HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRE: Back To School S'Mores Supply Drive

School started for our family today.

Summer went way too fast this year. I’m not sure if it is because my kiddos are getting older, the heat and drought, or the earlier start date.

And to be honest, I feel like I “missed” some opportunities.

So when Hershey’s offered me a chance to capture a last moment of summer with a CAMP BACK TO SCHOOL BONDFIRE – I jumped at the chance.

A chance to take a moment, for all of use to catch our breaths and get ready for the new school year while feeding our faces with one of my FAVORITE desserts – S’Mores.

In fact, each week Hershey’s CAMP BONDFIRE Facebook Page has featured two bloggers from across the country as they share their favorite tips, tricks and party ideas about sharing a S’more around the campfire. (You need to check it out because there are some CREATIVE ideas out there…)

And if you register to be the “Camper of the Week” on Hershey’s CAMP BONDFIRE Facebook Page you have the chance to win great S’mores themed prizes and a backyard fire pit.

But for my BACK TO SCHOOL BONDFIRE, I decided to take it a step further and have a Back-To-School Supply Drive and Card Shower in conjunction with our S’Mores feeding frenzy.

BACK TO SCHOOL Supply Drive & Card Shower

(I like big titles.)

We sent out an invite via Evite and asked each family to bring along an item or two from their children’s school supply list. Those items would then be donated to a local school. Once our guests arrived, we took some time and worked on homemade cards which would be sent to the teachers at the same school during the first week.

I was overcome with the generosity of the donations.

My favorite memory was watching my kid’s faces when they realized the amount of school supplies to be donated. They love shopping for their supplies and I could tell they were pleased that less fortunate kiddos would have new stuff this year too.

We all like “new” instead of a “hand-me-down”. And school supplies are no different.

Little things mean BIG things when you are trying to learn.

And after we collected the donations, we asked each person to make a card for a teacher. The cards could say “Thanks”, “Give Encouragement”, or “Have A Great First Day.”

We had some intent artists in the group.

And some that were still working on their spelling.

But all in all, they did a great job of making cards that I know the teacher’s will appreciate during their first week.

Hershey’s CAMP BONDFIRE

And now on to the FUN part – the FOOD.

We are lucky to have a fire pit in our backyard that sits on crushed gravel, because with the drought (and burn ban) this year, I don’t think we would have been able to have a fire and roast marshmallows.

Marshmallow roasting is a serious business in our family.

There is a method. A madness. A technique.

All defined by Hubs.

Hubs sure-fire technique: Turn marshmallows in quarter turns. If you start to see a smidge of smoke coming off your marshmallow – turn fast because it is ready to burn. Best placement…near, but not on top of a red hot coal. (See below)