Tag: Summer Camp

Daily camp summaries seemed like a great idea, but once you get finished with the week and don’t get it all written down… well, time flies and it doesn’t happen. So after the first couple of days, we present…

THERESTOFTHEWEEK

Highlights include:

Hammock time — hanging out in the hammock, chilling, laughing. This is when we get to catch our breath.

Wednesday is Troop Night, and we went into Bedford to the Golden Corral. An air-conditioned restaurant was a great treat — as was the chance to pick whatever we wanted to eat (and drink) — and desserts. The family behind us was celebrating Grandma’s 94th birthday, and we joined in singing “Happy Birthday” to her, much to her joy.

Firecrafter — a council-wide camping honorary — gave our scouts something to do when we weren’t in classes or activities. The first level of Firecrafter (Camper) involves Scout skills and service — and we had helpers in camp as well as at the Firecrafter shelter. Two of the boys from 183 next door had Firecrafter programs for the final rank, and we got to enjoy them in our camp area!

The Ransburg Triathlon was Thursday night — and several of our scouts joined in! Who knew so many of our girls wanted to paddle their way through the challenge, but it was a blast!

Friday, we had camp clean-up duty and took on the Jackson shower facility — it only took about half an hour to clean the bathroom/shower rooms. Thanks to everyone doing their part, the showers were safe and clean for everyone — but we felt pretty tough for doing our cleaning job!

Camp was amazing. We finished a bunch of merit badges, got involved in camp life, and tried a bunch of new things! Troop 222 took on Ransburg and emerged proud, strong, and excited for whatever is next!

The morning at camp started at 6:15 — for most of us. Some of us were up before that, but everyone was up at 6:15 when SPL Nora got everyone up. It was smacking the tent doors and calling out “Good morning! Wake up!” that got everyone going.

Hoppers reported to the dining hall at 7 am to get everything set up. Hoppers set the table, bring the food to the tables (we eat family style). Each table seats eight, and so our troop gets TWO TABLES! (They’re not both full.) Our hoppers are waiting for us when we get sent in.

Each troop gets dismissed in turn. We start with grace, led by Chaplain Ken, and then some sort of silly song — on and on and on, until the leaders get the sign from the dining hall that the tables are ready. Then the troops are challenged to act the most like something silly. For the first couple meals, we were charming enough to get sent early…

After breakfast, the whole camp gathers at the flagpole for flag raising. Then first meal group heads back to camp to get ready for classes, that started at 9. Annie was also taking some classes, and Scoutmaster Jenny went to the Leaders’ meetings, which included camp information and some short presentations.

Nora made gift bags for each of the scouts in the troop. The bags included personalized bookmarks, flamingo necklaces, bracelets, and more. They were so great! What a thoughtful thing for her to do as an SPL! She even hand-lettered a tag for each girl, and the adults got gifts as well.

Stuart brought friends for the entry for our campsite: Jim and Francesca!

Monday was a long, hard day, and by night, we were all pretty tired. Going to bed got a little rough, but we worked through our challenges, and I took the time to read another chapter or two of Nancy Drew before bed. (There was logic to my choice: Nancy Drew books are filled with some suspense, but — spoiler alert! — there are a whole lot more books to follow, so we all know that Nancy will be fine to sleuth another day, but Nancy’s problems might serve to distract the scouts from their own fears or concerns.)

One of the biggest events for a Scouts BSA troop is going to summer camp. Everyone packed their own stuff — and we gathered to load the trailer and get on the road!

Scout camp is an amazing chance to earn merit badges, work toward rank advancement, meet other scouts, sleep at camp — all the things. But we were all nervous about it as well. First time at Ransburg Scout Reservation!

We got to camp and had a whirlwind orientation — they checked health forms, told us (very quickly) how the dining hall runs — hoppers and A meal and everything — and waterfront orientation and a quick look at the Jackson and the Trading Post and off to Bison Trace, our campsite.

Mr. M had parked the trailer, so all we had to do was check over the tents, unload everyone’s totes, move into our tents, learn about the campsite, check out the area, and OH MY GOODNESS we need to get to dinner!

We waited at the flagpoles for dinner; while we were there we met other troops who were also waiting. That was fun to start figuring out who’s there and everything. But what ho? There’s a patrol with the same patrol patch as we have!

The evening ended with an all-camp campfire. It was so fun! Everyone was there, and there was energy and excitement and all those camp counselors and all those “inside jokes” that we would understand at the end of the week (“not with that attitude”).

By the time campfire was over, it was time to head back to our campsite and head toward bed. Scoutmaster Jenny brought a book to read with high hopes of reading several chapters before lights out — distract everyone, get us tired, and, of course, get our minds off being away from home and in unfamiliar surroundings. (Spoiler alert: four chapters)

Off to bed — lights out — camp starts in the morning (and breakfast is at 7:15).