Son Goes to Scout Camp

Last week on Monday husband, son #2 and I got up before dark and set off for Goshen, VA where son spent the week at scout camp with his troop.  We had to leave pretty early because it's a three hour drive from our house to Goshen and the scouts all had to be there by 8:30 am to check-in and get their campsite set up before heading down to the water for the BSA swim test.  There were 21 boys ages 12-16 who attended this year from son's troop.  Four patrols; son's was called 'The Old Goats' which he was not too happy about, but I think he figured out how to live with it.

They camped in tent-like structures ... they were made from tent-shaped canvas tarps fixed to wooden platforms with two cots in each.  Really they just slept in there and not much else.  The schedule for merit badges and other activities was packed each day, although son did take along a travel sized magnetic chess game which he had time to play against four opponents (guess who won all four?!).  The camp had a little store with some candies, ice cream, toiletries and other camping related items for purchase.  Son enjoyed visiting the store each afternoon for some goodies!  His favorite ... the Skittles.

Son focused his time well and earned four complete merit badges -- 
Space Exploration  (they launched rockets!)
Canoeing   (he tipped over once)
Swimming &
Fish and Wildlife Management

and two partials --
Communication
Fire Safety.

He surprised me by participating in the mile swim challenge at camp along with 15 others from his troop (and a couple of the adult leaders did it too) mostly because he said he couldn't see underwater, even with goggles on, because the lake was pretty murky. I thought he was brave to try it anyway!  And he succeeded.

Upon returning home, he was covered in dirt and boy badges  including remnants of bug bites, scrapes, bruises, abrasions -- thankfully, no ticks -- you know, evidence that he had a GREAT time!  He admitted to not having showered the entire week, which I guess is ok since he rinsed off in the lake each day while swimming.  But he also did not brush his teeth the entire week, which is pretty gross in my opinion.  But whatever.  He's a 12 year old boy and it was a week to have some autonomy and enjoy learning new skills without parents hovering over him.

Here are a some pics:

son in the front, hamming it up, with some of his troop

when we first got to Goshen
waiting to check in
feeling contemplative?
or maybe just calm from the long car ride and
early wake-up time

oh!  a smile!

going to check out the water area with dad

with the troop
a few minutes before going up to the camp site

Mom, stop taking pictures!

son's troop was assigned to site 7

figuring out who is going to be where

opening the tent up
any spiders in there?
actually we found one -- a black one, eewwww

dad helped carry son's heavy pack

getting settled in

this is how the meal supplies were
transported to each troop's site

the name of their camp, which is one of several
camps at Goshen Scout Reservation

an explosion of stuff left behind
as he changed into his swim attire

cool walking stick
or fire poking stick,
or spider smushing stick, etc.

the latrines and washing up station

one of the four vehicles used to haul the scouts and their
week's worth of gear (+rented trailer)

the calm camp ...
last pic before husband and I left

Overall, son's first time at a week long scout camp was a success.  And mom survived the week, too.
But just barely.

So glad he's back!