First Week Wrap Up

I'm going to wrap up Week 1 so I can try to get back to real time blogging. This is another Blackberry update from the "office" table, so excuse the typos. I ran up the admin today, editted some more picture, added a bunch of captions, and uploaded them to the website. Be sure to check them out (including pictures of our office).
Wednesday night after free time was Merit badge round-up, where the staff meets with the adult leaders, to give us a status of who is showing up for class, how they're doing, and what they have left to finish. With 66 scouts, this took about 1.5 hours.
Thursday was back to a fairly normal schedule. If it's Thursday, it must be Pancakes and sausage for breakfast, followed by the usual three hours of classes. Thursday lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It was cool at lunch time, so for the first time in several years, the soup was a welcome addition.
The weather this year has been quite unusual, much cooler and rainer than usual. But today was just plain weird. We kept alternating between bright sunshine and rain. It seemed like every half hour is would alternate back and forth.
The Scouts had three hours of Troop activities (or in site freetime), followed by fourth hour merit badge. There were a few troop activities scheduled from 5-6, which was new this year, and not very popular. It cuts badly into dinner prep time and makes it difficult for the new scouts to get to freetime on time. We'll have work something out next year.
Dinner was spahgetti, sause, meatballs, and granny bread. Very good to eat, but messy to clean up.
7-9 was freetime, followed by what everyone was waiting for...the Troop Campfire. I headed out about 8:30 to head north to pick up Nick at Buckskin (where he's working) and pick up Matt O. & Mr. Devitt's nephew, who were both counselors in training (CITs) and the Ten Chiefs Camp. We made it back in time to say hi to everyone before the lighting of the fire. There are a number of pictures on the website now of the fire and skits. Some of the staff joined us (and performed a skit) including Taylor S., who is working at Buckskin with Nick. The main fire was followed by the Happy Birthday and a piece of birthday cake. Everyone who is celebrating a birthday this year was asked to raise their hand (a few adults did not raise their hand). While returned Nick, Matt, and Harrison back to their camps, Erik O regailed everyone with his telling of the Yeti story. Per tradition (weather permitting), most of leadership and a few others slept around the campfire under the stars. Needless to say, they were pretty sleepy by morning.
Friday morning was sausage egg muffins and juice. In the adult and leader areas, we usually hold over a few leftovers to augment our meals with. After assembly, it was their last set of merit badge classes for the week, followed by a lunch of sliced turkey on buns with carrots. Since the remained of the wrap up, has to do with getting ready to leave for the first week group, I'm going to take a break here to rest my index (typing) fingers and post this much for now. Hopefully more after a short rest. Thatks it for now from Many Point Scout Camp. YIS...Jon Yearous