Spoiled Milk Grenade

More Scout Camping!  This time it’s summer camp, redux.

So I got back from mini webelos camp Tuesday night, and Wednesday morning headed straight for summer camp at S-F.  Having been through a summer camp already, I have to admit that I was looking forward to getting there this time.  Got there midday, and with the help of a couple of other adult leaders pitched a tent for myself and another late arriver.

Last year I ran myself ragged making sure that Matthew’s patrol made it everywhere they needed to.  One of the things we were blessed with this year was an abundance of adults.  We varied from 9-11 adults on site at any one time for a grand total of 17 scouts.  Since the older scouts didn’t really need much help or supervision we were able to spend our time with the first year scouts, and the second year ones too from time to time. 

Even though I didn’t run myself into the ground chasing the kids I kept busy.  The Scoutmaster delegated to me the task of helping those who wanted to get their cooking merit badge.  There were three takers, reluctantly including Matthew.  They had been given homework prior to summer camp and they had to discuss it with me when we were there.

The stew he made (yes at home, prior to going to camp) was really good, but it took him about 45 minutes to dice 6 potatoes.  He got a little OCD on making the pieces all the same size.

Three of the scouts finished what they needed.  Now that I’ve been through that once it’ll be easier next time.

Thursday night was parents’ night again.

Last year I skipped the Order of the Arrow “tap out” ceremony, as my feet were spent.  This year though, Matthew and five other boys were eligible along with me and one other adult.  Figured I ought to make it to this time.  The Order of the Arrow is the scouting national honor society.  It is for those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.  Three of the boys, not including Matthew were selected.  So was I.  I’m sort of glad Matthew didn’t get selected, he just isn’t ready yet.  He still has moments were he is decidedly unhelpful.

The second year scouts figured out that if you hang a plastic bag off the rain fly you can save food in it that the raccoons can’t get.  I noticed one day that someone had put a milk carton in the bag.  When I fished t out it was so swollen I thought it was going to burst.  I could even partially smell it through the carton.   I was going to throw it away, but one of the second years said:

Hey, what’s that?

Uh, spoiled milk.

Really?  Can I open it?  I’ve never smelled spoiled milk.

That’s fine, but do it over there…

What a perfect example of scouting.  Being somewhere outside and doing things you wouldn’t normally do.  A wonderful new experience!  He went and rounded up several other boys, and they opened it.  You would have thought someone had set off a hand grenade with the way the scatted!  Based on the look on his face the kid who opened it really, really came close to puking.  He got some on his hands too and it must have taken him 15 minutes to wash it off.

This years’ butterfly

The last night we were there I got awakened in the middle of the night with a raccoon trying to get into my duffle bag.  My duffle bag was under my cot.  It woke me up by head butting me in the back so it could get on top of my bag.  All I had to do was roll over and it ran away.

We were the last group of the summer and in the end we had to take down the entire camp site.