Happy Friday!
Yesterday’s early morning activity was a camp to cove run at 6:30 am. Mr. Mayberry ran to represent 570.
It was our “in camp” eating day which meant food was delivered to us but we were on our own to prepare it. No cooking supplies were provided so we had some interesting solutions to cooking our oatmeal….. was it instant? Didn’t really matter, that was how we prepared it.
After morning classes, we had grilled hot dogs for lunch, then on to troop time.
Our first session was time to go through the Fort Duckabush Museum. Camp Parsons was established in 1919 and they have an amazing number of photographs and artifacts going through time. A few boys took advantage of a ¼ mile run to check off a Tenderfoot requirement.
Then the boys participated in Nature Jeopardy! Two teams squared off to answer questions like “how were the Hawaiian islands formed?” and “Name three types of trees that grown in this area”. The game ended with a very close score!
Immediately following the Nature Jeopardy, the First Class and above scouts had the opportunity to participate in a very special outing. Mark and Sandy Lane generously offered to host the boys at their cabin across the canal. The Scouts checked out kayaks from camp and paddled themselves 3.5 miles across the water. They returned this morning just in time for breakfast. They had an absolutely amazing time.
Meanwhile, back at camp, we had fantastic hamburgers and veggies prepared by our younger scouts earning their meal prep rank requirements. Tons of food and all of it gone!
After dinner, vespers, then Beach Party!!!! Dancing, beach volleyball, more pier jumping and canoe swamping – a good time had by all!
Our evening entertainment was a play put on the Parsons Players (aka the staff), “Star Wars”. They did an excellent job. The buzz going through the audience during scene changes was funny. The boys were really enjoying it.
Today will be the last day of classes so the boys are busy trying to wrap things up and get requirements signed off. There are at least 140 Merit Badges being attempted this week. This afternoon will be the camp wide Hullabaloo – a challenge relay for the troops. With tonight being the final Campfire.
Tomorrow, we’ll have breakfast and pack out. Depending on which ferry we make, we should be back at the school between 12 and 1 pm. Your scout will call ahead when we have a better time estimate.
Pictures up on TroopWebHost!!
Your tired adult leaders signing off (!) …
Greetings Troop 570!
Pictures up on TroopWebHost!
Amazingly sunny day! Jam packed with aquatics fun at the waterfront. 6 AM a few hardy souls from our troop joined in on the sunrise canoe trip to Octopus Point – Brad Devin, Jack Tribolet, Jason Schindler, Brandon Lane, Sam Parker and Arthur Taylor along with our Scoutmaster and made it back in time for breakfast.
After Merit badge classes and French Dip sandwiches for lunch, our first troop time was canoe swamp. And was it was all fun and games from the pier viewpoint, it was WAR on the water. All teams for themselves trying to sink the others. No one was spared!
Next up was the pier jump! Face your fears! A 140 foot plummet (or maybe 14 feet) but regardless it was a LOOONNNNG way down. Lots of mugging for the camera, special yells on the way down and attempts for the largest splashes.
Quick towel off and dress in uniform for dinner. After dinner the scouts had an opportunity to earn either the Fingerprint Merit Badge or Art Merit Badge. Some older boys, with both already earned, went for Patrol Power which is a team building low-cope course activity.
If that wasn’t enough for the day, we hosted a friendship fire complete with skits, songs and s’mores. What’s a camping trip without s’mores?!? By that time, some boys were asking to go to bed!
We’re past the mid-point and still having a good time.
For those parents interested in joining us for Friday’s events, arrive by 4:30 to meet us at our campsite, Mt. Olympus, and then walk over at 5:30 for dinner at the dining hall. Don’t forget to check in and pre-pay for dinner at the trading post before heading to our campsite. Wear closed-toed shoes! There is limited parking in the lot. Our troop will be responsible for the closing flag ceremony for the entire camp, just before dinner. At 8:45 pm, there will be a camp-wide closing campfire – always worth seeing.
- Your tired adult leadership…
Greetings Troop 570!
Monday, started off with a bang with games! Ultimate Frisbee, sharks and minnows and capture the flag on tab. We have some scouts on wheels – they are FAST! And have great hands for catching. Some got great air jumping for the Frisbee.
The troop hit the shooting range. The over 13 year old scouts tried their hand at rifles. All were shooting for dime club – you’ll have to ask your scout how he did. And our Archers headed for Archery. No arrows were lost and no scouts were injured!!
Then the boys had free time! Kayaking, swimming, more shooting ranges, work on merit badges and any other activity offered. Skies were cloudy but not our spirits!!
Today, started out with Pier jumping at 6:30 AM!! 10 brave souls from our troop jumped into the water from the pier 20 feet up before most of camp was even awake. When they returned they looked mighty cold – but rightfully proud of themselves.
After a fantastic breakfast, the boys headed to their morning classes. Then, after lunch, we had troop time. Troop time today was a ¾ hike for berry picking in the arboretum. They picked a ton of huckleberries – or at least a couple of pounds. The berries were folded into cake mix then baked in Dutch ovens. The boys had just enough down time during the cooking demo to succumb to fatigue after all the activity….. check to see if your scout was awake or asleep. Unfortunately, we had to head for dinner before they were entirely baked so we headed to dinner and had berry cake delivered for dessert.
This afternoon had SUNSHINE and a lot more water sports, ice cream from the trading post and resting on the porch by the adult leaders.
Final troop time of the day after dinner and dessert was the bouldering wall for the younger scouts and the climbing wall for the older scouts. Four intrepid scouts attempted the he-man rope challenge. Many have tried but few succeeded – including our own Luke Robledo!! Luke was helped along by the entire troop cheering him on!!
We ended the evening with free time around the camp. Boys continued to work on merit badge class “homework” and a group of the boys earned their “totin’ chit” lead by our own Arthur Taylor and Arden Chaing.
With the boys finally tucked away for the night, the leaders can finally retire as well and look forward to another full and fun day tomorrow.
Signing off until the next entry!