Page 14 August 2013 Camp Loomie Goomie: A grandparents’ summer gift By Amanda Goossen Just like all kids, Arcadia residents Mia, Jack, Peter and Ellie McLaughlin look forward to summer vacation each year. It means free time, swimming and a variety of adventures with friends and cousins. It also means Camp Loomie Goomie. Maybe the best camp in all of Phoenix is most defi nitely one you’ve never heard of, and one that can’t be found in fl iers and advertisements. Camp Loomie Goomie is the passion project of devoted grandparents Pete and Chris Lumianski. Each summer, this high- energy pair devotes fi ve days to their eight grandchildren, putting on a well organized and detailed summer camp, complete with the morning pledge, camp T-shirt and evening taps. Pete and Chris spent decades in the Navy, constantly moving around the country with their three daughters. Once retirement came, they settled in Phoenix, and before long each of their three daughters followed. “I call it the bungee affect,” Pete said. “The further they go, the stronger the pull is to come back.” Then 15 years ago, when their oldest grandchild Alexis was just 5, Pete had an idea to create a summer camp in the living room. “I grew up in mid-Michigan. We lived in a farmhouse and each summer my parents were literally trying to get rid of my sister and I. I went to Mystic Lake Camp in Northern Michigan, an all boys YMCA camp, three separate summers and it made quite the impression on me. I wanted my grandkids to experience the same fun.” Continued on page 15 Landscaping extends your world outdoors. Invest in your lifestyle. S U CC E S S F U L LY T R A N S F O R M I N G A N D TA K I N G C A R E O F A R I ZO N A P R O P E R T I E S F O R 1 8 YE A R S 602 200 1749 www.treelinedesigngroup.com ROC License NO 158731 Now Enrolling For 2013-14 School Year e Full and Half Day Preschool; Mon-Fri – 7am to 7pm e Before and After School Care e Infant, Toddler and Preschool Programs for Ages 0-6 S.E.E.K. Early Learning Center 1848 N. 52nd St. | Phoenix | 85008 www.SEEKEarlyLearning.org 2 Weeks FREE with Registration! To enroll or tour: 480-902-0771 480-941-8954 9:30 – 5:30 Monday – Friday • 9:30 – 5:00 Saturday • 5625 East Indian School Road, Phoenix www.oneposhplace.com Visit our Retail Showroom Also offering Award Winning Interior Design by Paige Bailey & Associates, Inc.

Page 15 August 2013 With Alexis, Camp Loomie Goomie was born. The name came from Pete’s nickname “Loomie” by friends (from his last name Lumianski) and a play-on-words. The first time, Alexis spent the night in a tent in her grandparent’s living room; they took field trips to the library and did arts and crafts. Four years ago, Camp Loomie Goomie was reinstated for the younger grandchildren, including the Arcadia contingent. Alexis, 20, and brother Carson, 13, are now camp counselors. Reese, 8, Riley, 8, and the grandkids from Arcadia, Mia 9, Jack, 7, Peter, 6, and Ellie, 3, are the campers who embark on the weeklong trip. “Our house is too small for eight kids for an entire week. So we decided to travel,” Chris said. They’ve been to Flagstaff, San Diego and this year Tucson. This year, they piled into a 12-passenger van. The drive to Tucson would only take a few hours and the three-bedroom timeshare Continued on page 16 School bus, Schmoolbus! The 2013 Pilot * not ava i l abl e i n sc hoo l bus ye l l ow! Need a LIFT? Get back to school in style with a custom touch! Customize your vehicle with wheels, spoilers, ground effects packages, vehicle wraps and many factory accessories. Lucky kids Alexi and Ainsley get driven to school by dad PJ Arnal in a custom Pilot from Right Honda! Neil Germundson Toyota Fleet Manager NeilG@RightToyota.com 7701 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. Scottsdale AZ, 85260 480-778-2200 Contact Neil today for your friendly neighborhood discount! 7875 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. Scottsdale AZ, 85260 480-778-2440 Craig Thorpe Honda Fleet Manager CThorpe@RightHonda.com Contact Craig today for your friendly neighborhood discount! eclectic uniqu vintage F A S H I O N A B L E P H I L A N T H R O P Y Thank you for supporting Ozzie’s Furnishings as we celebrate our 6th anniversary serving the community! All of your donations and purchases support St. Vincent de Paul’s services for the homeless and working-poor in Arizona. TREASURED 3927 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix AZ, 85018 | Open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm Camp Continued from page 14 Camp Loomie Goomie campers end the week with a smile.