campermom

This past weekend we had our cub scout den and families attend a family camp out. 3 families camp regularly, the other 3 do not. The campers arrived before sunset Friday night and made camp. After breakfast the others arrived. They had plenty of help putting their tents up.

We started the day exploring the river. They hiked and crawled over the rocks but stopped and stayed at the spring. There is just something captivating about water and sand. After most of the boys "slipped" in the water getting their only pair of shoes wet, everyone removed their shoes, rolled up their jeans and started digging. Even the parents. It was really nice to step back and observe the families working together on their section of the "dam/culvert". The young siblings were making snow angels in the sand. We played there for 2 hours.

Lunchtime, back at the campsite, a spread of bread, sandwich fixins, chips, drinks, and a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup was laid out. With their tanks refilled, the boys were ready for more fun. We had planned on fishing. Most of the boys wanted to fish, only 2 parents wanted to fish. There is no way I'm going to take the 6 and their 4 siblings down there with only 1 other adult. I get tired of untangling my son's line, now I'd have 9 more. So, the boys ran around and played in the trees near the site. Even the introverted, gameboy playing kids were picking cactus fruit to make "supper". Good thing I brought the tweezers. I just had to leave them out by the stove.

We took a drive over to the bird blind. A few other people were there when we swarmed the place. A volunteer was there, desperately trying to keep us quiet. He soon gave up and just got back to pointing out the different birds. In the blind was a picnic table. Once the boys calmed down and observed a while, they gathered around the table to list the birds they knew by sight. Then they listed the ones they could identify from a picture or memory. I gave them hints, like, it is white and lives at the beach, it is black and eats dead animals, or it can see well in the dark and says whoooooooooo. I brought bird feeder kits for them to make but we never got around to it. They can make them at home. When kids are playing nice together for hours on end, you just don't mess with that. Supper was prepared by the third of the camper families, steak, hamburgers, chicken fajitas, rice, beans, and cobbler.

After dinner was campfire time. The kids were so tired, most ate a s'more and went to bed. I was in charge of breakfast. Even with the time change, it was to early. The boy in the tent next to us talks in his sleep, another of the young 'uns cried a few times during the night, and my air mattress went flat. We all had a leisurely morning. The non-campers asked me "Do you do this for fun?" Well yes I do. It usually is not this much work. It is usually me and my kiddo, so the food part is much easier than being in charge of breakfast for 18 people for 2 days, and be the activity coordinator. I will say that my friend, the other campermom, was a great help. She was in charge of the lunch. We ended up helping each other for both meals. When supper rolled around, camper #3 asked us for help. We looked at each other and said, "we need more ice, we'll go to town to get more." I will need to be more assertive when informing the non-campers of their duties for the next trip. This is not club med.

I know everyone had a good time because the kids didn't want to go home and the parents asked when are we going to plan the next trip. Last year we did a den camp out in the fall and pack camp out in the spring. Looks like we'll need to add to the calendar. They have requested Inks, they have cabins.

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ploddinTod

Nice trip report, Campermom.
By all means, get the newbies involved more next time. At the very least they can put together sandwich fixins' for lunch.
Sounds like everyone had a good time.

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PloddinTod

campermom

You're right about them helping more. However; the non-campers had more kids, little ones. Maybe that's why they aren't campers, yet. They were more than busy already. It might have been easier to have the little ones stay home with grandma, but then it wouldn't have been a family camp out. Now I know for next time who will be setting the table and doing dishes!

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srds

Thats how it is with my daughters scout outings,you never know who is going to really be there to help.They even come to stay one day ,then leave at dark.The den mother has even had 1 parent who wanted to leave a little brother to camp with his sis.Maybe at Inks ,with the cabins, you will get a few to stay and help.I just want my dd to have a good time and learn.We added 2 groups together hopefully this will help.

srds
Have Fun

P.S.
sounds like a good trip

riverrat

Sounds like in spite of a few quirks, y'all had a great camp out! Reminds me of my days Girl Scout camping...one suggestion on the work details...ahead of time draw names for "patrols" and then assign the patrols' their duties for the camp out. It always worked for us. We called them "kaper charts" but you can call them whatever. Patrols do best with 4-6 members with a different adult assigned to oversee each meal. Basically the kids did all the work with adult guidance. I know with boys it will be different but it can work if you're consistent. Job duties could include wood gatherer, fire builders/starters, meal prep and clean up, grounds keeper (this can be done daily but especially done at the very end of camp out so you leave things cleaner that before).

Stop me now before I sign up for camp leader again!! I miss those days but not sure if I really want to do them again!

srds

We use a system like that also,but our last trip to GRSP was 27 girls 4 adults,then next 2 days only 3 adults with 4 more add on girls.We worked thru it,but it was work.I think we are just a day care center now.This year is not looking good,on the list for helping only 2 parents have signed on.

srds
Have Fun

almitra

Great story! I too am a den leader of scouts (cubscouts) and I love camping. Kinda busy with Pinewood Derby time now, but we are camping at Caddo Lake SP next month. Maybe I'll have a story or two of my own then...LOL!

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deafdave3

Did ya'll go down to the river(bed)? One thing about Pedernales that always gets me nervous, but I'm a nervous person by nature, I'm always afraid I'm gonna be in that dry creek bed with my three kids when that water comes rushing in.



David

Shannon

We always go down into the river gorge (there are waterfalls a short hike in that aren't visible from the overlook; they are most impressive after recent rains, once the likelihood of a flash flood is over.)

They have sirens in the park that will sound in the even of a flash flood, and if you pay attention to the weather at the park and upstream you have nothing to worry about. The water has to come from somewhere!

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