2014 Summer Camp – Blog

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Summer Camp 2014 information can be found HERE.
Monday, July 21, 2014
We’re just finishing day 1 of camp. It’s been a great day at Camp Frontier – the scouts are busy from 6:45 AM to 11 PM with things to do.

Today, merit badges started so everyone was on the go most of the day. Scouts are learning new things from how to weld, do basket weaving, exploring space exploration, and splashing around with swimming and boating – some of the more than 60 merit badges at camp.

The new scouts have been focused on first aid and swimming – starting on Wednesday, they will begin their boards of review for tenderfoot rank (we have a plan for those loon scouts who did not come to summer camp to finish their rqts the next two troop meetings). They are also working on their Second Class and First Class rqts as well as getting to know more of the older scouts. They’ve been fishing and visiting the rifle range in their spare time.

The Troop did a boat activity together on the lake this evening – they were able to take out paddle boards, kayaks, row boats, and canoes. Seems like everyone had a great time and it was a great way to cool off. With nightfall, other activities kicked in like open swim, star gazing and playing cards in camp.

Weather has been near perfect with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Tomorrow gets up to 90 so we’ll be drinking plenty of water.

Everyone is in good health and spirits.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014
A few scouts were showing some signs of homesickness but it is starting to subside.

It was a hot day today with highs in the 90s. A lot of pool activity during free time and now everyone has headed down to a Root Beer Cantina Fest that lasts until 10:30 pm.

Loons: they’re starting their first Boards of Review tomorrow for tenderfoot rank as they’ve all made excellent progress to date. They are just starting a lashing project to make a large gateway entry to enhance our campsite and to show off their skills with ropes and knots. Their First Aid and swimming skills are much improved with their merit badge classes.

Older Scouts: everyone is learning a lot in their merit badges and are creating new things or advancing their education. The radio guys are talking to global shortwave radio operators and the ecology scouts are studying all the local fauna and wildlife. In their free time they are doing additional crafts and sports – star gazing has been very popular with a large reflector telescope open for public viewing from 10-11 in which you can clearly see all the rings of Saturn.

It will rain tonight but then start to cool down the rest of the week.

We are going to send some photos starting tomorrow to be distributed.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Scouts working on the flag pole at camp:
Our loons built a gateway into our camp today, demonstrating their skills in lashings that they’ve learned over the past couple of days. They built it out of 12′ spars lashed together and then lashed together the ’75’ (hard to see it in the bottom photo). Each group of Loons worked on the gateway – it is awesome and impressed the older scouts.
The scouts are off on activities now and some are prepping a troop bonfire with s’mores tonight as it is supposed to get in the low 50s tonight.
Your scouts are having a great time.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Another great day at camp with weather in the 70s and a great night.

Tonight is Troop games where our scouts are competing against others in a wide variety of competitions.

The Loons did a 5 mile hike and learned how to use a map and compass and then ID’ed 10 native plants and 10 animals. 4 have made tenderfoot with the rest doing their Boards of Review tomorrow.

The older scouts continue to enjoy their time at Frontier. The merit badge program is very good and they are getting a lot out of the classes. A number of the scouts got up early to be out fishing as the sun came out.

We are expecting to depart Frontier around 10 AM Eastern on Saturday. With a lunch break, that puts us back around 1:30 to 2 pm. We’ll give an update Saturday morning as we are also expecting rain Saturday morning and that always slows things down.