Camping with the Cub Scouts

Last week was our first Camping trip this year with the Cub Scouts.  The boys had so much fun.  They played on their bikes, they played games and sports, they received some belt loops and they ate lots of smores.  They were absolutely very happy.  

In February the Camp Master went on to the Boy Scouts with his son.  We were in needed a new Camp Master.  No one wanted to step up to the plate because it is a huge responsibility.  The camp master is in charge of scheduling all the camping trips and we try to do at least five a year.  He is in charge of getting everyone signed up and paid for camping.  He is responsible for keeping the camping trips within a budget.  He is in charge of making sure the Scouts receive some belt loops through games and sports played during the camping trip.  He is responsible for the Pack trailer and all its contents.  He is responsible for transporting the trailer to and from the campouts.  He is responsible for setting everything up at the camp sight and taking it down.  He is also responsible for feeding the Pack three meals.  Now you can understand why no one wanted to step up to the plate.   Since no one was willing to even entertain the idea, I talked to the Chief about us taking on this responsibility.  After talking about it for many nights we decided to take The Camp Masters job on.  We did not want the boys to go without something they loved to do so much. 

We got to our camp site around noon on Friday.  The Chief and I worked to get the camp all set up.  The Chief worked so hard and did a lot of the heavy lifting. 
 

I had to leave at 2:00 p.m. to pick up The Cisco Kid from school.   I left the Chief there so he could finish setting up our personal camp site.  By 5:00 p.m. everything was all set up and we were able to finally sit. 

Around 8:00 p.m. we started a camp fire and we were getting ready to roast some marshmallows for our smors when it started to rain cats and dogs.  It rained so hard it flooded some of the camper’s tents with about four inches of water.  Needless to say they went home that night and came back the next morning.  As soon as they told me they were going home, it took me all of about two seconds to think that was a great idea.  In the truck we went and into a nice cool house we slept.   

We got back to the campsite around 7:00a.m. the next morning and served breakfast to the Pack.  There were 75 people that we needed to feed breakfast too on Saturday.  We also served dinner and Breakfast on Sunday.  After Saturday’s events every muscle in my body hurt.  I decided to leave the Chief and the Cisco Kid at the campsite to sleep and I went home and covered every inch of my body with Icy Hot.  HO!!! GOOD TIMES!!!

Having our morning flag ceremony 

 

Later that afternoon my Den went on a hike. We are working on our Readyman pin.

It's all about first aid. I wanted to show the boys what they could do in case of an emergency while they were on a hike. They were given a list of items that were mandatory to bring with them. Like water, rope, map, compass, whistle, pocket knife and a small first aid kit. I also asked them to bring a large plastic garbage bag and a small plastic grocery bag. The first thing they were taught was to plan their hike and hike their plan. And always leave a copy of their plan with someone back home and how long it would take them to complete the hike.

  

They used the plastic grocery bag to make a sling. 

They used the garbage bag to make a poncho. They were taught that keeping dry will help with keeping their body worm so they would not suffer from hyperthermia. 

They learned how to make a tent in case they needed to stay put. 

They were taught how to make a gurney out of sticks and rope.

 

They were taught how to make a splint.  

So many children today have allergic reactions to so many different things.  It seems as though everyone knows what an anaphylactic shock is and is familiar with an epi pen.  Since the Cisco Kid goes into anaphylactic shock when bitten by fire ants, I thought it would be a good idea for all his friends to know how to use an epi pen just in case he is with his friends and I’m not around.  A Scouts fathers works in the emergency room and he is demonstrating how to use the epi pen.  Of course the first thing he said was if there was help very nearby. Get help first! It is worth everything if these boys can take just one thing away from this lesson and that is knowing what to expect when a friend goes into anaphylactic shock.  Knowing what to expect will keep them from panicking in the face of danger, because we all know that when someone panics, that is when serious injuries or even death accurse.

They had so much fun playing. 

Our next camping trip is in two weeks,  OH MY!!!!