CAMPOUT!

So Troop 1010’s first campout is complete.

And it may sound totally lame to say the girls (and their leaders, myself included) camped out in our backyard and cooked dinner and breakfast on a Cache cooker in the garage.

The lameness fades, however, when I consider this: Five-sixths of the troop was able to be there. Had we not camped at home, we would have had half of the troop there. One of the attendees is on the fence whether she wants to continue with the troop. Also, two of the girls had 8 am obligations the morning after – as did their leaders, who had to head to a merit badge scramble. So this campout was, in my book, a great success.

Because of this campout:

1. Troop unity improved. Particularly because two of the girls, who had late afternoon obligations, were able to attend, since we were closer to home (literally) than we’d originally planned.

2. Troop rank advancement progressed. The troop finished their final activity for their Cyberchip awards and completed almost all of the rest of the requirements for the Scout rank – as well as getting a leg up on the Tenderfoot rank. Not as important to some, but important to at least two of the girls, who have eyes on earning their Eagle Scout awards.

3. Equipment was tested – and found lacking – but was repaired. We field tested two tents donated to the troop. One had a mild mold problem that we cleaned up the following day, and the other featured weak brass hooks that kept breaking – so we replaced the hooks with carabiners so when we go camping in the wild, the tent won’t be falling down on our heads.

And since we’re starting this troop from scratch from an equipment standpoint, we were able to make a list of the things we need to make future campouts bigger successes. Clearly, I need to start scouring the thrift stores for big pots in which we can boil water. Something we should have done earlier when our son worked at one of the local thrift stores and had an employee discount.

I hope the girls went home Saturday morning thinking they’d had a good time and would go with the troop again the next time we camp. The location will certainly be better the next time we go.