April 11, 2005

We survived our first Boy Scout Campout

We survived. A little chilly at night, perfect during the days. Boy Scout camping is very different than Cub Scout camping. When camping with the Cubs, the dads really do everything. Boy Scouts is a boy run organization. If they fail to plan properly and don't buy enough food for the weekend...they'll be hungry. The adult leaders really do let them fail as long as the consequences aren't dangerous.

It's a difficult adjustment for me. Watching Breck struggle with his tent I really did want to go help. But I didn't. The idea is for him to get help if needed from an older Scout. And sure enough, next I looked the tent was up - and it didn't fall down the whole weekend.

I wish I could say the same for my self inflating air pad. About 1 AM Saturday night I was awakened by a loud POP, followed by the sound of air rushing out of my sleeping pad. I guess a seam blew out on it. About 30 seconds later I got much colder as the buffer of air between me and the ground was gone.

We (the adults) ran the knot tying competition. Our boys won, which was cool. Even better, over the day I learned how to tie all my basic knots. If you need a tautline hitch or a bowline, I'm your guy :)

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Comments

Knots are good to know - especially as a homeschooler so you can competently tie up your kids in the basement. Just Kidding!!!

Since you are familiar with Atlanta, I'll tell you a funny incident regarding the Cub Scout Pack my son and I were involved in. It was through his school, which was Lake Windward Elementary, in Alpharetta. When they went camping they had the meals catered. Catered! No joke. We did not hang around too long. I guess I should check out the Boy Scouts at our church, they seem a little more like the real thing. My son is almost 10 - I need to check in to the age thing...

Posted by: Brian Sassaman at April 11, 2005 10:55 PM

Catered camping...now *that* is my idea of roughing it! Catered camping in cabins, even better. Catered camping in cabins with cable? OK, ok, that's excessive.

Posted by: Natalie at April 12, 2005 12:45 AM

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