Four adult leaders including our newest, Mark Ferriss and fourteen youth signed up to attend the Lafayette District Fall Camporee. The weather forecast, as per normal for this year’s camping trips, was for ominous weather. We were to be treated to increasing amounts of rain Friday overnight with heavy rains approaching two inches and ending mid day Saturday. Clearing skies and strong winds were to follow. That was about the only predictions that were right. Troop 406 was the first troop to arrive at Camp Hart right at the prescribed registration opening time 6:30PM. The rain was starting as a heavy drizzle. Assigned to the Owl Camp Site closest to the road for unloading, we proceed to do just that, unload. Easing the procedure somewhat was the ability to stash personal gear and troop equipment into the Adirondack (three sided roofed structure) at the campsite. Also there were wooden above ground platforms for tents promising to make this a dry weekend. With 14 Scouts and 7 new tents it was decided that this would work out just fine. The Scouts erected the tents and stowed their personal gear in the tents. The troop then went on to set up the new dining fly, stoves, patrol boxes and hunker down for the rain that was now getting steadily heavier. It was about this time that it was reported to the Scoutmaster that one of the new tents was leaking badly and it would need replaced with an old tent. This didn’t sound good so an inspection was made and it was found that ALL of the new tents were leaking directly through the rain flys and roofs almost as if they weren’t there. Personal gear was immediately returned to the Adirondack and action taken. Figuring the sole remaining Jamboree tent could sleep six smaller Scouts, there was room in the Adirondack for the remaining Scouts and the adult tent would house the adults this would work and the plan implemented. This went smoothly except for some bickering about which Scouts were “smaller Scouts” and the ego bruising that went along with it. Eventually the troop gear was set up and we had a belated snack after which mostly everyone had about enough of this nonsense and turned in for a night’s sleep. This is about when it was discovered that the adult tent that was set up was in fact the one with the faulty zippers. Although we wanted to weed out this derelict tent and retire it, this was an inopportune time to find it. After all it was raining cats and dogs (the racket they made with all that howling and meowing was unbelievable). By morning there was a puddle at the lower end of the tent (Remember? There are no flat areas at Camp Delmont or Hart). The puddle was about 6-8 inches deep and I’m glad I was on a cot! Mr. Drehoble was on the uphill side and unaffected.
Saturday dawned dismally dark, a little warmer and with continuing heavy rain. The Scouts persevered and the Falcon Patrol assisted by the Pedros whipped up a batch of pancakes and bacon as well as the Ferriss Wheels aided by the Money Patrol. The Scouts developed a game of the future and turned Tim into a “Metal Alien” to accompany the game as the Host. This was accomplished with copious amounts of aluminum foil and duct tape. To my surprise Mr. Reppert showed up to join us for the weekend. Extra help is always welcome. Due to the rain it, the organizers of the Camporee decided it best to use the dining hall for as many activities as possible. This was a wise decision. Our gameof futuristic flying saucers and the metal alien, a rescue game using monkey knots and a “Drowning” Scout on a cart plus a display of old to ancient Scouting gear and books were the three indoor stations. There was pioneering catapult building, Stilt walking and cow milking (the old dairy merit badge – discontinued) were held on and under the porches. The activities were going well and everyone was busy. Then the weekend glitches reappeared. Our Scouting in the Future “Metal Alien” game that involved knocking down various objects with a silver flying saucer was shut down by the Camp Ranger. “There will be no throwing Frisbees in the dining hall, if I see it again, I’ll take it” which he promptly did. Our Scouts rebounded well by replacing the flying saucer with a silver orb of duct tape and the game now resembled bowling for aliens. After Ranger Rick confiscated the saucer our Metal Alien Crew was going to disintegrate Ranger Rick with their deadly Laser beam aluminum foil laser wands but Mr. Drehobl beamed down to the rescue and had a diplomatic talk with Ranger Rick and not only managed to have the flying saucer returned but received permission to hold the Camporee’s evening campfire in the dining hall!
We broke for lunch where the intrepid Troop 406 Scouts prepared two separate homemade from scratch Chicken Noodle Soups plus luncheon meat sandwiches for the meal. Robert served as the judge but the meals were both so delicious that the panel of one had difficulty deciding a clear victor. One was clear and soupy and the other somewhat thickened to a creamy texture using what else other than pancake mix. To my amazement there was little leftover soup.
Speaking of liquid, the rains stopped and left the campsite a muddy peanut butter like mess. To keep the masses busy the rifle range was opened and most of our Scouts participated. The targets I saw indicated some pretty tight shooting. Back at the activities, the younger Scouts developed an idea for a catapult and built it and with the older Scouts modifying it succeeded in building a very successful catapult.
Then it was back to camp for dinner. Coca Cola Chicken and potatoes were on the menu. Again the two Patrols went to work with the ingredients provided making two very good but different chicken and potato dishes. Bravo! It was an excellent cooking weekend. The weather cleared up and the rain departed leaving breezy cool temperatures.
There was an adult leader cook-off for a dessert. Mr. Drehobl made a tasty apple pastry in a Dutch oven of course. Other than a little too much fire it was looked great and tasted even better.
Next came the campfire in the dining hall. Gladly it wasn’t outside as it had become quite cold and windy. There was the usual entertainment and the announcement from the bake-off where the Webelos Scout leaders won with their cherry apple pie. Our Scouts performed their gray area pirate skit. There were some interesting variations to some other well-known and time weary skits.
Back at camp the Scouts were off to the warmth of their sleeping bags but the energy continued in the form of a lot of items being tossed about and chatter, the talk kind not the teeth kind. Eventually everyone settled in and awoke to a beautiful sunny but cold morning. A hearty breakfast including hot chocolate, oatmeal, sausages, cold cereal and fruit was served. We went to the closing ceremony, watched three rather confused Scouts fold the flag and heard their Scoutmaster decide what the activity would be at the next troop meeting. We broke camp, stuffed the equipment back into our trailer and headed for home.
The short story is the Mr. Kilcoyne was correct when he told me the dining fly was nearly impossible to assemble, the seven new tents would make better boats than tents, the adult leader tent with the worn out zippers will now serve better as a donor of a rain fly and poles to the adult tents that need them not to mention it will also make some dandy patrol flags. Next up Appalachian Trail this weekend.