This seems a fairly familiar title...perhaps I've used it before? I spent the months of July and August doing something I've never done before. I staffed for our Boy Scout summer camp located on the coast of Oregon about an hour and a half from our house. Richelle was also on staff, teaching the Woodcarving and Indian Lore merit badges. She feels she's gained a few more brothers (as if she needed more!) and I'm pretty sure there are a few boys that feel they've gained a little sister.
We were there for one camp set-up week, five weeks of Boy Scout camp, and seven days (two sessions) of Cub Scout camp. Richelle attended a week of National Youth Leadership Training just prior to staff development week so she was gone a total of eight weeks.
This is a picture of the entire staff. Richelle is directly behind the fourth boy in front from the left and I'm also on the left wearing a black jacket and cap with a CB on the front.... Our esteemed Camp Director is the tall guy in the center back next to the flag pole.
One of the activities we put on each week was a Moonlight Canoe Race. You can see scouts waiting to be allowed onto the beach for their turn. The object was to race a canoe - two boys to a canoe - out around an anchored rowboat and back. The three canoes with the fastest times received a medal at a special ceremony the next day.
Sunset from the west side of the peninsula.
Opening campfire at the campfire bowl. We may not have floodlights, microphones, or a wooden stage but we make up for that with energy, cool ways of lighting the fires, and the opportunity to get downright filthy.
Another weekly event was dune diving. Yes, they really dove off the top of the sand dunes!
Another sample of how to creatively get to the bottom of a sand dune. The boys came back to camp with sand everywhere. I watched a boy slide down the dune sitting down and when he paused at the bottom, the sand continued to slide (as sand tends to do) and filled the little space between his back and the waistband of his pants. It didn't seem to bother him because he jumped up and continued with his horseplay as if nothing had happened.
Richelle and her area director helping the Cub Scouts with their leather work project. Richelle worked in the handicraft area all summer and always wore several layers. I couldn't figure it out until I helped out a few hours one morning. The Handicraft Lodge is always in the shade, open on all sides, and has a concrete floor. No wonder she was always chilled! Notice the flag on the right. It is made entirely of Duct tape except for the scotch tape to hold the stars in place. I guess the troop who made it for them couldn't figure out how to make the star shape and still have enough sticky to attach it to the blue background.
Camp Director and myself with the Aquatics Director. I have no idea what we were discussing, I don't even remember why we were both at the waterfront, and I certainly don't remember a picture being taken! I included this picture because it's one of me that I don't violently dislike.
I had a great time but it felt as if I was away from home far longer than seven weeks. We came home three times but with only twenty-four hours off each weekend, it wasn't for very long. People have asked Mike if he enjoyed the peace and quiet and he said that at first it was nice but it got old pretty fast and he was quite ready for us to get home the last couple of weeks.
