Jun 21 2007
Jun 19 2007
Week 2, Day 3
It has been a long, but good week so far here at Cockrell River Camp in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. This week’s Sunday & Monday were more involved than last week’s, in terms of how many changes needed to be made to the classes the boys had originally decided to take when they signed up online. It’s not like it’s the most difficult work, but it’s very labor- and attention-intensive, as well as quite necessary to the efficient operation of the camp as a whole.
Technically, this is a larger week than Week 1, but it doesn’t feel that much larger — last week, between the 14 troops present, Scouts attended approximately 1050 classes between all of the boys; yet, this week, between the 26 troops present, Scouts are taking 1150 classes. So, if you’re able to do some basic division, we had fewer, but larger troops last week, and more, but smaller, troops this week. Each week presents its own share of various logistical nightmares, but the hard work being done during these two weeks will definitely set some solid groundwork for the remainder of the summer. With all of the kinks I’m working out in the merit badge system, the projects the commissioners and service crew are tackling, the program quirks being worked out by my brother (the Program Director), and the administrative hurdles being leaped by the Camp Director, we’ll be set up for quite a well-oiled machine for what lies ahead of us during Summer Camp season.
Tonight, the first-year campers (i.e. the “Blanco Blast” kids) are taking a long hike to Sentinel Peak where they’ll meet up with the Scouts & leaders laboring with Death March 2, led by the Outdoor Skills Staff. At the same time, the Nature/Ecology Staff is leading Death March 1, Climbing is holding Troop Climbs, Aquatics is monitoring Troop Swims, and Field Sports is judging the Watermelon Shoot. All in all, it’s quite a full night here at camp, so hopefully Staff, Scouts, and leaders alike will return to camp tired and ready for a nice, long rest this evening — we all need it.
OH! Before I forget, I know that I’ve been promising pictures for the past two weeks, so I wanted to post some tonight. I’ve finally reclaimed my computer from the techs at Micro Center and have a place to store the pictures I’ve been taking for the past 10 days. Enjoy! There are more to come! Click below to follow along…. Continue reading “Week 2, Day 3″
Jun 16 2007
Thanks for Everything (Seriously Now)For Father’s Day
It’s been years, months, and so many days
Since we’ve seen eye to eye,
Since we’ve been even near the same page.
And I know there have been too many times
When my strange choices
Have made you think I’d lost my mind.
And far too often for my tastes (and probably yours)
Your words have driven me crazy
To where I’ve sprinted out the nearest door.
But in case you weren’t quite sure (or just didn’t know),
I’ve taken in all of who you are
And used it as fertilizer to help me grow.
Your actions have always spoken louder than your words.
Your influence has been so great.
I can’t repay you what you’re really worth.
So let me say these words the best way I know how.
Thanks for everything all these years.
Thanks for everything – seriously now!
APN.
Copyright 05/20/2007
Jun 14 2007
Week 1, Day 5
And we’re on the downhill side of the week, headed quickly towards the weekend. If I can just get through Friday, I’ll be ecstatic….
It’s been a great week so far, filled with what my Program Director/younger brother Matthew calls “Good Program.” Here are some highlights:
Monday
Tug O’ Water War: Teams of 7 boys from a troop battle it out in the classic test of team strength. The twist is that each troop has 3 more boys assaulting the feet and bodies of the opposing team with water balloons and jets of water in an attempt to distract them to the point of slippage. From the looks of some of the pictures I have, the Staff Team did most of the falling and getting wet/dirty. Ahhhh…. The price you must pay to entertain….
Opening Campfire: From the opening strains of Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town” to the ending warbles of “We Put The Out In Scouting”, the Staff laughed, sang, joked, yelled, ate watermelon, changed costumes, and generally had a great time. The highlights of the show included the two-man “Princess and the Knight”, “Bee & the Honey” & the re-introduction of the word “Boo-Yah!” Good times….
Tuesday
Camp-Wide Relay Race: This was an exciting menagerie of events where troops had to create a chain of running Scouts where the first Scout would complete one event, run to the next event, have the next Scout complete that event, run to the next event, & so on. High energy & great skills competition.
Death Marches 1 & 2: What else can I say except that these are highly attended treks through the beautiful countryside that comprises this beautiful camp. Granted, it’s a lot of walking, but most troops have a group of boys and adults that go to each march.
Wednesday
Aqua Fest: Water, water everywhere and we’re all playing in it. The Aquatics program at El Rancho Cima is conducted on the Blanco River and they conducted a great event that was capped by the Scoutmaster Dive-Off. The biggest spalsh & applause wins and belly-busters always dominate.
Again, I apologize for the lack of pictures. As soon as my personal computer returns from the shop, I’ll have the necessary photo editing software available so that I can post pictures at my leisure. Thanks for reading everyone! More will be forthcoming, depending upon how overwhelmed I might be with merit badge work on Friday afternoon.
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