On Weldon Pond

I took Friday afternoon off, intending to leave for camp as soon as William got out of school. But between last minute errands (for some reason, we needed tangerines, bananas, cheddar pretzel twists, and ice), filling the gas tank (at $1.79 a gallon!!), and making a quick run back home and over to Walgreens in search of sunglasses (the kind that will fit over prescription glasses), we didn't pull out until around 4:30 PM - just in time for rush hour traffic, and an hour too late to pitch our tents before nightfall.

Still, we arrived late enough to be greeted by a crackling campfire and plenty of plenty of people to help set up the tents, and early enough to welcome the rest of the troop and the visiting Webelos. Turn-out was great - I think the final tally was 85+ in attendance.

It was nearly midnight before everyone gathered around the fire for a rundown on the rules: Always, always, always have a buddy (so you don't run into coyotes, wildcats, wild pigs, snakes, or other wildlife alone, in the dark, on your way to the bathroom, among other things); remember that this is private land where hunting is permitted, and it is hunting season (the neighbors had been told, in advance, about the Boy Scouts and had been asked not to shoot any - but there's a good reason to always wear your Class As and stick orange reflective tape on your back!); don't plug up the one toilet on the property (someone FORGOT to mention "don't lock the door on your way out" and SOMEONE absconded with the key); etc. The Emergency Preparedness Team presented their communication and evacuation plans: three blasts of the air horn and everyone was to gather at the campfire, then proceed down the dry creek to the pond.

Emergency Preparedness Team Post-Evacuation Debriefing

Activities included tug-of-war, "Iditarod races," a zip line, Dutch oven dessert competition, knot-tying, fishing, orienteering, geocaching, a pancake toss (and "how to make pancakes"), fire building competition, and chariot lashing contest.

Fire-Building Competition: First to Burn Through Both Strings Wins

"Iditarod Races"

Scouts, Webelos, and Siblings Awaiting Their Turn on the Zip Line

Safety (Harness) First!

A Wild Ride

We found deer skulls bleached in the sun, and went "treasure hunting" (Geocaching) for candy. And we ate. OMG, we ate well. The smoker was going all night, and Saturday dinner consisted of tender brisket, chicken, and deer sausage served with corn and beans, followed by the Dutch oven dessert competition. I cooked my first Dutch oven dessert (not officially "competing," but someone put mine in the running when I had my back turned). I managed to make a chocolate, caramel, marshmallow, "Turtle Soup." It was supposed to be cake, but would've made a fantastic topping for ice cream. The boys did better. There was a 7-Up Cake, a Peach Cobbler, a Reese's Cake (that was as hard as mine was runny, but tasted wonderful), another chocolate cherry cake, caramel apple cobbler...it was all delicious. They were all declared winners, handed a bag of candy, and told to go share their winnings with the Webelos.

Saturday night, the temperatures dropped to below freezing. Sunday morning found us shivering and shaking ice off our rain flies. It's not so bad if you have a sleeping bag, thermal blanket, chemical "Heat" body and hand warmers, long-johns, thermal shirts, and wool socks and gloves. I came prepared. William, though, refused to don anything but his Class A uniform - same thing he wore all weekend - and a 40-degree sleeping bag. NOT that I didn't toss three extra fleeces and a ski jacket in his tent before I went to bed... I was relieved to see him up and about on Sunday morning!

After breakfast, we were treated to a wonderful Sunday morning "Scouts Own Service" led by Jeremy M, who talked about the importance of not making excuses and led us all in singing "Amazing Grace." We packed up trunks and trailers and headed back to the city to clean up and rest up for Monday morning's return to school and work.