Scout Camp 2015 - Day 3

Today can best be described with one word, "SOGGY". From the point we woke up, till around 2pm, it just poured and blew! Added to that it was like 60 degrees so we were all pretty cold this morning. Due to the fact that we could hardly get dry and warm, there are only a few pictures from today's activities.

The boys still had swimming in the rain and didn't seem too bothered by the deluge.

The boys did everything in the storm, rifle shooting, archery, CPR for kayaking. The storm broke a little after lunch, but free swim and snorkeling were cancelled so Taner and Porter tried to find some merit badges they could work on in doors so the decided to work on chess.

At dinner time, we had the Sanderson and elmer families join us at camp and hopefully we didn't look too pathetic. The boys were excited to show their families the camp, especially the Gaga pit which was a big hit with the kids because of all the mud!

As the families were leaving, the rain began to fall again and continued for the rest of the night, but we had fun under the shelter playing Moya that we taught to the other troops. 

Scout Camp 2015 - Day 2

Today we woke up and the world was wet! It came down really hard last night so the boys were consigned to sleeping in the scary canvas tents that were probably the same tents Lord Baden Powell camped in as a boy over 100 years ago. Things we learned last night: racoons really like starburst and lifesaver mints ( sorry Porter!) and Taner likes to sleepwalk ( again, sorry Porter!!)  after breakfast, we said goodbye to Bro. Kuehnl and hello to Bro. Aaron Nelson. Today was about as muggy as Satan's armpit on the 4th of July and equally hot to boot, but that didn't stop these boys from living it up. After their group swimming class, Henry split to his archery class where he found that being Katniss Everdeen is much harder than it looks, but he had great form and at least hit the Hay bale which is more than we can say for some of the other scouts.

Taner and Porter headed right next doo to the trifle range were they actually got to shoot .22 caliber rifles. They had to hit all 5 shots within the size of a quarter. Neither of them did it, but they sure had fun trying. 

Once they finished, Henry and Porter booked it down "Cardiac Hill", over the covered bridge and past the waterfalls down to the lake for for Kayaking. They each got a paddle and a kayak and were set loose to terrorize the high seas of Lake PeeWee!

On the way back up Cardiac Hill, Porter found his name carved into a rock from 1886.

Ar lunch we introduced Bro. Nelson to camp food, and the unlimited salad bar, which is my personal favorite.

Post lunch activities included, more swimming at the pool, snorkeling, sweating, and watching The new SpongeBob movie under the stars. Off to bed now, hope it stays dry tonight!

Scout Camp 2015 - Day 1

4:45 am Bright eyed and bushy tailed!

After meeting up at bro. Elmer's house at 4:45 Amanda eating too many donuts, we left for camp Falling Rock in Newark Ohio. Upon arriving, we dropped off our gear in camp and headed to the pool to do swim checks. After we got the boys swim tested, we headed back to camp to get ready for breakfast and flag ceremony. When we got back to camp, there were donut wrappers and candy wrappers everywhere! The rascally raccoons had raided our camp in the twenty minutes that we'd been gone! Dang Vermin!

After we cleaned up the mess, we headed to the mess hall where we lined up for breakfast. It was then that Henry informed me that he didn't feel well so we took him outside for some fresh air where he promptly threw up. He said it was from eating too many donuts and that he was already feeling better. He decided to join the rest of the troop for breakfast and has since sworn off on donuts.

After breakfast, the boys all headed off to a morning of swimming, rifle shooting, archery and kayaking. The first day was a lot of the book learning so they were a little bummed that they didn't get wet, or get to make things go boom, but they were still excited.

After lunch, Porter and Taner spent more time in the pool working on snorkeling and swim instructions. Henry headed to the nature center and began plugging away at environmental science. Porter joined him not long thereafter and they went to make their habitat observations down by the beautiful waterfall here at camp.

Numerous times throughout the day, you would find Taner and Porter at the GaGa Pit, which is a weird dodgeball-esque game that the boys all love. I think, in fact Taner was too good at the games as boys were always challenging him for dominance on the court.

It has been super warm and muggy here at camp, not to mention the sporadic rain showers that pop up to keep us nice and moist. Last night it came down so hard, we had two mini rivers running through the campsite. All in all, the first day was a success and a special shout out to Bro. Kuehnl for spending a fun day and a very soggy night at camp with us today!

11yr old overnighter day 2

Sous-chefAll the boys slept in this morning, except maybe Henry who got pancake breakfast ready with Bro. Nielsen. I told the boys they are reLly going to regret becoming 12 year old scouts because I don't cook nearly as good as Bro. Nielsen.they had pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, SunnyD, bananas, basically The Works! Once breakfast was done, we played fruit basket until it was time to go home. Overall, it was a fun, soggy, well-fed campout. Can't wait for the next one.

Sous-chef Henry

The Soggy- Bottom Boys

Troop 349 11-yr old overnighter

Well tonight we got together at brother Nielsen's house for an over night camp out, and let me tell you, Bro. Nielsen knows how to camp! He had hot dogs and Doritos and gatorades all ready for dinner when we got there, followed by s'mores around the campfire. The boys tried getting a fire started using flint and steel, but due to the fine Irish drizzle, we had to cheat a little, but we got it really going with some napkins. After dinner and s'mores, the boys worked on knot tying skills and after promising not to tie up their siblings, we taught them the double half-hitch and the taut-line. We will have to save the monkey fist for another camp out. After spending a good long while telling mediocre jokes around the dying fire, we sent them off to their tent, from which is emanating all sorts of adolescent bodily noises, followed by long fits of giggles and numerous requests from scout masters to keep it down. Hopefully they fall asleep soon.................

Guess who's excited to spend the night in the tent!

Trying to get the fire started with flint and steel without much success.

Finally got it going and enjoying the mallows now.

Over-under-over-under pull.

Let's get this fire going boys.

Is it technically a camp out if you're having this much fun?

Bro.Nielsen teaching fire safety.

Day 5 - Afternoon

Everyone has been trying to squeeze in as many last minute requirements as possible while still saving room for some of the more fun activities. Morgan, Dan, and Kurt all decided to get the Chess MB after lunch while I think Nick was finishing up leather. Sean and Lee Ninde had entered th tomahawk throwing competition, so I decided to head down to High Adventure to watch them represent troop 349. Sean ended up medaling in the youth category, and since he adult category was pretty much just Lee, I entered to give him someone to compete against. The boys have had a blast, bu I think they are ready to come home and rejoin the land of the showering (plus there's a stake dance on Saturday night). We pack up tomorrow morning and head home after flag ceremony at 9. We should be home around 10:30 or 11 and I'll drop them off. I am already getting excited for next yar when we will have Henry Sanderson, William Bird, Porter Elmer, Tanner Diehl along for the ride, they are going to love it. See you when we get home tomorrow!

Morgan out-witting his chess opponent.

Sean out-throwing his tomahawk opponent.

Me out-posing my opponent.

Day 5 - Morning

As I was sitting here thinking of what I would share with you this morning about camp, a scoutmaster walked up to me and said, "I just want you to know tha you got a sharp group of boys. I was helping out with the Citizenship in the community merit badge and Morgan is really sharp and knowledgeable. I hope he continues on and gets his eagle!" It doesn't happen frequently enough, but he recognized what you already know, that, these are some fine young men! With your help and support, I will do everything I can to help them become the men that we all know that they can be. Now, on to the pictures...

Playing patio soccer after breakfast wjhile waiting for stations to open.

Morgan working on his Game Design merit badge.

Nick working on the leather working merit badge.

I guess Ben has been coming to the handicraft area for a while now. Where's the '14 Ben?