The morning started on a rare civilized note; everyone actually slept in a little. The Grand Canyon did its thing with a gorgeous sunrise peeking through the trees, ravens swooping dramatically overhead (very Lion King, very majestic). But before we could get too off-topic, we had jobs to do.
Shoutout to the Grumpys, who absolutely cooked for their last rotation, and we mean that literally. Breakfast burritos stuffed with eggs, sausage, and hashbrowns. Meanwhile, the bus packers, dishwashers, and site managers were running a tight operation; we even mopped the bus, which, trust us, was overdue.
We rolled into Las Vegas like a very chaperoned field trip, because that's exactly what it was. Maps of the Strip in hand, the groups spread out for some free time and immediately displayed a beautiful range of priorities: Some trekked all the way to New York-New York for dinner (commitment: respected). Others got In-N-Out and discovered that the hype is, in fact, overrated. Several young shoppers made some very bold choices at Alo Yoga. Parents, you'll see the receipts... It was also 110°F outside, so most of us stayed indoors near the AC and walked quickly between the buildings. Your kids are learning life skills in real time!
Some of us (the brave, the foolish, the entrepreneurial) pooled a little cash and gave it to our counselors, Sophia and Wyatt, to try their luck on the casino floor. Unfortunately, Sophia did not have much luck, but those of us who gave our money to Wyatt made out a little better. Those who trusted him with their dollars received a small return on their investment. All in all, it evened out, so unfortunately none of us hit the jackpot to retire y'all, but maybe next time :)
Here's something we bet you didn't know about your kids' trip: they were coached by an actual two-time National Bowling Champion. Yes, Vickie has TWO National titles, and yes, she was out here giving us free lessons. #VIsforVictory. The lanes at the Rio were a blast; some kids rested up, while others refined their skills. Shoutout to Noah and George, who both cleared 150+, very impressive.
PJs on. Eyes heavy. Cozy chaos. We piled back into the vehicles and set off on an overnight drive to Santa Monica with snacks, questionable playlist choices, and the kind of exhaustion that only comes from doing too many fun things in one day.
The biggest heroes of the night? Our counselors and our bus driver, Boyce, who very safely got us to the beach! Our co-pilots of this leg of the trip were super helpful to the drivers as well. Thanks, AC, Madison R., Graham, Patrick, and Elijah! Gonna get some rest and have a great time at the beach before we clock into our new jobs and next shifts. Thanks for staying in tune with us! Look out for us in the dishwashing photos!!
See you at the beach!
