AP Encampment Day 4 - End of Droughts

Day 4 – The end of droughts

So this morning 300 of us headed to Ace Lake – on Blue ACE buses which were probably being used by school districts when I was in elementary school.  We were following a group of 300 which had gone ahead of us by an hour.  In case you can’t tell by the pictures there were a number of inflatables in the lake including “icebergs”, slides, etc.  There was also a lily pad run.  They had a water slide and a zip line into the water.  They also had a blob – one person sits on the end and the other jumps onto it and sends the other person high in the air.  We arrived and there were no lockers so all our stuff sat on a table.  We then went down to the dock to get a PDF snugly put on.  I was somewhat concerned that I might pass out from not being able to breathe when I went into the lake.

There were 600 scouts in there. The dichotomy between swimming at a BSA facility – with swim checks, buddy tags, buddy checks, etc. and the ACE lake was shocking really.  There were only two boats with a single lifeguard in each and one or two on the docks – seemed like the whistles never stopped as there were only supposed to be 4 on most of the items at one time and the scouts either can’t count so well or forgot….  After an hour or two the first buses left and then it wasn’t near as crowded and people who wanted to do things mostly got to do them.  It was fun.  I heard a number of comments about how it was one of the best things they had done this week.  Well done by the folks who came up with the idea and made it happen.   Thus ended the drought of fun and especially fun without any lines!

It worked out well for those advancement boys as well who had less people in camp as they were able to do some activities as well.

Of course, nothing goes without so hitch and the buses which were supposed to pick us up at 1 showed up at 2 but the boys watched the blob in action while we waited (and chanted “Big guy! Big Guy!” when a smaller person was at the front – hoping for a huge launch).  That afternoon the older boys mostly went paddle-boarding while some of us rock climbed.

That evening Bishop Lan drove up to talk with the boys.  As I have mentioned, there are a number of ways to get to the dining area.  If you come across the lower dam, there is what I call the “Joe versus the Volcano” trail.  If you have seen the movie you know I mean, if not, please don’t that will be over an hour of your life you can’t get back and I can’t recommend using it that way!  Anyway there are occasionally camp vehicles (we called them gators) that you see but not sure I ever saw a car on it and then we see Bishop driving his accord up the trail!  That was funny.  The drought of cars on the volcano trail ended as well…

The Bishop talked to us about keeping our lives properly centered like his Chinese yoyo.  That trials in life are going to come to everyone and that it is our response to those that can determine who we become.  Then he gave us ice cream – thus ended the drought of ice cream!

Just before the Bishop spoke the rain came.  We had both Bishop time and a camp devotional and   I for one didn’t want to have to walk back and forth twice that evening.  So we found a spot near the dining area we could meet.  There are lots of random large “party tents” (think wedding reception size) that they will be using at the jamboree soon.  So we picked one with tables to use.  As luck would have it, the truck to empty the port-a-potties next to the dining hall showed up part way through the Bishop’s discussion.  The wafting odors of the remnants of thousands of folks over the last 4 days was somewhat distracting.  The motor running and doing its thing wasn’t particularly conducive to our discussion either.  However, despite the issues, the boys listened and we felt the spirit.

Fortunately when the rain did come it was just a steady rain – not too heavy (i.e. all the tents stayed dry).  It helped keep down the dust and ended the rain drought we had since Monday.  Sometimes ending a drought isn’t such a good thing.

The speaker tonight was Mark Pendleton, a member of the YM General Board – he talked about when he was a deacon and a new kid moved into the ward and him ending up having to fight him and punching him hard winning and then being guided by the Holy Ghost to chase him down to apologize and how they became friends and united a dysfunctional quorum.

Always a little bitter sweet as we near the end…. But mostly sweet!

Day 3 – The longest day. Shortest blog?

We bid fond farewell to Pres. Holtom and to Bro Baker this morning.  Time off for good behavior I believe.  Bro. Evans is reading a book on addiction – says 40% of people ages 18-65 have some sort of internet addiction.  So we took the quiz.  No admitted addicts, but we are in the warning zone.  

Also turns out the average attention span of a human is now just 8 seconds.  By comparison, a goldfish is 9 seconds.  So…. This is what happens when the schedule changes and now you have little to nothing to do all morning.

Due to the lines and people being turned away after waiting for an hour or more, there was a new edict today.  Today the advancement kids got free time to go to activities and the adventure folks were to avoid those areas.  So that gave us not much to do for the morning.  I’m not sure what most of us did to be honest. 

However, this afternoon was good for the adventure guys as some got to mountain bike, bmx, canopy tour, and skateboard.  I think I also heard the advancement boys got to the rock wall.  So there was some serious high adventure this afternoon. 

After dinner tonight they held an “Appalachian Celebrachian” – there was a cook off (we did not participate) and games on the field (we did participate – and lets just say that after going down John Evans and I acted like the 2016 Cavs and stormed back for the victory).  It was pretty fun, then we went to the fireside with Brother Douglas D. Holmes – 1^st Counselor in the YM General Presidency.  He talked about going mountain biking with his son and his troop and how they learned to do hard things.  And that our boys can do hard things as well.

Tonight they announced that tomorrow the leadership group is going white water rafting.  The also announced the adventure guys are headed to a big water park at a lake for 3 hours if they want.  Alternatively they can stay here and lines will be short so they can do what they want.  So there was much rejoicing.  I'm trying to gather more pictures but others have not been too forthcoming with those.  Sorry parents - don't shoot the messenger and yell at them to provide pics and I'll post a couple

 Day 2 –

When I was a boy we would wake up and pass out trying to blow on the coals from last night’s fire to get it going.  We than sat around the fire.  This morning I see a group of young men circled around – the power box to charge their phones…..  Times they are a changing. 

So it appears that there is some training going on to get them ready for BYU where standing in line was practically a minor.  There are a lot of youth here.  There are not really enough staff here.  When those two collide it gets a little frustrating at times. 

Just a little update.  It is hard for me to keep track of folks because we have 33 youth and they are split into three groups – advancement (they work on merit badges 3 hours a day and high adventure the rest), adventure – they are doing high adventure all day, and leadership (and I’m not sure what they do all day but I did see them sitting in a large tent today).  Given the size of our group and the age differences we haven’t really done much as a troop.  Ok not much – anything.  At Goshen I could at least wander around the camp and get some pics.  But it is so far to walk around here that I’m just too lazy to walk the extra mile (or ten) to get pictures – especially when I’m not sure I even know where they are.  So, my apologies.

I can tell you that there are variations of three ways to get from camp to meals – they are 1.46 miles, 1.24 miles, and 1.07 miles each way.   You can probably guess which way we take now….  It is about 1.9 miles to the “adventure zone” area where many of the activities are at.   Most in camp walked between 15 and 20 miles today.  There are a number of scouts with some blister problems.  The paths are dirt and gravel paths and I know in my tennis shoes I can feel those big rocks sometimes.  (Cue Mulan – “mister I’ll make a man out of you” soundtrack)

Some in the adventure group did mountain biking and the big zip today.   The showers are wet and in good condition, but they are also “ambient” temperature.  I wasn’t sure what that meant but as near as I can tell it means “just warm enough to keep from freezing in the pipes.  Boys and leaders embrace the concept with varying degrees of enthusiasm. 

The speaker this evening was the world record box jumper.  He told an amazing story of how his life has not gone as he planned and how he has dealt with the hand he was dealt.  Pain from an accident when he was 9, broke his knee at 18, cracked his neck and head while on his mission and was paralyzed for a time.  And now he can jump higher than anyone – 105% of his height.  He even did some jumps for us.

So far no major injuries.  No major melt downs.  We did have one scout lean out of his tent and barf – *careful* stepping into that tent… but at least he made it that far!

AP Encampment - day 1

Day One: Summit Sum it up – not much to see yet     

    

So we are once again heading into the wood. But in all my years doing this we have an unprecedented trip this year – all 3 quorums are heading out to the same camp – Bechtel Summit Reserve for an Aaronic Priesthood Encampment.  There are over 30 stakes worth of YM here this week – about 3,000 if my memory serves me correctly.  That is a lot – but in a few weeks for national jamboree they will have 10 times that many!  Good luck with that….

So we met that the leisurely time of 7:30am to head out.  We took the obligatory picture – we were missing at least 2 folks from the picture but think we managed to get most of the 33 YM who are accompanying us. 

We are one of the first cars to leave the lot.  I have my two sons and Logan, Hunter and Robert.  Before we reach Leesburg Evans pass us.  Before Round Hill two black pickups fly by at speeds that I assure the YM in my car simply can’t be reached with 6 us in the van (only one of them drives yet, so it went unquestioned).  The trip is generally uneventful as long as we can keep one from yelling too loudly (inside voices please).  As we pass the “West Virginia” sign we play “Country Roads” and I’m pretty sure most of them sang.  Just before we get to the restaurant (using that a little loosely as we are talking chick fil et there is a down pour!  Wipers are on high and we are moving at city speeds and you can barely make anything out.  Sure glad my gear is inside…  Fortunately the tarps over the trucks worked fairly well – depending on your perspective.  Some of your YM who slept on soggy pillows may have a different take on it!

We are passed by one or two more cars on our way down and so I figure we will be one of the last into Chick fli et but what I failed to realize is that by having a full tank of gas and not offering to stop for a potty break we manage to arrive ahead of most of the others who did not. 

We arrive in camp.  We are happily surprised as President Holtom is there to help us get checked in.  We each get a map, two patches and a shirt I believe was designed with the thought that if it was unattractive enough, then no one will be tempted to steal it.  Mission accomplished. 

When we were here 3 years ago we arrived, parked at C camp (very close to dinner and activities), tents were up and we simply moved in.  This year - not so fast my friends.  This year we are in the serve yourself camp – we have to stand in line to get tents we set up in the soggy grass.  These tents are not the big nice tents we had last time either.  They are nice, but a step down.  Then we put up our cots and the dining flys and tables.  Our camp is up on top of a ridge and from here you can nearly see where meals are provided without binoculars– it is about a 20 minute walk if you are walking pretty fast.  Reports are that fit bits all over camp are confused by the sudden new exercise regiments of some in our troop!  We now wonder why President Holtom didn’t manage to get us a little closer in….

We are told activities are open – but truth is that there are just a few open and little indication of which are and so some folks get in some high adventure and some return less pleased, except for their step counts which are ecstatic!

Fireside that nigh is sort of long – there are two speakers who do a fine job but after nearly an hour of that most of the boys are getting short on attention.  When the staff then starts skits the Priests bail almost instantaneously, while the rest of us endure a bit longer but not to the end.   We then enjoy the 1.4 mile walk back to camp. 

That is all for today.  Hopefully more adventure tomorrow!  Did I mention that Deacons are really young… I had forgotten.  Sorry I don't have more pics.  With so many different groups and everyone picking what they want to do, it is tough.  Fortunately, we have a number of leaders taking pics and hope to have a dropbox or similar where you can go look for them!