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BROWNS SUMMIT -- Memaw. Nannie. Gran Gran. Grandmother.

No matter what you call her, she's your mom away from home.

She hugs you after a bee sting. She tells you to eat your vegetables. And lets you sit on her lap for as long as you want.

When you're a kid, there are two things you do every summer: go to camp and visit the grandparents. For two days this summer, some kids got to combine the two.

Earlier this month, Haw River State Park hosted its first overnight Grandcamp for grandparents and their grandchildren.

They left their laptops and iPods at home. Armed with sunscreen and bug spray, they headed for the great outdoors. They roasted hot dogs and melted s'mores over a camp fire. They paddled canoes across a lake and tried to spot some birds along a nature trail.

Kennon Later, 8, and her grandmother, Maura McGinn, were among the families attending the camp. Although they weren't at camp long enough to send letters home, we asked what they would tell their families about their experience.

Here's what they had to say:

Day One

Dear Mom, Dad, Zelda (a dog), the chicks, Funny (a cat), and Flame (a fish),

I'm having so much fun.

Yesterday we made cool stepping stones, and we got to mix our own cement. That was really, really lucky.

And we were in the courtyard, and three people got stung by bees.

We did an awesome scavenger hunt. We had a tasty treat after the scavenger hunt. They were cookies.

We split up into two groups and played some really fun games. Every family group had an animal (whose sound they had to mimic), and they had to find each other blindfolded, making that noise.

We had a hot dog roast. It was really yummy. One person's hot dog caught on fire. Mine was cold.

We have motel rooms. They have big bathrooms, two beds and a desk. Nannie's in the single bed, and I have the awesome double.

We're going canoeing and fishing. I hope my fish is bigger than Nannie's fish. We're having s'mores (later). I like s'mores.

I love my Nannie. This is the best camp ever. Ever. Ever. Ever.

Kennon

Day two

We did a Bird-a-thon, but we saw no birds.

We went fishing, and I caught four fish, but Nannie caught zero. And we canoed with one of my friends.

We made our own paintbrushes, and we painted with them and made really cool things. We watched the end of a Panda adventure movie, which was really cute. And I got to see one of my friend's cabin, and they got to see our motel.

We went swimming, and we attacked one of the counselors. In a nice way, but we jumped on her and stuff. We did skits. Me and some of my friends did a little play. We could have worked in a family group, but we didn't. Me and Nannie couldn't agree on anything, I wanted to do gymnastics, but she didn't. So we got together with another group and did a play.

We had a camp fire, and we roasted marshmallows, and then we made s'mores. Then we played freeze tag.

We drew spirit animals, like what our grandmother or grandfather would be if they were an animal. Mine was a horse because she's friendly, and cooperative, and she's a traveler. It was really fun.

I do want to go back next year -- in a cabin! They're big and fun. It's got four bunk beds and eight actual beds, and I want to sleep on the top bunk.

Kennon

Day One

Dear Mary B. and Stephen,

We are having a blast. We have made T-shirts for each other and played games. The scavenger hunt was a hit because there was a tasty treat as the end prize, which you know Kennon and I loved.

The planned activities have been great, as well as the free time. During free time, Kennon and I went on a trail to the chapel. We had the best time going under all the cobwebs and walking on the path made of tree stumps.

The food is great. Kennon has loved the bug juice (Kool Aid). I am sticking to water.

Can't wait for you to see the stepping stones with the shells she brought and the marbles and sea glass. They might be too pretty to step on.

We're headed off to a Bird-a-thon this morning. Can't wait to find out what that is, and we are looking forward to going fishing and seeing who catches the biggest fish.

This time has been so special for the two of us.

I knew Kennon was having fun, when last night before going to sleep, she asked if we can come back next year.

It's been fun meeting other grandparents. One (grandmother) has even come as far as New Mexico. This is just precious time without TV, a computer and iPods. It's just so much fun to be at camp with nature. We, as grandparents, appreciate it.

It's also fun to be at camp and seeing the world through an 8-year-old's eyes.

Maura

Days two and three

Dear Mary B and Stephen,

We have managed to have just as much fun today as we did yesterday. I didn't think it was possible.

Kennon and I have gone from the Bird-a-thon to canoeing. Nobody saw any birds, but we still had fun.

Kennon and I and one of her friends went canoeing and saw turtles sunning themselves on branches. It was a success because we got back on land and no one fell in the water.

After lunch we had free time. Kennon had a great time in the pool. She and her buddies had fun with one of the counselors.

Then it was time for Kids Club, which means the kids watched a movie and grandparents had their free time. Some grandparents chose to rest, and some went on trails. I chose to rest my eyes because the next activity was to fish.

The counselors put the worms on the hooks, and I took the slimy moss off her line. Kennon caught four fish, and each time, she helped put them back in the lake. She kept score. It was Kennon four -- Nannie zero.

That night we did family skits. Each family group did presentations. Some told jokes. Two of the girls did gymnastics. There was a costume box, so some put on costumes.

Kennon and I joined with another family to do a skit. We talked about what we enjoyed about the camp and what our favorite things were. In our group, the three girls told jokes, and the boy read a poem.

There was a lot of laughter and clapping.

The staff even treated us to a skit at the end. From there, we went to a campfire and enjoyed s'mores, singing and running free.

The children had the best time just running and playing tag in the dark in a huge open space. It was such a treat to hear the squeals of laughter, of children being children.

On the last day, there was breakfast and cabin cleanup. We had a closing ceremony in the amphitheater. Each child picked an animal that represented their grandparent and explained what qualities that animal had that matched their grandparents. They also drew a picture of the animal.

Kennon picked a horse. The qualities she listed were powerful, stamina, endurance, freedom to run free, cooperative, friendly, traveler, overcomes obstacles well and foresees danger. That's how she sees me, I guess. Other children chose everything from a hummingbird to a bear.

There were lots of pictures taken and exchanging of addresses and e-mails. That's definitely something different from when I went to camp. We all -- grandparents and children -- left saying, "See you next year."

Maura

Kennon's letters are to her parents and the family pets, which include chickens.

Maura's letters are to Kennon's mom and dad.