Day 2 Update: Badges, Advancement, Shooting, Swamping and Climbing

Another day has passed at Camp Parsons.  The boys all seem to be doing well.  They're covered with one more day's worth of dust and dirt but have smiles on their faces and are enjoying camp.

I believe a couple of the boys have showered but we've all had a couple "rinses" in Hood Canal and we encouraged the Troop to brush teeth and wash faces this morning - whether they needed it or not! :)  Don't look too closely and you won't see the film of dusty grime that seems to cover everything and everybody at camp after a long, rainless stretch in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains!

After yesterday's departure of a couple other dads, Gerry Eyasman and I are leading the boys until reinforcements begin to arrive tomorrow and Thursday.  Now, you might think this is yeoman's work for two scout leaders to keep track of 21 boys.  To a certain extent, yes, but part of Boy Scouting is about leadership development, so we do have help from the ranks of our boys.  The older boys are expected to teach and set an example for our younger scouts and all the boys are expected to help run the Troop.  So, while Gerry and I are not necessarily kicking back relaxing, it's no hardship being here at camp with Troop 15! 

A typical day at camp begins at about 6:30 am as the boys begin stirring - with or without a little encouragement from their friends and our patrol leaders.  After our troop flag ceremony and camp assembly in front of the dining hall, we eat breakfast and head back to our campsite to get organized for the day.  Our younger scouts spend the morning working on scout skills for advancement while our older scouts work on merit badges.  After lunch, we have "Troop Time" and a little free-time before dinner.  Troop Time is my favorite part of the day because it's all about fun!  For example, yesterday we did archery and the famed "canoe swamp" competition in the afternoon.  After dinner we braved the climbing wall and tested our strength and agility with bouldering. 

We ended the evening with some musical entertainment at "Parsons-Stock" and a "campfire" of sorts.  Due to the high fire danger on this side of the Olympics, we aren't able to have fires in our campsite so we improvised last night with a lantern in the fire ring, some stories and a few jokes.  Lights were out....to a certain extent....by about 10:00 pm and the boys were definitely quieter and more tired last night than on day 1.  It was a good day for everyone involved.  And fortunately, the only casualty of the day was my camera - which was safely stached in my pocket during the canoe swamp. :( Good thing my Blackberry is still charged and working.

Best from Camp Parsons.

Tom