Emily and her new dad, John Simmons

[About a year after Emily came home, she spent several weeks at a behavioral camp in Arizona. This week she wanted to write about her experiences, there.]

I went to camp in Arizona and I cook lots of food. I was making pizza, crab and we have a fire and make us warm all the time. [The crab Emily is talking about were crawfish that they caught in a stream. The pizzas were “ash cake” pizzas, cooked right on the coals from the fire.] And also my family come and visit me and I make food for them. And also I like to cook. [Those] who live in the camp with me, they also cook, too. And also we have too much rain all the most of the time. We went to hike all the time and we carry bags on my back and it’s very heavy. I was tired very easy and my friend tired, too. Sometimes we have lots activities and we have so much fun. And we almost have food every day. If we eat food all gone then my food last not too long and we not have any food left over and we have to wait till next week. [Each camper was given food for the entire week which was divided out for the meals. If the camper ate all of their food before the week was out, they were shown how to use the many wild, edible plants and crawfish from the stream. This was done in an attempt to teach the campers cause and effect. Sometimes the individual campers chose not use the natural food and to skip a meal or two rather than do the extra work.]

Sometimes we learn how to be respectful and be nice. And also I went to river [stream] with people and find crab and different like fishes and we going to cook them. We are [were] sleeping in the shelter and sometimes it’s cold. And also we [use] sleeping bags and make we be warm all the time. Sometimes it’s very hot over there in Arizona. Sometimes we sing a song about camp, like come to first time to camp with girls like how to be cold food, shelter, be nice, warm.

And also we did like camp fire, like plays, games, win surprises. Also we jump from rope to swim and we have sometimes fun. And also I making pizzas for my parents to teach them how to cook like in the fire pizza. I never thought I [could] teach them how to cook a pizza in the fire. Also I never give up about my family. Kids need teach family how to cook. Some kids going to camp [and] different programs. For people [there are] different programs, camp, institutions, jails, hospitals [and people in these programs] need more help. For me need more help because sometimes I’m breaking rules.

But most people be okay to break rules but that not ok. [Even if people are ok, not having consequences of going to the “programs” for breaking rules, it’s still not ok to break rules.] At Arizona camp I have sometimes fun and not fun. We have most counselors help us to me and who been with me on camp. [Most of the counselors helped her and the others on the camp.] We have lots activities and we going to be ok. I like most my favorite to cook and catch fishes little “look like crab.” [Crawfish] But I went after, home and I start to breaking again rules. But after I give up [started keeping rules]. Arizona so hot weather. In the Arizona camp we loose everything if we not carry clothes, food, anything. [Whatever they refused to carry, they didn’t have.]

In the Arizona camp Mom and Dad stay with me a couple of days and I cook pizzas. Sometimes Arizona camp, it’s fun. Sometimes Arizona camp it’s hot. Sometimes Arizona camp it’s cold.

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