LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Water fun at Family Camp Out helps beat the heat


Families find a cool spot to set up camp July 15 at Rancho Laguna Park in Moraga. Photo Jeff Heyman

The mercury stood at the century mark. But the scorching heat didn't dissuade 162 kids, parents and grandparents from attending the annual Moraga Family Camp Out, held this year on Saturday, July 15 at Rancho Laguna Park. And hot fun it was! Camp tents were erected in the shade and kids - plus no small number of toddler-toting adults - frolicked in the plentiful water features thoughtfully set up by the Town of Moraga's Parks and Recreation Department. Most popular for beating the heat was a gigantic green water slide and an almost cuddly - if it weren't so slippery - water spouting aqua-colored hippo.

To the merriment of families, there was no lack of activities to keep the campers entertained: arts and crafts tables, lawn games, and exceptionally popular rocket building and launching. The kid-made "rockets," colorful cardboard tubes with safe foam tips, hurtled through the air as children and parents alike scrambled to retrieve their precious payloads. A particularly well-launched projectile made a surprising splash landing in one of the blue kiddie pools set up on the park's main lawn, delighting kids throwing water sponges nearby.

As chicken, hamburger and hot dog smoke wafted over the park, it became clear that it's never too hot for a good, old-fashioned family barbecue. This one was held under Rancho Laguna's towering redwoods and was followed by - what else? - a S'mores station for families to make their own version of the traditional camping delight. Before a "strictly enforced" quiet time set in at 10 p.m., families had an opportunity to stargaze through the telescopes of the Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society. Moraga's Family Camp Out is sure to be remembered by all who attended it as the most fun day (and night) of what promises to be a long, hot summer.