Daily Dispatches from Pipsico
Below you will find daily dispatches from Troop 1916's Scoutmaster, Matt Salt (a.k.a., "--Ed."), to the parents and families of Boy Scout Troop 1916 from our annual week of Summer Camp. I hope you'll enjoy these brief accounts of what your sons accomplished during our biggest outing of the year.
For this year's Summer Camp, the scouts selected the Pipisco Scout Reservation as our destination. The camp is located in the bucolic area of Spring Grove, VA, not too far from the where the historic Jamestown Settlement was first established in 1607.
Departure and Arrival at Pipsico
Day One: After a delightful drive down I-95 with five million of our closest friends in their cars (the boys worked out that number for about an hour; we could have walked to Pipisco faster!,) we arrived on the banks of the James River at about 4:00 p.m.
The boys are all housed in one big site and will be sleeping with their fellow patrol members. The adults are stationed safely across the road in our own site.
Once we got settled, we went off to do our annual medical form dance and swim checks. This was followed by supper, which was surprisingly good. A slightly rural campfire (not exactly what rural means in this case, but seems to fit what we were watching) happened. And then off to bed it was.
Unlike other camps we've been to in the past, Pipsico Scout Reservation has a pool, so the mile swim practice happens there every morning. Nathaniel and Ian are our only two takers (plus the older Forrer and yours truly).
Another unique facet of Pipsico is that the Scouts are expected to run wherever they go. If they don't run, they're not having fun! So the boys are hurtling around camp like crazed ants, which seem, in contrast to many of the Scouts at camp, to be the only things that know where they're going and why they're going there.
Breakfast was followed by the usual, "I don't know where my first merit badge is..." type of questions. But by 9:02 a.m., all was quiet in camp, and all boys were duly deposited roughly where they were meant to be.
We have 13 boys doing the Brownsea Island program (BSI). Once the cats had been herded (and that's easier written than done), they all marched off under the guidance of Mr. Rollins and Mr. Coopersmith.
The heat was rather brutal, but we're keeping the boys hydrated with plenty of water. So, hopefully, they will all do OK until the weather breaks in our favor in a couple of days.
More tomorrow.
-- Ed.
Hot-Air Time at Pipsico
Day Two: Memories come flooding back from summer camp at T. Brady Saunders two years ago, where we had a week of weather like this, if not even more brutally hot.
The Scouts have been having a blast, however. One suggestion to the Troop's parents: Start buying shares in Camel Back packs, since they have become a very popular item here at camp. The Scouts have done a great job of drinking plenty of water, staying in the shade, and generally looking after themselves and their pals.
Fortunately, many of the camp's buildings where the Scouts do what's required to earn their merit badges are air conditioned. So, their total "hot-air" time has been pretty limited.
Just around supper time last night a very quick set of storms came scurrying through camp and dropped the temperature dramatically.
After our food, most of us spent the evening in the pool, and then headed back to camp around 9:00 p.m., where some of the younger fellas had started a fire. (Yes. Just what we needed at the time--an actual fire to add more heat to the temperature and humidity!).
At that point, we were ready for the big evening show that ostensibly passes for "entertainment" for Troop 1916 at every outing (see related commentary about "entertainment in other Journal posts from previous outings).
It has to be stated that there is now a now well-established pattern about the evening entertainment put on by our future Tony Award nominees. We had some great moments, and more than a few so not-so-great moments. And to be honest, we had some staggeringly low moments. But, hey, it's all part of the Boys Scout Experience! The Scouts, especially the newer ones who have never witnessed such spectacles, all loved it. And that's what really matters.
One highlight from last night occurred when one of the boys reported that he had just helped his mother change the TV channel back at her home so she could watch Netflix. His comment made me fall off my chair when he informed us that, "It was like teaching a brick wall to do a back flip!" Priceless.
After a final head count, if was off to the sack and a very comfortable night's sleep.
The boys were all up earlier than expected and the mile swimmers headed off and got in their required laps. Breakfast was a hit, and all the guys headed off in various directions for their day-two activities.
More tomorrow.
--Ed.
The Awesome Stick
Day Four: Great day yesterday, normal merit badge stuff, beautiful weather to be outside, and an all-American Grill (some dodgey hamburgers and chips!) outside for dinner.
The boys are starting to get tired, and with that comes the stuff yours humble Scoutmaster didn't really sign up for. For the most part, however, all is good. And considering we have a group of 43 boys, ranging in age from 11-17, we’re surviving well here at Camp Pipsico.
A couple of highlights from the day. At opening flags each day, a troop receives the "Awesome Stick." This is a broom handle that the troop is meant to decorate and give back to the camp at evening flags. Our troop was honored to receive it yesterday morning. We arrived at evening flags, and all was well. When the chant began for the stick to come forward, all of our guys looked at each other in panic and realized that not only had they forgotten it, but they’d also not decorated it. Not our finest moment...
Who would step up and go get it? After about one second of confused and uncoordinated debate, our McLean High School cross country runner, Aaron, zoomed off to our camp. He ran with the agility of a winged gazelle and the speed of a cheetah on the vast plains of Africa.
On the way back, still travelling at considerable speed over rough terrain, he decided to try and carve our Troop number into the stick. His admirable plan not only failed, but not surprisingly, he cut himself with his trusty knife (not badly, Shelly, just a knick).
Aaron presented Will S. with our Awesome Stick, and he duly took it forward and presented it. When asked by the camp director why the stick had not been decorated, Will calmly replied, "We believe in leaving no trace behind, sir!" It was a magical recovery from a dire situation--and just what a Boy Scout is expected to do. Be prepared!
Each evening, the troops at camp try to work out which one will be served dinner first by engaging in a friendly challenge among them. Last night's challenge was to find out which troop had a Scout under the age of 18 with the most amount of facial hair.
Will S. (who I'm sure hasn't shaved for many weeks) won easily. So, our Troop zoomed off towards the dinning hall ahead of our peers, with all the guys grateful for the state of Will's beard. I'm just pleased we have found a use for his "scruffy-it's-nearly-football-season" look.
Dinner was followed by the "Rumble in the Aquadome." The Rumble was a set of games either in or near the pool. Our Scouts did pretty badly in most games, but had a more than a few laughs engaging in the games.
Scoutmaster Cannonball Test
The highlight of the evening was when Assistant Scoutmaster Wright took part in the "Scoutmaster Cannonball Contest." As the Troop's actual Scoutmaster, I tend to delegate the Adult Leadership's role in these kinds of activities (which sometimes seem perilous to me) to the always-willing Mr. Wright, who, it must be said, is in much better physical condition than yours truly. (See photo of the Scoutmaster Chariot Race here.) I'm always grateful for his spirit of service to the Troop!
Results will come out on Friday, but we're confident that Mr. Wright is going to place at a minimum.
Another beautiful day is ahead of us, with clear skies, mid-80s, and low humidity.
More tomorrow.
--Ed.
Brownsea Island Campers, Wilderness Survivors, "Trained" Assistant Scoutmasters, and Fatigue...
Day Five: Another splendid day was had by all at camp. Temperatures have stayed pleasant, and the Scouts continue to have a good time. Most of the guys have finished up their merit badges (a big part of every Summer Camps) and have a fun morning already planned.
Last night, our intrepid first-year Scouts (Daniel, Rehan, Ryan, Mario, Manual, Cyrus, Jordon, Brandon, Sean, Owen, and Ben), who took part in the Brownsea Island program, had their overnight campout last night. They cooked foil dinners and then slept away at a special campsite. By all accounts, it went well, and all of them returned to camp before breakfast safe and sound.
Our Wilderness Survival guys (Nathaniel, Chris [both doing the BSI program as well], Zack, and Will F. ) headed off after dinner to build their shelters and "survive" a night in the woods. With little sleep, they managed to return to camp in tact just like the BSI Scouts.
Tw of the Troop's Assistant Scoutmasters, Mike Forrer and Tim Manarin. have now completed all the scoutmaster training they need to wear the coveted "Trained" patch on their uniforms. Well done, chaps! And thanks for taking the time to complete this important training for our Troop of dedicated Scouts.
Last night, the Scouts were offered an outside movie (Transformers), a free swim, or a scary story session around the campfire. The boys went off in their different ways and returned to camp for a roll call at 10:00 p.m. Then, they headed for their cots and tents.
I get the sense that fatigue is starting to set it...
Our Final Night at Summer Camp
Tonight, we will have the closing campfire and will be getting ready to head north on I-95 tomorrow morning. We aim to leave camp no later than 9:00 a.m. We expect to arrive at the Redeemer between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., depending on the traffic. If you're coming down to camp to pick your boys up, please arrive no later than 8:30 a.m.
A Note to our Troop's Parents and Families...
I can assure every parent of the Scouts in Troop 1916--Scouts Honor!--that we tried our best to get them to shower and change their clothes over the course of the week. But, alas, we were not entirely successful in this endeavor.
Therefore, I feel compelled to issue a minor health warning: Your sons may return home with a foul and perhaps unfamiliar scent. So, please take precautions when opening their trunks. I recommend doing the necessary procedures outdoors and at least 20 yards from your home. You may even want to consider renting a gas mask...
But at least this necessary process may ward off any wild animals that travel through your neighborhoods at night!
Another great year at Summer Camp for Troop 1916!
Thanks to all of the adult leaders, the Troop Committee, and the parents for all of your hard work and many contributions that made this year's Summer Camp so enjoyable for our Scouts.
Thanks, as well, to the splendid staff at Pipsico Scout Reservation for their generous hospitality, and for helping our Scouts learn new skills, preparing the food, and doing all of the other hard work that it takes to run a Summer Camp so succssefully.
Finally, congrats to our excellent Scouts in Troop 1916. I'm very proud of how all of you are progressing in scouting, and I hope you had as much fun as I did at Summer Camp 2015!
That's all from your humble Scoutmaster. I hope you found these dispatches to be informative--and reassuring. No "More tomorrows" until Summer Camp 2016!
--Matt Salt (Does anyone know where my Advil is?)