Camp Arthur by Basak Serin - HTML preview

Camp Arthur

Written By: Basak Serin

Welcome to Camp Lakeside Camp Lakeside is a fun and interesting camp that is located just outside of the city. Camp helps kids develop leadership skills and lifelong skills, promotes independence, teaches teamwork, improves one’s knowledge, provides a break from the screen, builds self-esteem, and most importantly of all, encourages them to cherish friendships and to be respectful to all.

Camp Lakeside has two cabins (one for girls and one for boys); the mess hall is where the cats eat food and engage in fun indoor activities; and there is a bedroom and office for the camp leader.

The girls’ cabin is purple, and the boys’ cabin is orange.

Camp Lakeside is located near rivers, lakes, and ponds.

The trees are green and beautiful. The soil is brown, and the grass is green.

The camp leader, Arthur, is not your typical camp leader.

He is the camp counselor and owner of Camp Lakeside.

Arthur is a large, orange cat with orange eyes. He is an older, mature cat. He is stern, strict, short-tempered, and

smart, but he is also caring and sweet-hearted. He used to be a math teacher before becoming a camp counselor. He wears a red bow tie and sometimes a light green or light blue baseball cap.

This summer, there will only be five campers: Geo, River, Buttons, Dawn, and Midnight. These cats are about to witness some awesome things and learn a lot about camp.

The camp bus arrives at the campsite. The three brothers, Geo, River, and Buttons, are the first ones to get off.

Geo is a small, dark gray tabby cat with green eyes. He is the youngest of his brothers, River and Buttons. He is talkative, nice, sweet, thankful, and loves food. He is very excited about camping. He is adventurous. He wears a teal bow tie. He loves to have fun. He has a lilac-colored backpack.

River is a dark gray tabby cat with lime green eyes. He wears a navy-colored bow tie. He is stern, pessimistic, intelligent, sarcastic, brave, and sometimes kind. He wants to learn more from camp. He has a dark blue

backpack. He is younger than Buttons and older than Geo.

His brothers are Geo and Buttons.

Buttons is a dark gray tabby cat with green eyes. He wears an orange bow tie. He is funny, smart, adventurous, and makes a lot of jokes. He also wants to learn a lot from camp. His brothers are Geo and River. Buttons is the oldest. He has a yellow backpack.

Here come the brother and sister cats, Dawn and Midnight.

Dawn is a black cat with light green eyes. She wears a pink, star-shaped necklace. She has a purple backpack.

She is quiet, a hard worker, nice, and smart. Her brother is Midnight. She wants to make friends and cares about friendship.

Midnight is a black cat with green eyes. He wears a purple, moon-shaped necklace. He has a white backpack.

He is serious, cool, nice, smart, reasonable, reliable, and helpful. His dream is to be a musician. His sister is Dawn.

As soon as the five cats get off the bus, they try to look for their camp leader, Arthur.

Geo: Wow! Nature is so beautiful! I can’t wait for our summer adventures to begin!

The cats all walked into the campgrounds further down the way.

The crew sees Arthur. He walks over to them and welcomes them all.

Arthur: Welcome to Camp Lakeside! I am your camp leader, Arthur. I am also the owner of this camp.

Geo, River, Buttons, Dawn, and Midnight: Hello!

Arthur: Wait, there are only five of you?

The cats all nodded.

Geo: Yeah! Pretty much!

Arthur: Okay. Let’s begin by introducing ourselves.

Arthur said this as he looked over his notes.

Geo: Okay! My name is Geo! I love camping! I wish to learn a lot and eat a lot of food! Yum!

Arthur: Great! Next?

River: My name is River. I want to dominate camp!

Maybe someday I will become a camp counselor!

Buttons: My name is Buttons. I love to eat and read books. I love learning about the great outdoors.

Arthur: Sweet! Now for you two?

He asked Dawn and Midnight.

Dawn: My name is Dawn. I just want to make friends and learn about life skills.

Arthur: Good.

Midnight: I’m Midnight. I thought I’d learn more about nature and camping…which is why I’m here.

Arthur: Thank you all for introducing yourselves. It’s time for me to show you all your cabins. The boys will have the blue cabin, and the girls will get the pink cabin. Each cabin has four beds and a bathroom.

Arthur spoke as he led the campers to the cabins.

The cats all unpack their stuff and head outside for the camp meeting.

Arthur: Camp Lakeside is all about fun, adventure, and knowledge!

Arthur has a clipboard in his paws and a black ink pen.

He has a list of activities that the campers are going to do today.

Geo, River, Buttons, Dawn, and Midnight all cheered.

Arthur: How do you cats feel about art? You know, drawing or painting whatever you see in the forest.

Buttons: I love art.

Arthur: Let’s see. What else is on my list? Water balloon fight? You guys think that will be great?

The cats all agreed.

Arthur: First, let’s have some lunch. I would like you all to know that I am the only staff member here. I clean, cook, and manage the entire camp! I work alone.

River: Hey, Mr. Arthur? Can we order a pizza?

Arthur: Uh, no? We are having mac and cheese in the mess hall.

As soon as the cats have their meal, they go to play water balloon fight. Arthur explains to the cats the rules of the game and divides them into two teams: Team Blue and Team Green.

River, Dawn, and Buttons are on Team Blue.

Geo and Midnight are on Team Green.

Whichever team wins the game gets pizza for dinner!

Arthur: Okay. Get set. Ready? Go! Remember, everyone, have fun! It’s not a competition!

The cats played the game. River is competitive and ambitious, and he doesn’t want anything to get in his way.

Geo just wants to have fun.

River: We will win!

Geo: It is just a game; who cares who wins?

River: Like you would know better, Geo.

River told Geo with a sarcastic tone.

The game begins and lasts for some time. The cats all score a tie.

Arthur: It’s a tie! Which means we all get pizza!

Everyone cheered. They all go for a walk in the forest.

Arthur: Now it’s time to walk in the forest and get our creative juices flowing. We are going to paint art! Just get your imagination on a roll and get creative!

Midnight gets tired all of a sudden. Midnight panted.

Midnight: I am so tired.

Dawn gets an idea of what to paint. She loves friendship.

So, she paints Arthur, Geo, River, Buttons, Midnight, and herself all happy and smiling. They are all holding paws.

The painting also writes friendship in colorful, capital letters. The rainbow is very colorful, and the sun is very sunny, bright, and yellow.

Arthur and the campers all stop somewhere and paint a picture. The boys could not think of anything to draw or paint. Dawn is the first one to finish. She also put a powerful message of friendship into her painting.

It says, “Friendship is important to all. Friends support each other and listen to each other. A friend is what everyone’s heart needs, and friendship is the best gift of all.”

Dawn: Mr. Arthur! I am done! I hope you all like it!

Dawn said as she showed her painting to everyone.

Arthur took a look at Dawn’s painting. He smiled.

Arthur: This is beautiful! I am going to hang this in the dining room! Way to go, Dawn!

Geo: That’s great, Dawn!

Dawn: Thanks!

Everyone applauded, and they all headed back to the campsite.

The cats go back to the camp. Arthur shares some important messages with them.

Arthur: Okay, everybody, I need your attention! Do not wander off by yourselves, unsupervised. Do not go hiking or walk away from the campsite without my permission!

Got it?! Beware of bears, spiders, snakes, wolves, coyotes, and more.

Arthur informed the cats.

Arthur: They are dangerous, and it is important to know how to avoid them and to know what to do when we see them.

All of the cats: We will!

River: If those dangerous animals come near us, I am going to let my fist talk!

Arthur had a worried look on his face.

Arthur: Anyways, watch out for poisonous plants and trees, please! So, watch out for poison ivy, poison oak, and more. Here are some books about that.

Arthur told the cats as he passed out the books to them.

They all thanked Arthur.

Then, the campers go to the mess hall to grab a quick snack.

Buttons: I am so hungry!

River: So am I!

Buttons: River, you look tired today.

Buttons told River in laughter.

River: Oh, why don’t you stick a cupcake in it?

River spoke as he shoved a cupcake into Buttons’ mouth.

Buttons: Yummy, but so sugary, and you know what happens when I eat so much sugar?

Buttons spoke with a mouth full of cupcake.

Midnight: No. What?

Midnight was worried about him.

Buttons’ stomach was growling.

Buttons: I blow!

Buttons burped loudly and passed loud gas.

Everyone coughed.

Dawn: Eww!

Geo: Hey, let’s wander off into the woods. I am ready to learn!

All of the cats: We are in!

Arthur is taking a nap in his cabin and does not know that his campers have left the campsite.

Geo: Wow! So awesome!

Geo spoke as they entered the woods.

River: Meh, could go for pizza now.

Midnight: Trees are important for us and the environment.

Nearly two hundred sixty pounds of oxygen are produced annually by one tree! Trees give us oxygen.

River (to Midnight): Nerd! Boring!

Dawn: No, not boring at all.

Dawn tells River.

Dawn: There are different types of spiders. Big and small.

There are poisonous ones and not-so-poisonous ones. For example, the brown spider is very venomous, and one must be vigilant for other kinds of spiders as well.

River: Ugh! What a dork!

Dawn rolled her eyes.

River saw a brown spider, not knowing that it’s poisonous, River pets one carelessly. River gets bitten by the spider! He yelled very loudly.

River: Ouch!!

River screamed and cried for help!

Geo: What happened?

Geo and the rest of the cats rushed over.

River: I got bitten by a spider. I think it was a brown spider or a recluse spider. I don’t know! Help!

River screamed.

The cats want to call for help, but they are afraid that camp counselor Arthur will be mad at them. So they must quickly think of ideas.

Dawn: Someone help us! A spider bit River!

Taner, an orange fox, came up to the cats with his yellow scooter. He is the park ranger and the head of the state park.

Taner: Hello. My name is Taner. What happened? I thought I smelled trouble. If so, I am here to help!

Buttons: River over here got bitten by a spider! We believe it’s poisonous! River tried to pet one because they are “cute”.

Buttons told Taner as he pointed to River.

Taner: I see. It’s okay, River. I will solve this problem. I have the medication to help him heal. This shouldn’t take long. You’ll be better in about fifteen minutes.

Taner spoke as he helped River.

River is starting to feel better! River has bandages on his paw where the spider bit him.

River: Thank you!

Taner: You are welcome!

Dawn (to River): I was right to inform you about how poisonous spiders can be!

River rolled his eyes.

River (to Dawn): Fine, I guess you were right.

Taner: Really?

Taner spoke to River as he turned his head.

Taner: You should really listen to your friends. They may have lots of important facts to say! I hope you have learned today’s lesson, River.

River: Yeah, I guess.

Taner: Come on, let’s get you cats back to the campsite.

Geo: Ugh! The fun’s over!

Taner: Aw, don’t worry, Geo, the summer’s not over yet!

You’ll have more fun for the next few months with your friends!

Geo: I guess you are right, Taner. Thanks.

The cats and the park ranger go back to Camp Lakeside.

Arthur talks in his sleep and says: Unicorns, rainbows, cotton candy, ice cream, cookies! Campers. Campers?!

Arthur was stressed, and he anxiously leaped out of his bed.

He checked each cabin. No one’s there. He checked the mess hall. No one’s there.

Arthur: Oh no! Where are they?! How come they never listen to me?!

Arthur exhales heavily, and he is worried. In less than two minutes, the cats and the park ranger show up. Arthur sees them all.

Arthur is frustrated.

Arthur: Where have you guys been?! Didn’t I tell you all to listen to me and not to wander off by yourselves?!

Arthur shouted angrily.

Geo: I am sorry, Arthur; it was my fault. I dragged my friends into this. Be mad at me. Not them.

Midnight: (chuckles). Oh, and you are not going to like this: River got bitten by a brown, venomous spider after petting one.

Midnight tells Arthur.

Arthur: What?!

Arthur was shocked.

Arthur: You guys need to be more careful!

Dawn: I told him!

Dawn spoke as she stared at River.

Taner laughs.

Taner: It’s okay, Arthur! I rescued the crew! They are all safe now!

Arthur: Well, thanks, Taner.

Taner: Anytime! Bye! Take care!

Taner left the campsite.

Arthur: I don’t want anything bad to happen to you all.

Just listen to me next time.

Geo: Aw! He cares about us!

The cats: Okay, we promise!

Arthur: Good. I am glad to hear that. Let’s have some dinner. It’s pizza time!

The campers and Arthur go to the mess hall and eat dinner together. The pizza tasted really good. The kitties drank some water and orange juice. They all had a good time, but the night has not finished yet!

Geo: It’s time for s’mores!

Everyone was excited.

S’mores are treats made of two graham cracker pieces layered with toasted marshmallow and chocolate. They

are really yummy. The campers have to choose between white, milk, and dark chocolate!

River: I’ll get white chocolate.

Midnight: Dark chocolate for me!

Dawn: Milk chocolate!

Geo: I’ll go with milk chocolate!

Buttons: I’ll go with white chocolate.

Arthur laughed.

Arthur: Dark chocolate! It’s the healthiest kind of chocolate.

They all make their s’mores with the bonfire. The cats are all happy!

Geo: I can’t wait for new adventures to come!

Geo shouted excitedly. They all eat their s’mores and tell stories to each other.

Geo, River, Buttons, Dawn, and Midnight all cheered; even camp counselor Arthur cheered!

New camp adventures await Geo, River, Buttons, Dawn, Midnight, and camp leader Arthur.