Camp Gamble Escapades 2014
As with any adventure that involves young men (boys) learning important skills…and not-so-young men trying to impart their knowledge and wisdom to those younger men, Troop 148 experienced some great accomplishments during their summer camp.
Our Scouts earned nearly 25 merit badges and other awards, learned new outdoor skills, cooked 15 meals together, and enjoyed their time away from everyday distractions. They also got to witness some antics that could only be found in such a venue. Some of the more memorable ones are highlighted below. I leave you with only short bullets to prime the memories and let you re-tell the story from your perspective…like our forefathers would do…maybe at some future camp, around the camp fire. I wish you all great success as you move along in scouting and in life!
· “Smack talkers” usually deserve the threat of a throat punch…regardless of medical conditions
· Beware of wandering, naked scouts who ask, “what merit badge am I taking?”
· “Poindexter” the sniper is dangerous! He should be met with “you are gone…get off my range!”
· Fishing helpers will not likely help anyone catch fish; they talk and break things…usually yours.
· It is apparently OK to take your Baby Super Friends “Spidey” pillow on Wilderness Survival…?
· It might be obvious, but there may be “bugs in my tent”…go figure.
· Be prepared to help other scouts, from other troops, find water…who knew we might need water?
· Try to be tolerant of “SNAFU”…the rotund rifle instructor who engaged in combat from a missile silo in Wyoming.
· Scouting tradition still survives…Troop 17 in their traditional campaign hats and knee-highs. Respect the tradition, and correct the red-necks who “don’t like all that marching stuff.”
· If you don’t get into Kayaking, you can try stamping your feet and crying…but they only have 15 boats.
· Hat branding is cool…unless you have a nylon hat…then it’s more like molten lava…you get a hat with a hole in it.
· An untrained marksman can in fact shoot the target wire…twice. And the target holder also.
· A scout can be encouraged to attend swim lessons – “you are going if I have to drag you by your a$$!”
· Sometimes a scout might just have to ask “Guess how far it is from the stables to camp? 2 ½ miles, because I ran it this morning!”
· Prerequisites? What prerequisites?
· If you attend an event at the lake and others are in Hawaiian shirts, the next night is probably NOT luau night.
· Exercise caution when attending OA ceremonies…you may return smudged in baby doodoo.
· “E” on the fuel gauge on the van means empty…well, pretty much any motor vehicle.
· Check the neighboring troop to see if they have any special “a$$ rituals.” Avoid them.
· The forest service police will actually come if you dial 911…and even if someone else dials 911.
· A scout can eat as many pancakes as you can cook.
· The “truffle shuffle” should be banned at all times.
· Yes, Mr. Chicken Liver, our guidon is “pointy” and it is dangerous…so back out of my space!