And a great time is had by all

I'm sorry that I've been a bit slow about updating the blog, but besides being very busy, there was the small matter of the storm last night...more on that later.

We arrived Sunday about 1:00 and promptly started setting up. We got most of the tents up and the scouts headed down to the beach for swim qualifications. Meanwhile, I headed "up north" (to the main camp admin building) to get us signed in. By the time I got back, the food and staples (bread, PB&J, oatmeal, soap, bleach, etc) were being delivered. When the boys returned, they finished setting up and started in on dinner. Beef Stew, chips, and apples. If the boys don't like what is on the menu for a meal, they can make themselves something out of staples.

The boys mostly relaxed until we got into our class A uniforms for the Voyager Camp opening campfire at 9:30. It was a great campfire, better even that those of past years, with the staff putting on some funny skits. We sang some song, listen to a story, and sang some more.

Once the campfire was over, we headed back to the campsite. The leadership held a Troop Leadership meeting, after which the adults met. The high during the day was the low 80's with a promised overnight low of 56. Great sleeping weather...if anyone slept. Everyone seemed to be wound up after the long drive (except for the adults) and they were bouncing off the trees until well after midnight. In the morning, it was difficult to get everyone up at the promised 6:30 and most of the scouts slept until 7:00.

Fortunately, the breakfast was simple (pop tarts, cereal and milk) so everyone was ready for the morning assembly at 8:30 (and mostly awake). Then it was off to first hour merit badge for everyone except the Senior Patrol Leader and the adults, we meet with our commissioner every morning to go over the day's events. The older scouts go off to second and third hour merit badges from 9:30 to 11:30 and the first year scouts are off to First Class Adventure during the same time. We have four scouts that spend all mosting at the Ten Chiefs beach taking BSA Lifeguard.

They head back to camp at 11:30 for lunch. On Monday, that was Hoagie Sandwiches. On Monday from 1:00 to 4:00, we had troop activities including Super Troop Service project and Greasey Watermellon. At 4:00 the scouts head to their fourth hour activity: Swimming for most, or one of a few Merit Badges. At 5:00, it's back to the site for a little slack time and dinner. Last night, it was Tacos.

The scouts have free time between 7:00 and 9:00, when they can go to the trading post or one of the available activities such as swimming, archery, shooting, climbing wall, etc. At 9:00, it was back to the campsite for a "snacks out" at 10:00 and lights out at 10:30. Several of the older scouts (that should know better) snuck out to pull a prank (involving moving around canoes). They found out later was a mistake that was for two or three reasons.

During the morning, it had been fairly comfortable, but as the day wore on the air kept getting warmer and more humid. A sure sign, the staff indicated of a developing storm. Sure enough, about 2:00 in the morning a big thunderstorm developed with lots of rain and lightening, that blasted until about 4:00. We were protected by the trees between us and the lake. The Two Harbors campsite next to us, and the Blackhawk campsite at Ten Chiefs were not so lucky, the wind off of the lake knocked down many tents and tarps. In our site we had some sleepless scouts, one sick scout, two wet sleeping bags, and a couple of tarps that fell down. Everyone survived.

However, after staying up late (before the storm) to pull their prank, the older scouts got even less sleep when the storm hit. The staff was up much of the night, pitching tents for the Two Harbors people and then had to "undo" the prank our boys pulled (which didn't make them happy). There was another, much less funny, prank pulled by someone else that night, and our guys found themseleves in the position of having to deny having pulled that one too. Once a troop has a reputation for pranks they found, you tend to get blamed for everything. They appologized for their prank and everything is fine now.

The storm also blew doen several trees on the north end of camp and knocked out the power line two places. The staff was able to put a generator on the well pump so we had water, but that meant no lodge coffee for early rising adults and some inconveniences during the day. I had originally intended to update the blog this morning, but with no power, the internet was down also.

Breakfast was French Toast, saugage, and tropical fruit punch (?). Then, it was the same routine for the morning: Assembly, three classes, and lunch. Lunch was hot dogs and baked beans. The afternoon was two hours of troop activities followed by the IRONMAN Race!! The Ironman starts out with canoeing, followed by swimming, followed by running. Scouts, can do all the legs, one or more of the legs, or cheer. Any scout that did at least one leg, will get an Ironman segment patch for their uniform.

After Ironman, it was fourth hour class and back for dinner (ham, mac & cheese, milk & salad) then off to Vespers (interdemoninational worship) followed by free time (activities) until 9:00.

That brings us up to date. It's 9:15 pm and I'm up at the admin building updating the blog. I'm going to close it out now and make the 20 minute trip back down to Voyager and go to bed.

That's all for now from Many Point....Jon Yearous