Returning to the same site from last year, Campsite F, or F Downtown... actually, we're thinking of adopting the site and renaming it Campsite T (for Tortuga) but we haven't totally sold ourselves on that either. Basically, the site is part of the larger Campsite F (where we were for years, but as times and attendance changes, we are forced to give up or space to other, larger troops... but we don't mind) though because of the upswing in camper participation at Camp Turrell, the idea has been thrown out there to turn this little piece of the larger into its own site.
Frankly, we're thinking of just making it another campsite, and asking for forgiveness later... but I digress...
At any rate we found ourselves in our same site as last year, smack dab in the middle of camp - which is right where we want to be. Close enough to all the merit badge classes, but hidden from the general public paths. Basically, we want staff to know we are there, but not know where we are... which has been pretty easy when staff doesn't venture far from their assigned work areas.
We were a small tribe this year, 5 Scouts and 2 adults, but what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in hard work and studying. We built our annual monkey bridge, but also we:
a.) between 5 Scouts earned over 30 merit badges
b.) had one rank advancement from Tenderfoot to Second Class
c.) celebrated not one, but TWO birthdays
d.) combined with another small troop (3) came in second place in the Water Carnival!
Wednesday found us being visited by Crew 100, who assisted another Scoutmaster in opening the Orange Trail within camp. This trail, while not "abandoned" per se, had not been maintained in quite sometime - perhaps as long as 10 years. We are now proud to say that the trail is open, and work on continuing the nature trail stations is in the planning stages. Hopefully sometime over the winter, the station will be put up and a guide will be developed for the whole trail.
...and this was all accomplished despite the weather. Yes, Mother Nature was quite erratic during the week, ranging from cool in the morning, to windy, to humidity levels the equal Ecuador, to a small "hurricane" to just plain H O T. The kind of humidity and hotness that just drains the energy right out of you - well, maybe everyone except Danny. He had energy right up until he got in the car on Saturday morning.
I have to say, that as a Scoutmaster I am really proud of our Scouts. They not only accomplished all of the above (and special props to the crew for their work on the trails) but the also worked together and played together without any issues. There was no arguing, bickering, attitude or rudeness to each other or other scouts and staff. Yes, they need some motivation now and again, but I never had to be on top of them 24/7. They learned and understood what had to be done, what needed to get done, and when it was time to play, and when it was time to work. There were no major injuries, no homesickness, and no fights.
While my job is never a walk in the park (in fact, its like having a part-time job) having well-behaved, and a unified troop does make it a whole lot easier. Thanks guys!
I wish I could say more about the week, but its a lot of scouts going to and from merit badge classes, and my assistant and I making sure that everything is in order - and what we are going to do, not do, or change for next year. It is surprisingly the easiest camping trip of our entire year!
Summer camp is for scouts - not adults :)
Pictures can be found here.
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