campermom

Similar to a Jamboree, this past weekend was a camp out for We-be-lo scouts. The older Cub Scouts, who will be transitioning into Boy Scouts were invited to attend this event in Hunt TX. We arrived well after dark. The first night was chaos. At check in, they couldn't find our pack's registration information. It was listed under the wrong district. We were given a campsite assignment and directions. Those directions included going the wrong way on a narrow, ranch road within the park. People had parked their cars on the trail to unload, but weren't very quick to move their cars. We overshot the campsite and had to turn around. The adults were grumpy at this point, but the kids were to excited. What we all needed was a good night sleep. Well, be prepared is the motto, and I was. I had longjohns, wool socks and a 20 degree sleeping bag, but I was still cold. I loaned my 40 degree bags and the other 20 to another family. I must have slept 3 hours. 615 we got up to have the kids start breakfast. We had them do all the cooking and dishwashing. They fought over who would get the hot water tub. No one wanted the cold water rinse tub, wonder why? It must have been 42 out that night.

The events included an opening flag ceremony, and then rope making, rope bridge, rope tying, puzzles, team work events, obstacle course and more. We did all that until lunch. After lunch the adults napped and visited. The kids played. We had our own campfire safety lesson with fire making skills. A pack from Floresville was in the same campsite as us and we invited them to join our fire program. Lights out came quickly. I did get to see three shooting stars around 3 am when I got up to water the plants.

A few families had to leave before breakfast. I was excited that the adults would get sausage that morning. The kids ate it all Saturday. We broke camp, checked out and said our good byes. I'll try to get the pictures up Friday.

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Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

ploddinTod

Campermom, Thank you for all that you do for our kids. One day they will look back and see that this was the beginning of their becoming an "outdoors" kid.

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PloddinTod

Kelly_B

You are too cool of a mom for all that you do for your son!!!

With Boy Scouts do the parents participate in the activities or is it mainly the troop leaders directing?

I can't wait to start taking my Brownies camping. But my co-leader & I are dreading the 3 day course we have to take to get registered before we take them camping. It's not like when I was in Brownies & we just went.

campermom

First of all, thanks for the kudos, but I must confess, I don't do it for the kids, well, not just for them, I can't stand staying in all the time. There is something about being in a place, really "BEING" there, outdoors that makes you feel grounded. Like when you are chillin' in the river, laying on a float with your head on the rocks so you don't float away, and you just fall asleep. Or when you get up in the middle of the night and it looks like the stars were plugged in extra bright, or you even see that shooting star that God gave only you.

In Cub Scouts, the parents have to attend. No scout can attend an overnight alone. We keep the parents involved from the very beginning. The parents have to enjoy the group just as much as the kids. If they don't, they won't be bringing Johnny anymore. When they become Boyscouts, half way thru 5th grade, they won't need their parent with them. All leaders attend various training from the basic Youth Protection certification which is done on line to Outdoor leader training ( I did that one a few weeks ago, it was an overnight Fri 7pm-Sat 7pm.) Den leaders and parents can do day trips anywhere, as long as there is 2 deep leadership at all times ( you can't be alone with anyone's kid). We have done family camping trips with our den and that is allowed. We make reservations for a state park and everyone just meets there. That way we can have entire families. More scouts can usually go when mom and dad don't need to figure out what to do with the younger sister for the weekend.

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

campermom

den 4 police station in office.jpg

den 4 police station in car.jpg

den 4 police station.jpg

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

Troop198

Nice report, we have "webelo woods" for the boys and usually have a model campsite demo from the boys telling what a site should have. It is a recruiting tool for us. Last one had 3 inches of rain and of course most boys just got wet. Figure they will learn to pack some day

Campermom I know you liked Colorado but you have to try glacier, no words describe it

campermom

Glacier is on my list, along with GC, Zion, Bryce, Grand T, Yellow, Denali, Dry Tortuga, Yosimite, and Assateague ( what little horse loving girl doesn't want to see Misty?

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

Troop198

"Glacier is on my list, along with GC, Zion, Bryce, Grand T, Yellow, Denali, Dry Tortuga, Yosimite, and Assateague"

Lets see been to Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Denali, and Yosemite and Got close to Tortuga at the Everglades

Yup you got some to hit ! Should I add Great Smokey Mountains and maybe Rushmore to that list, both worth the time. IMHO

Strange no death valley on this list

campermom

I don't need to visit Death Valley, I live in San Antonio TX. Do you know what August is like here?

Here are the pictures from the Wee-bo-ree ( and the school bike rodeo, with my scouts and a few others)

Wee-bo-ree & Bike Rodeo

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

campermom

Oh yes, Great SMokies sounded beautiful. But with all the rain they get, I'm not tent camping there. There aren't enough ziploc bags and tarps to make me interested in that.

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

Kelly_B

I'm jealous your tents were on top of wood slabs! Great way to keep rain water away from the tent!!!

campermom

Both of the scout camps in our district have those tent "Decks". I was tempted to move my tent to the ground, pull out the air mattress, and take a napp in the sunshine. You don't have to worry about the rocks underneath. They are nice for unlevel group. The big advantage is that they keep campers on developed spots, not spread out flattening more vegetation. Leave it to scouters to think Leave no Trace.

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.

Troop198

Do note Tent decks can attract all sorts of critters to live under them from ants, to snakes to skunks and without a good pad not sure sleeping on the ground is not better. For our scout camps they have enought room for a cot
but we only allow that for summer camp because too many cots are hard to transport.