Last week’s Monday morning drive to the first day of Discovery Camp was filled with reminiscing.

Mary Claire and Henry compared notes on adventures of years past. They talked and laughed about shared experiences. Mary Claire told Henry what he should expect this year, what he will look forward to and the few things he may not like so much. She knows her brother well, and he’s not much of a crafter (at all). But he always puts in a good effort, and frankly the kids hardly do anything crafty for crafting’s sake. It’s much more about discovering, making and building. It is called Discovery Camp, after all.

Posing in this year's T-shirts

As Henry moves through the camps each year, his experiences remind Mary Claire of stories about her time at that camp. They shared memories about making pickles and candles, working on the farm, building a Model T, time on Oxbow Island and scavenger hunts in the museum. Fond memories of getting a look under the Dymaxion House, setting up a merchant shop, building houses, learning about transportation, farming and inventors. The campers in levels six through nine get to spend one night at Lovett Hall. They get to experience the village and museum after closing time, which adds to the adventure. Hearing about it again got Henry geared up for next year when he finally gets that chance.

Campers head out for the day's activities.

The experiences were flying and peppered with excitement. They were each wondering which movie they would see at the IMAX, what day of the week they would have frozen custard, when they’d do some of the standard stuff, like ride the carousel and train, and what else was planned for them. The discussion really turned lively as they talked about the games they’ve learned and love to play like Capture the Flag, Sleeping Lion, Mafia and Ninja. Having them explain Mafia to me was an adventure in itself. I think I need to see that one in action.

Mary Claire first attended camp two, between first and second grades.  It’s hard to believe that now after camp nine, she’s done. We jumped for joy when last year that they added a camp for ninth graders. I’m glad she wasn’t ready to call it quits and was happy to enroll.

In past years, the kids have been able to attend camp with friends (which is helpful with the not-too-close drive), but we couldn’t make that work this time. It didn’t matter to them. They were going to Discovery Camp. Period. I’m pretty sure it was February when they started badgering me regularly to get them registered. (Not that my kids ever badger.)

Campers get a peek inside the workings of the Mold-a-Rama as they learn about robotics.

Along the way, Mary Claire has missed a few years of the camp, a fact she will apparently never let me forget. In the midst of their car-ride conversation, she would say things like, “Oh yes, I would have done that, if I had the opportunity to go that year.” (You must add the inflection of a 14-year-old to get the full effect.) She did music camp those years. Sue me. Henry, on the other hand, is now in camp five and hasn’t missed one yet. A fact I’m sure he’ll continue to subtly rub in just to irk Mary Claire. (Because that’s what brothers do.)

I would like to say our car on the way to camp was a just a bubble floating on fond memories and excitement, but the tone of the conversation changed once the debate about the T-shirts began.

The Discovery Camp T-shirt is a much-prized souvenir for our kids. Throughout the rest of the year, they are staples in their wardrobes and are reluctantly passed down once outgrown. Each camp level is represented by a different colored T-shirt. They each have a Discovery Camp rainbow of memories in their shirt drawers.

Each one tried to debate with and convince the other they were the authority with regard to which color T-shirt went with which camp level. “No, the red is camp four.” “No the orange was camp two.” Actually, I have no idea which color was for which year other than the colors they wore during the week. Henry wore dark green, and Mary Claire wore silver(ish). She jokingly told me she was thankful that she didn’t have to wear it on Monday. She was wearing gray shorts and thought she would have looked like the Tin Man.

Henry poses with counseler Christy wearing the geek glasses they scored at the weekend's Maker Faire.

In a few years, it will be five-year-old Lillian’s turn to head to Discovery Camp. By then, Henry will be the authority and his shirt drawer stuffed with a colorful overflow. I eagerly await the car ride on that first day and all the discoveries yet to be made.