Posts Tagged ‘Camping’
This last weekend was a dad weekend for me, though some may call it just a Boy Scout camp out. I am an Assistant Scout Master for my son’s troop and have been a leader with him since Tiger Cubs in First Grade. What is great about camp outs in Boy Scouts is that it gives us some great father-son bonding time away from mom nearly one weekend every month. The troop is boy lead, which means the adults that are there mainly observe, offer recommendations, and keep activities safe. This works out pretty well because it takes away a lot of the teen angst and rebellion that boys often project towards their parents. When we camp Jeremy is lead by his Patrol, so his and my relationship is more camaraderie and less him seeing me as controlling him. Mostly he hangs with his Patrol, but I am always around and he is always showing me what he can do and sharing. It is a great thing to be so involved in watching your son grow.
Jeremy and his Patrol (Lightning Patrol)
Webelos Woods is an annual camp out that is used to introduce and recruit Webelos 2′s (oldest group of the Cub Scouts) to Boy Scouts. This year we had eight boys join us at Ft. Churchill. The troop arrives the night before to set up camp and the next morning various stations are set up by patrol to show and teach campfire building, knot tying, first aid, back pack packing, and cooking. The Webelos arrive after lunch and are introduced to a Boy Scout camp opening ceremony and assigned to the stations to learn and have fun.
One thing different about a Webelos Woods and any other boy scout camp out is that the adults at this one cook the dinner Saturday night and Sunday morning Breakfast. Since it is November we cooked a Thanks Giving feast! Dad’s are just big kids, boys love FIRE and so do dads! Me and another dad got to cook the Turkeys not just anyway, but in deep fryers. I had two going with the oil being heated by propane burners. Other dads cooked the potatoes, stuffing, ham, and pies, all done on outdoor stoves and with Dutch Ovens. We also had rolls, salad, and cranberry. The boys were fed well that night.
That’s me in the middle at my post frying turkeys
Here’s one done
Serving the feast
After Dinner we had campfire. The Boy Scouts ran it. They built the fire and started it with style. Using a zip line from a tree they suspended a fire nest that was started aflame with flint and steel then let go to zip to the main fire pit, where it started the campfire. Then they proceeded to entertain the boys and dads with skits and stories around the campfire. They included the Webelos where they could to make them feel as part of the troop even if only for the night.
Oooh…. FIRE!
In closing of the Campfire the Boy Scouts Retired some American flags. Traditionally only Boy Scouts and the military can retire an American flag. There are two ways to do it. One way is to Render the flag. This is done by ripping the stripes off and making it so that it is no longer recognizable as an American flag. The other way is to burn it in a retirement ceremony. This is the way the Boy Scouts usually do it.
First a Color Guard escorts and presents the flag to be retired.
Unfolding the Flag
The boys are in Uniform, but it is cold and they have their jackets on over.
Present, COLORS!
The boys present the unfolded flag. The audience is standing at attention.
Retire, COLORS!
The boys move the flag over the fire.
The colors are lowered into the flame and the edges folded into the flame as it starts to catch.
During the retiring (burning) of the flag the audience holds a scout salute, hand salute, or their hands over their hearts depending on who they are and how they are dressed. This is an honorable and solemn ceremony. It is also one of the favorite things for the boys to do and it definitely inspired the new boys there that night.
After this it’s Smore’s and then lights out for the boys. The Webelos camp out the night with us. The next morning the dads cook up a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and eggs. After breakfast is cleanup, a service project, and then closing ceremonies. Before we left we toured the fort museum and watched them light off one of the cannon for us.
I wonder how many of you had as much fun as I did this last weekend?