it came to Demi. [color=2B9311] “Well if you want some help cleaning I can do that with you for a bit. I can also let you know what sort of activities I have planned for the trails. I don’t know what all is available otherwise though. But I definitely want to do some scavenger hunts and nature hikes.”[/color] [color=00FCD8]“So long as you don't abandon me without finishing your section, your company is well appreciated. The cat basically left me to finish the cabin halfway through the plan.”[/color] Aster grumbled. [color=00FCD8]“Perhaps we can make them related somehow; your activity feeds into mine or vice versa. A whole experience, no matter what you're doing.”[/color] Aster tapped his chin thoughtfully as he considered their options. [color=00FCD8]“However we go about it, perhaps we ensure the others plan their things with each other's activities in mind - beyond simple times of course. Some overarching theme or lesson that we can all feed into.”[/color] [color=2B9311] “Don’t worry I won’t abandon you. Hmm, I was definitely planning for it to be educational. I think everyone should know hiking safety, and what is safe and not safe. Obviously, I’ll try to make it fun. I know the age range is pretty big for the campers we’re supposed to get. From first graders up to high school. What are you planning? I’m sure I can make something work with it.”[/color] Aster let out a soft hum. [Color=00FCD8]“Beyond the obvious of what we have, I've put no thought into it. We have canoes, we have fishing rods, we have some functional safety vests - everything as straight forward as can be.”[/color] Aster considered it. [color=00FCD8]“I assume we'll separate them by age range? I do not want to deal with the small ones. The older ones may be bearable, bit children? Disgusting.”[/color] Em laughed. [color=2B9311] “You very likely will also have to deal with the little ones. They might even not know how to swim. So you’ll have to set up swimming lessons. Aster, do you know how to swim?”[/color] Aster gagged at the thought of having to [i]teach[/i]. A dozen little gremlins spitting and coughing and sneezing and screaming and crying and having fun? Aster was tempted to be taken to jail. [color=00FCD8] “Yes, I quite enjoy swimming, thank you. It's my favorite form of exercise. What I dislike are [i]creatures[/i]. Can we not give the retriever all the children? He seems like a child favorite.”[/color] Emily laughed again. Aster’s discomfort in this situation was hilarious to her. [color=2B9311] “Oh my goodness you’re going to suffer all summer. I mean you can see if he can swim and if he can teach it to the little ones. But if you’re in charge of the water activities you’ll be in charge of their safety and stuff.”[/color] [color=00FCD8]“Why do you mock my suffering, Emily? This is a punishment worse than hell itself.”[/color] Aster moans, leaning dramatically against the nearest surface. [color=00FCD8] “Have we considered letting the children find their own way? Teach them all things must be earned, not given? Why are we pampering them by considering safety? Activities? If they have the talent, then they will succeed and if not, then they are lost to the lake.”[/color] [color=2B9311] “I’m laughing because you’re just so dramatic.”[/color] Emily shakes her head. [color=2B9311] “Alright, let’s go ahead and leave the kids to their devices. What happens if a kid who doesn’t know how to swim is out on a boat and falls into the lake in the middle?”[/color] [color=00FCD8]“Sink or swim. What better learning environment than nature and all its threats?”[/color] Aster sighed again, hand pressed against his forehead. [color=00FCD8]“Still, I suppose we must try to some degree lest we be dragged away to jail. I doubt our captives would take the responsibility of a child's death when us scapegoats are so easily offered. I [i]suppose[/i] I will suffer through interactions with the gremlins.”[/color] [color=2B9311] “Exactly. Sink means death to children. So let’s not murder any children. We can see if Demi is willing to help at least get them started so you don’t have to do the basics.”[/color] Em considered. [color=2B9311] “I’m not sure how to integrate my hike plans with your water plans. Are you doing educational stuff on the water?”[/color] Emily doubts it, but she might as well ask. [color=00FCD8]“You think Demi would handle children well? Well, I guess it doesn’t matter as long as I'm not dealing with it.”[/color] Aster waved away his own concerns, shoving himself back into a standing position. [color=00FCD8]“But no, I did not. I was going to just let them tire themselves out - I [i]suppose[/i] I could make it educational but how long are they here? How in the world are we supposed to teach about water for anything longer than a few days. Also, we would need time frames to figure out [i]lessons[/i], ugh. I have no idea how long we’ll even be supervising these things. An hour? Twelve minutes? Ideally, 90 seconds or less but that seems unlikely.”[/color] [color=2B9311] “The program is all summer but we will rotate kids every week. So each group will be here for a week. As long as you come up with stuff for a week you'll be fine. Though you should have it in skill categories. You can't have your older kids doing the same thing as the littlest. They'll never stand for it. Maybe four different things planned for the age groups.”[/color] [color=00FCD8]“I suppose that's achievable. It'll have to be something physical however; I do not know anything about what [i]lives[/i] in the water. I suppose races and contests and games will have to do instead.”[/color] Aster considered the thought. [color=00FCD8] “Contests are easy to scale; I'll have to have Dobbs get prizes. Maybe we can have contests with each of us and you win a shiny trophy for having won the most. Children enjoy trophies.”[/color] [color=2B9311] “Most things that live in water are fish. I’m not an expert on that, so I’m not going to tell you things I don’t for sure are true. Plants are more my thing. A contest would be good. Kids like competitions. You could do a tournament.”[/color] She thought that could be a good idea. Kids did like prizes. Aster wasn’t wrong. So good for him on coming up with an idea she thought would actually work.