Camping Weekend

Eric • 23rd Jun 2008 • Outdoors

This past weekend was our big Family Camp Out with Pack 529 and it sure was a busy one! I was hoping to get out there by 3:00 to begin set-up, but when I left my office at 2:59, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. However, Jason & I did get out there pretty early. We soon found Ranger Bob & Mr. Tom showed up shortly after.

We got the dining canopy up and then our tents, then Jason & I sat down to eat as the others trickled in & set-up their tents. That night, everyone was chowing down on Hobo Pies (or, to be politically correct, “Mountain Pies”) – both pizza and cherry or apple filled. Of course, Smores were on the menu as well. Jason & I cleaned up shortly after 11 and were in our tent by 11:30 or so.

Saturday morning, like most days, I was up at 5AM. Too bad nobody else was. Or, maybe it was a good thing. I got to spend some time alone and I walked some trails & took some pictures. Seeing the moon set over camp was pretty neat.

Mr. Ed & I were the cooks Saturday morning, making up pancakes, sausage and coffee for the Pack. But either somebody forgot to bring the 2nd box of pancake mix, or some creature stole it during the night, so everyone ate except the cooks. Oh well, I was in the beginning of the line at lunch time!

For the most part, the boys entertained themselves. There were a couple of organized games, and some of the kids went fishing, but for me, it was go-go-go. Bringing in firewood, or prepping dinner, or cleaning up something had to be done. Prepping dinner a couple hours ahead of time worked very well this year: we had an assembly-line packing tin-foil dinners with seasoned potatoes, frozen veggies, a ripped up burger patty and salt & pepper. More family members came for dinner, including Laura & the girls. In all, we ended up feeding 52 people that night!

After dinner, the boys & leaders got into their uniforms for the moving up ceremony. Jason moved from the Bear den to Webelos I (and so did I). It was a nice ceremony after which we changed back into our play clothes and got ready for another campfire. Another leader approached me during the fire and asked, “Was your pie iron the aluminum one with the metal handle?” I replied, “I heard you say, ‘was’”. The pie iron had melted in the fire! If you’re going to get a pie iron, make sure it’s cast iron!

During the campfire, the sky got dark and the winds really picked up. We could see lightning in the distance and hear the rumble of thunder. We scrambled to put away what we could and rounded up everyone into a nearby cabin. We all had our phones out, watching the weather radar as the kids just acted like nuts in the cabin. After a bit, we decided to calm them down, turned off all the lights except for a single lantern, and told some ghost stories. When the rain slowed & the lightning was gone, we headed back to our tents. I found water in ours and with the threat of more lighting that night and home being only 20 minutes away, Jason & I took off. I snuck in a quick shower then slept in my own bed Saturday night, then we both headed back the next morning.

I thought everyone would be sleeping when I got there Sunday, but a few were up trying to figure out how to use my coffee maker. Coffee is very important, especially when camping. We enjoyed breakfast (leftover sausage & cereal (hot & cold)) then started to clean up. Most of the pack was gone by noon.

When Jason & I got home, we quickly unloaded the car, ate lunch, and then were out the door to watch Laura’s cousin play softball. I enjoyed the game, and hopefully will catch them again Thursday night. After the game, they came back to our house for Chiavetta’s chicken. Then a bit after 7, I went upstairs to watch TV & rest. I think I got too much sun that afternoon as I slept from 8 to 9:45, then went back to bed until 8:00 the next morning! That’s what happens when nobody else in the house needs to wake up (the kids had the day off of school).

I’ve got 2 more camping trips planned for this summer: 1 with the Cub Scout leaders to plan next year’s activities, and another at Summer Camp with Jason. Both are going to be completely different experiences (one w/out any kids, and the other I don’t have to plan!).