Troop 1106 Embedded Civilian Report
Day One – July 7, 2008
Troop was to arrive at 4:00 am at Scout Master’s home. We are unfortunately running late and are worried about holding everyone up. At five minutes after 4 Jacob is the third scout there out of nine which will be going. Scoutmaster is hustling in and out of his house, looking like some of those zombies in that Michael Jackson Thriller video. Story goes that his evening flight home the night before was canceled so he had switch flights. The airline then overbooked the flight he was rescheduled for and then offered him a night at a hotel and $500 to fly back the next day. Since he is home you know the opportunity cost of scout camp for him just got quite a bit more expensive! To top it off, his plane was late and so he arrived home at 1:30 am to start packing for scout camp….in fact, his suitcase from his trip goes straight into his van to go to camp with him…
With our commander already in sleep deprivation mode before we even begin the tour it is fortunate that we have seasoned vets in the next slots. Blake C*, who has attended a myriad of camps from coast to coast is second in command and nearly the last to arrive. I guess he can lead from behind… Doug Ni*, a fellow civilian, is third in the chain. As a long time friend of the scout master’s wife’s family, there are some who question whether his position is one garnered from merit, “family” favors, or possibly even blackmail.
With everyone finally ready to head out, we take the obligatory dark of night/extremely early morning group picture (red eye included), pray, and spit into vans.
They looked for someone to take point and when then asked for a volunteer I was the only one who forgot to step backwards and so receive the dubious honor. It is my third year to head down, but after the Wayne Janzen special “longer-way-4x4-dirt-road-short-cut” last year, I haven’t actually traveled the route in a couple years. I make a special effort not to run over any long dead stinky skunks (see last year’s report). The youth in my car consisting of Jacob H*, Alan M*, and Robert H* settle into an extremely long and detailed discussion about Smash Brothers which include discussion of various characters with generous helpings of extreme boasting concerning various exaggerated skills and/or feats. I wonder how 4 a.m. start time didn’t work to keep them asleep. A half hour later I wonder how long this conversation can possibly continue and debate with myself whether if think I have enough benedryl (sleep inducing) in the back for all of them and how best to fake all of them into believing they are having allergic reactions that would require such medication. I solace myself in the fact that I’m sure the other vans have the same issue. When we stop for gas I find out that all the other cars had sleeping boys, other than Bro. Ramsey’s, which had a sleeping man not in the back but actually driving, but who managed to battle through and stay on my bumper anyway. We are getting close – I almost recognize a small creek that was a raging torrent at least 3 feet higher the last time I passed by this way….
We arrive in beautiful camp Marriot to check in and … they aren’t quite ready for us. I’m not sure, but I’m afraid this might be foreshadowing…. We are told to follow our site person, I would tell you her name, but since it was the last time I saw her in our camp I don’t remember it. She tells us we can choose from 14, 2 or 6. We inquire about “our” camp - #9 – and are told we can’t have that camp. We miss Bro Janzen, not for the first or last, but certainly our most poignant time. Boys learn the valuable lesson that it isn’t always what you know but WHO you know. The nine boys pick their tents and tent mates (Jacob & Alan, Marcus and Kevin, Matt & Jeremiah, Robert solo, Brett and Jalen) and get into swimsuits for the swim check.
It is actually surprising to me (but probably not their mothers) how quickly their tents resemble their bedrooms at home. How is that possible after just 10 minutes?
We stand in line for med check. We do swim check. Lake is cool, but not cold despite the protestations of some of the boys to the contrary. Lunches are boxed and include two sandwiches (rubbery chicken), apple sauce, chips, cookies, and two kool-aide jammers (don’t worry Moms – looks like the boys will be well fed. Worry wives – it looks like your husbands will be well fed…).
It is clear that the camp is based on military principles as all day has been a hurry up and wait. Finally, at 2, classes start and it appears that all our boys got into the classes they wanted, including Marcus and Kevin getting into motor boating.
Dinner is buffet style at the food area where we are served turkey in gravy, instant potatoes (I hope these were at least once real Idaho potatoes), green beans, and something the approximate viscosity of pig’s feet with what appears to be celery in it that I believe was intended to be stuffing. I abstain.
Evening classes run from 7- 9 most nights, but are shortened to 8:30 tonight. Flag ceremony to retire the colors and then they hike us around half the camp before arriving 10 yards from where we were previously standing at the campfire area. The fireflies in the trees in front of the lake give the impression that the trees were strung with blinking Christmas tree lights just for the occasion. The staff light the two fires, but only one fire lights. They have us sing some songs but only 1 works. The staff do some skits, but we are at scout camp, and it is just the second week, so further “refinement” will be needed on most of them before they are ready for any audience. We are happy to be able to help them practice.
After that the LDS Commissioner speaks about how scout camp is a safe place (given that fact that we are only about 5 hours into camp and I have found myself clearly inside at least a half dozen blood circles which spontaneously erupted around me when a scout decided the stick they just picked up should be whittled in some sort or fashion – typically into as sharp a point as they can make it – I have to question his assumption…) and how the gospel is a safe place (I concur), we are asked to leave the now very dark fireside to walk back through the dark woods on uneven paths to our camps without flashlights.
After arising before 4 am, not sleeping during the trip and the excitement of the first day of camp, we arrive back at camp at 10:30 and the boys are begging for bed. We pray and the boys get into their tents. Less than 10 minutes later there is not a single voice coming from single tent. If they would just do this every night….
This reporter is also headed to bed. It was a relatively uneventful day – which is a good thing. Weather was very nice and we are all settled in. I’ll try to get this update out ASAP, but given the remote location, I can’t be sure when that will be. More installments to come….
Day One – July 7, 2008
Troop was to arrive at 4:00 am at Scout Master’s home. We are unfortunately running late and are worried about holding everyone up. At five minutes after 4 Jacob is the third scout there out of nine which will be going. Scoutmaster is hustling in and out of his house, looking like some of those zombies in that Michael Jackson Thriller video. Story goes that his evening flight home the night before was canceled so he had switch flights. The airline then overbooked the flight he was rescheduled for and then offered him a night at a hotel and $500 to fly back the next day. Since he is home you know the opportunity cost of scout camp for him just got quite a bit more expensive! To top it off, his plane was late and so he arrived home at 1:30 am to start packing for scout camp….in fact, his suitcase from his trip goes straight into his van to go to camp with him…
With our commander already in sleep deprivation mode before we even begin the tour it is fortunate that we have seasoned vets in the next slots. Blake C*, who has attended a myriad of camps from coast to coast is second in command and nearly the last to arrive. I guess he can lead from behind… Doug Ni*, a fellow civilian, is third in the chain. As a long time friend of the scout master’s wife’s family, there are some who question whether his position is one garnered from merit, “family” favors, or possibly even blackmail.
With everyone finally ready to head out, we take the obligatory dark of night/extremely early morning group picture (red eye included), pray, and spit into vans.
They looked for someone to take point and when then asked for a volunteer I was the only one who forgot to step backwards and so receive the dubious honor. It is my third year to head down, but after the Wayne Janzen special “longer-way-4x4-dirt-road-short-cut” last year, I haven’t actually traveled the route in a couple years. I make a special effort not to run over any long dead stinky skunks (see last year’s report). The youth in my car consisting of Jacob H*, Alan M*, and Robert H* settle into an extremely long and detailed discussion about Smash Brothers which include discussion of various characters with generous helpings of extreme boasting concerning various exaggerated skills and/or feats. I wonder how 4 a.m. start time didn’t work to keep them asleep. A half hour later I wonder how long this conversation can possibly continue and debate with myself whether if think I have enough benedryl (sleep inducing) in the back for all of them and how best to fake all of them into believing they are having allergic reactions that would require such medication. I solace myself in the fact that I’m sure the other vans have the same issue. When we stop for gas I find out that all the other cars had sleeping boys, other than Bro. Ramsey’s, which had a sleeping man not in the back but actually driving, but who managed to battle through and stay on my bumper anyway. We are getting close – I almost recognize a small creek that was a raging torrent at least 3 feet higher the last time I passed by this way….We arrive in beautiful camp Marriot to check in and … they aren’t quite ready for us. I’m not sure, but I’m afraid this might be foreshadowing…. We are told to follow our site person, I would tell you her name, but since it was the last time I saw her in our camp I don’t remember it. She tells us we can choose from 14, 2 or 6. We inquire about “our” camp - #9 – and are told we can’t have that camp. We miss Bro Janzen, not for the first or last, but certainly our most poignant time. Boys learn the valuable lesson that it isn’t always what you know but WHO you know. The nine boys pick their tents and tent mates (Jacob & Alan, Marcus and Kevin, Matt & Jeremiah, Robert solo, Brett and Jalen) and get into swimsuits for the swim check.
It is actually surprising to me (but probably not their mothers) how quickly their tents resemble their bedrooms at home. How is that possible after just 10 minutes?We stand in line for med check. We do swim check. Lake is cool, but not cold despite the protestations of some of the boys to the contrary. Lunches are boxed and include two sandwiches (rubbery chicken), apple sauce, chips, cookies, and two kool-aide jammers (don’t worry Moms – looks like the boys will be well fed. Worry wives – it looks like your husbands will be well fed…).
It is clear that the camp is based on military principles as all day has been a hurry up and wait. Finally, at 2, classes start and it appears that all our boys got into the classes they wanted, including Marcus and Kevin getting into motor boating.Dinner is buffet style at the food area where we are served turkey in gravy, instant potatoes (I hope these were at least once real Idaho potatoes), green beans, and something the approximate viscosity of pig’s feet with what appears to be celery in it that I believe was intended to be stuffing. I abstain.
Evening classes run from 7- 9 most nights, but are shortened to 8:30 tonight. Flag ceremony to retire the colors and then they hike us around half the camp before arriving 10 yards from where we were previously standing at the campfire area. The fireflies in the trees in front of the lake give the impression that the trees were strung with blinking Christmas tree lights just for the occasion. The staff light the two fires, but only one fire lights. They have us sing some songs but only 1 works. The staff do some skits, but we are at scout camp, and it is just the second week, so further “refinement” will be needed on most of them before they are ready for any audience. We are happy to be able to help them practice.
After that the LDS Commissioner speaks about how scout camp is a safe place (given that fact that we are only about 5 hours into camp and I have found myself clearly inside at least a half dozen blood circles which spontaneously erupted around me when a scout decided the stick they just picked up should be whittled in some sort or fashion – typically into as sharp a point as they can make it – I have to question his assumption…) and how the gospel is a safe place (I concur), we are asked to leave the now very dark fireside to walk back through the dark woods on uneven paths to our camps without flashlights.
After arising before 4 am, not sleeping during the trip and the excitement of the first day of camp, we arrive back at camp at 10:30 and the boys are begging for bed. We pray and the boys get into their tents. Less than 10 minutes later there is not a single voice coming from single tent. If they would just do this every night….
This reporter is also headed to bed. It was a relatively uneventful day – which is a good thing. Weather was very nice and we are all settled in. I’ll try to get this update out ASAP, but given the remote location, I can’t be sure when that will be. More installments to come….
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