Although Preschool Bug Camp and Secret Agent Cousin Camp were both a huge success, for our third Camp CeCe we needed a venue that would appeal to everyone from our youngest camper (five years old) to our oldest (eight).
So, we made arrangements for Cousin Camp at Jellystone Park!
Cousin Camp at Jellystone Park
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park is in Pelahatchie, Mississippi. With large cabins on the lake, a huge pool complete with slides and a splash pad, and organized activities onsite, we felt we couldn’t go wrong choosing it as our venue for Cousin Camp.
We couldn’t have been more right.
When our five (potty-trained) grandchildren arrived at Jellystone, their eyes were as big as saucers. It felt like a real camping venue, and they were so excited.
The campgrounds cover a huge area, so we rented a limo golf cart that accommodated our entire party comfortably.
From the start, our grandsons were enamored with an old military tank on permanent display at the entrance to the camp. They never tired of climbing on the tank and imagining war stories that may have taken place on its decks.
Our cabin had two separate bedrooms and a loft, so the adults claimed the bedrooms and all the cousins spread their sleeping bags in the loft.
More than camping
We began each day with the Pledge of Allegiance at the flag pole with Yogi Bear. Then we headed straight for the pool.
Cousin Camp at Jellystone Park made it easy to keep our afternoons busy. We fed ducks from our balcony, learned to tie knots (my husband was the instructor), played organized games, listened to a short Bible devotion, and shot water guns at targets.
Onsite Activities
Since Yogi on the Lake offered its own activities, we opted to participate in some of them as well. For instance, we joined the “Hey”ride (Yogi led camp songs on a flat bed truck while campers shouted “Hey!” to passersby).
On some afternoons we played mini golf at the free course on the grounds. Or the kids played on the playground. Sometimes we rode around on our golf cart and stopped for special photos.
Although we could have eaten at the cafe near the pool, we chose to prepare all our meals in our cabin. At the end of each day we lit up the fire pit outside our door and enjoyed s’mores for dessert.
One night we watched an outdoor movie on a big screen near the pool. Another night we took the kids for a golf cart ride in the dark.
Without a doubt, Cousin Camp at Jellystone Park was the perfect choice.
On our last day, we hosted our annual shoe-shopping excursion! School shoes for everyone!
