Frog and Turtles races
Pictured Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. are: front left to right Kylie Moates, 9, Colby Moates, 12, and Lauren Cochell, 7. Back left to right Jake Prior, 15, Lisa Cochell and Derek Moates. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
A move to Dallas has not kept Lisa Cochell and her family from their tradition of attending Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Cochell starting attending the camp in 1973. Her little brother and sister joined soon after.
She now spends her summer vacations at the camp with her son, nieces and nephews. They have been attending since 1997.
The turtle and frog races have always been a favorite highlight at the camp.
“I love watching their faces. They are all so excited. I had a little camper today, she gave her turtle to the office because we had two turtles in the same category and her turtle won second. Even though it wasn’t for our group, she was like ‘My turtle won second’ and that is the best feeling. That is why I take my vacations to do this, ” Cochell said.
The night before the races, Cochell and several of the others counselor catch frogs on the pond at Camp DaKaNi. It is an activity they have done for several years.
“My son is great at catching frogs and it is because he has been doing it since he was four years old,” she said.
The family is pictured in this 2002 Oklahoman photo. Bottom, l-r, Derek Moates, 7, and Jake Prior, 8. Top row, from left, are Colby Moates, 5, Sarah Kerr, 4, and Jared Kerr, 10. Staff photo by Jim Beckel.
Lauren Cochell, 7, poses with a frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Derek Moates, 14, poses with his bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Jake Prior, 15, poses with his bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Colby Moates poses with his bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Kylie Moates, 9, poses with a bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Camp counselor Lisa Cochell poses with a bull frog after the frog and turtle races, Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Camp DaKaNi in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Click play to see all frog racing photos and to hear audio from the race.
-Sarah Phipps
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What a great article! Lisa truly enjoys taking her kids to camp and being a camp counselor.