Tuesday, June 28, 2011 The march to merit badge glory continues

After a bit of a hassle locating a comfortable position on the very squeaky cot, awaking various times during the night, including once hearing a very light rain and remembering I had left my swimsuit and towel on the frame outside the tent, I awoke reluctantly to the voice of our scouts milling around. As I attempted to describe yesterday, we have 6 tents back off the path, three in front of those near the path and 3 additional ones across and down the path about 10 yards. David, being somewhat new to this adult role, figured that the youth would gather in their areas. However, if there is someone in camp, it is typically a leader and the leaders all have camp chairs set up around their tents making this area the natural draw – unless they are avoiding the leaders as they are either shirking some responsibility or up to some mischief. Of course, I’m sure there are other reasons such as enjoy the company of tent mates as well. Regardless, this morning they were as usual gathering near the leaders tents and enjoying jovial and some (count me in this group) would say loud conversation.

Breakfast turned out to be late as the trucks didn’t arrive so we didn’t get our food till almost 8:30. Everyone snarfed quickly and headed to their classes. It was a fairly uneventful day full of merit badges and good weather. Around 4:30 we heard a thunderclap that closed the aquatics area.

Back in camp there appear to be at least as many knives as naves, and given the number of youth in our troop I was doing some quick calculations to determine if there is enough space in our camp for the number of blood circles needed. I gave up. Unfortunately, there was a series of thefts in the camp today and a number of our scouts, along with many in other camps, were victims. We had 3-4 who had money taken from them while they were at the waterfront. It is a very sad situation. We have subsequently learned that potentially as much as $1,000 was taken from all over the camp. We have decided to pray that the individual(s) will have a softening of the heart and return the items.

The food arrived. One night each week of camp is foil dinner night. There are two options available here at beautiful camp Marriott. The first is cook – self explanatory – you pick up food and cook it up. The second option is referred to as “heater stack.” You pick up prepared food and take it back and eat. We are a heater stack group. I was a little disappointed in this my first year as a leader having cooked my years in camp, but I find heater stack the only way to go now. With the schedule of classes around here, there is just very little time for the boys to prepare and cook and clean up.

So, for this one meal a week, everyone is a cook group. Our scouts seemed to have a very difficult time understanding that if they didn’t get moving, there was not going to be any dinner. There were some difficulties getting the charcoal to light without “scout helper” juice but eventually the coals got going. Still there was no movement for preparation. This is not hard to understand to anyone who has actually ever known a boy – slicing potatoes vs playing with fire is a pretty known outcome. I encouraged them with something having an inspirational factor somewhere south of Knute Rockne’s “win one for the gipper” speech, way south…. Whether from his own intestinal fortitude or my motivational prod, Jacob Holtom was finally able to shake the grip of the fire and started on the food and Bryce helped him out. At this point the rain came down, nothing too hard, but while light also fairly steady for 15-30 minutes. It wasn’t too much later that the troop was enjoying partially burned partially raw foil dinners. Of course, one issue with foil dinners is remembering which is yours. This was complicated by the dinner puller-outer doing apparently random shifts of meals to spots he found better, or to give someone the spot they wanted, but even with this Houdini like sleight of hand, I think most ended up with the correct meal. Don’t worry, the “hamburger” patties were fully cooked – the e coli scare they had up here years ago made that a necessity. Many of the troop members enjoyed some of the secret weapon – thanks Bro. Nicholls – taking care of us even in his absence. They provided buns so I’m not sure how many potatoes were actually eaten. Some ingenious scouts were seen thawing their patties directly on someone else’s wrapped up dinner – which worked quickly and as long as you paid attention you didn’t get too much ash on it. Dessert was to be spiced apples. I saw a few apples thrown into the fire, a few consumed raw, and I saw one boy who actually cut his apple up, put in the cinnamon and sugar and wrap it up and cook it. No report on how it tasted. There was a report that his cast now had a lovely cinnamon sent from some of the spice getting into the cast.

Shortly after dinner the wilderness survival scouts including Michael and Will headed off to sleep in the woods. There has accordingly been some tent switching for tonight. Nice change of pace I suppose. Unfortunately for David, he is still stuck with me.

Brother Haseldon then lead a group of boys down to the showers. I will report that 12 of our 20 boys went to shower and of those not included about 3 were the wilderness group. That is a very high number. I’m not going to tell you who showered and who did not, but I’m pretty sure most those who didn’t also have either lifesaving or swimming so at least they are getting a rinse each day…

Flag ceremony was beautiful as the twilight fell across the lake and the fireflies added to the ambiance. While the bugler plaid taps and the flag was slowly lowered while the entire camp stood in hushed silent salutes, I was grateful for a program where respect for this symbol of the country is part of the program, thankful for those who have and do serve our country, and appreciative of a group where my boys are being taught that respect as well.

Acting scoutmaster Bro. Haseldon then led us in devotional and another beautiful day at beautiful camp Marriott came to a close.

Overheard at rifle range:
1st boy “Oh man, I’m sorry. It looks like I was shooting at your target.”

2nd boy “That’s ok, I did that my first time too.”