Fun Factor Exceeded

[Buggie]

I returned from summer camp this last Saturday. I'm still in recovery mode, but it is all going well. I thought I'd share a few things. 

1. There was a scout who earlier this year that had us adults concerned that he might not want to continue. He was not very interested in things and we all were concerned that he might end up dropping this year if that didn't change. Well the week before camp season started, he was talked into joining the staff. He earned BSA Lifeguard certification during the training week. When I saw him in the 2nd week of camp he was a completely different person. He had that spark of confidence in his eye. A swagger in his step. He had purpose pumping through him. I'm not worried about this scout's future anymore. 

2. While attending some aquatics training, we were holed up in the shack with the Aquatics Director. While he was walking us through the material, he stopped when one of his staff members came in. (it actually was the scout from #1 above)  Staff member grabbed a bucket, bleach, gloves, and some form of brush etc. In a hurried, but practiced hand, had everything prepped and he was gone in less than a minute.  The AqD watched him leave then stated, "Well that doesn't look too good." Then he went on teaching. He was confident in his staff to handle things. His comment though, made me laugh.

3. I really need to swim more laps. I'm out of shape for swimming. Hiking and running, no problem. But swimming is a different animal. 

4. First day (arrival day Sunday) I sweated buckets and drank buckets to keep myself hydrated. Thankfully I adjusted by Monday. No more issues. 

5. I avoided being sunburned. I avoided blisters. I didn't have any ticks. And my bug bites were few. Another ASM with me said he never went off the road etc, so he never was in danger.  He had several ticks.  (shrugs)  Luck of the draw?

6. A SM friend in another unit echoed my sentiments. "Are you having fun?" to which I replied I was having a blast. "Good. If you aren't having fun, you aren't doing it right." 

7. On the way there, a good way to stop the "are we there yet" questions is to ask the scouts to come up with great camp names. Like Camp Blister or Camp Glowing Radioactive Waters. My personal favorite, Camp Former Indian Burial Ground that's not at all Dangerous. 

8. Newboy scout was home sick. Monday night he complained about how we had to walk everywhere. He was tired of having to walk so far to get everywhere. To be fair, we were the campsite farthest from everything. Newboy scout got sick at the showers, he was so homesick. So when he came back to the campsite, I suggested we head to the health lodge. Just to be sure that everything was okay, but I had a plan too. Along the way and not far from the campsite the SM figured out what I was aiming for, he stated, "You know it's funny. You complained about how we have to walk everywhere and look at us now. We have to walk all the way to the health lodge." Newboy suddenly didn't want to go to the health lodge. He would be fine going back to the campsite. The SM and I made a bet on how long the homesickness would last.  He won. It was over by Tuesday afternoon. I was going for Wednesday morning. 

9. Field trips are fun! But please make sure that the staffers get to be the lead car and make sure they know how to get where we are going. ..... Don't ask. LOL  3rd week the staffers should have learned from their mistakes. 

10. My CPAP battery went bad mid week. Life without my CPAP is not fun. I'm still in recovery. Now I need a new battery or to update my system (had it since 2010). I was really wanting upgrade my tent this year. 

11. Adults are funny. Adults make me roll my eyes when no one is looking. Some adults need to be better at being happy campers. 

12. We have a newboy who has cerebral palsy. He's a great kid. While walking into camp they were doing a flag ceremony so all the newboys could get experience doing it. The CP scout was involved and giving some instructions on getting the flag tight. Another newboy who was with us, turned to us and said, "<name> is cool. He's going to be a great leader." I was afraid my uni buttons were going to need to be sewn back on. 

13. Had a bad scout episode, unfortunately. Repeated warnings of foul language in our troop, offended another troop with said language while visiting, some mild rebellion (didn't want to wear the same color shirt as the troop), and completed the week with extreme defiance with the attitude of "you can't make me do anything, so I'm going to stay where I am and not do anything because I don't think I need to do anything." That was a sad thing and will have to be taken up with the key 3 because it got that bad. 

14. It's fun to play with scouts. Suggesting that maybe they'd be ready to take the Sky Diving merit badge next year, if it was offered, made their eyes fall out of their heads. Also telling the Basketry folks that the underwater basket weaving requirement was coming up in a few days. Another ASM told me that I might get in trouble, if suddenly there really was a Sky Diving merit badge. What would be the fee for that? LOL

15. Some how my suggestions were taken seriously. Now I'm supposed to work on them. I can't keep my big mouth shut. *sigh*

16. SM friend (from #6) probably was punishing a few of his scouts (joke). He sent them to take the Leave No Trace training that was being held one night. The boys fell over when they found out the training was 3 hrs long. SM probably wasn't aware of that. 

[desertrat77]

Buggie, thanks for the great report.  I have just returned from camp as well.  Looks like we went to different camps but interesting that several of your observations hit home....

Three of our scouts are chomping at the bit to be on staff.  One was accepted, the other is working on the application. Another is going to apply next summer. 

Sad to say, a scout we've know for years has started down the wrong path.  His home life has always been awful.  Scouting was the one positive aspect in his life for several years.  Good heart, not an overachiever, but definitely tried hard to contribute.  However, he's about to age out and now he's acting up.  Comments, language, bullying, attitude, actions.  SM and I had several long talks with him.  He admitted his behavior was wrong but insisted he didn't have any self control.   We didn't coddle or kid him, we told him the stark reality of his situation.    "When you turn 18, this behavior will land you in jail or in a bar with a knife stuck in your gut."   (Sounds harsh but with the life he's living outside of scouting, these things could happen.)   He agreed, but kept circling back to the inevitability of bad things happening to him.  Worrisome. 

Underwater basket weaving--an actual camp activity!   At the waterfront!   I didn't sign up.  Arts/crafts were not my cup of tea as a scout.  When I strolled by I noticed everyone was soaking in the water (non-swimmer area, the heat was brutal) but their baskets rarely hit the H2O.  

As I get older, camping in high humidity is becoming more difficult.  Many hours of bright sunlight, heat, humidity, and not a wisp of a breeze.  Trees and flags drooping.  But we carry on!   I'll admit to bringing a battery operated fan for sleeping. 

I too found that my swimming ability suffered quite a bit, mostly due to lack of practice.

SPL did an outstanding job.

We had several new Scouts that had just crossed over.  For a few, this was not only their first summer camp, but their first Boy Scout camping experience.  Our SPL kept them on track.  These new Scouts got with the program immediately and did quite well. 

Lots of lost stuff.  Even the older scouts.  "Mr Desertrat, have you seen my phone/backpack/scout shirt/necklace/shoes/towel/etc."  Me:  "Sorry, I haven't, but I'll keep my eye out for it."   One scout stopped me in front of the trading post.  "Have you seen my shoe?"  He's wearing one shoe but just a sock on the other.  I gave my stock answer but thought:  how do you lose a shoe at the trading post?  At what point did he notice it was missing?  He found it eventually.

As the years march by, I understand more and more why summer camp is so important.  Not only for scouts, but scouters as well.

 

[Buggie]

The "Lots of lost stuff" made me laugh.  The SM was telling yet another scout that they needed to take better care of where their neckers were and not lose them or leave them somewhere. That they shouldn't be leaving things behind etc.  Right after that several of the scouters reminded him that he was just complaining about how he left his wood badge beads up where we had our adult meal last night. With a smile, he told us to be quiet.  lol  

Yup.  For those interested, Kerr Scout Ranch at Slippery Falls. Or as those who hate that the name changed a few years ago, they still call it, "Slip or Slippery Falls".  I find calling it by the older name is easier for everyone to recognize. And I hate long names. 

Edited June 19, 2018 by Buggie
Fixed camp name from Range to Ranch.