Camp Neanderthal

Last weekend found us attending Morgans first scout camp! Webelos Woods is a camp for all Webelo age scouts to check out the Boy Scout troops in our area. We heard horror stories of snow for our friends and family in Idaho/Utah, but we were "enjoying" 95 degree heat.

We really weren't sure what to expect, in Idaho I don't remember this kind of event happening....you just progressed to the troop your den was part of. Camp was set up kind of like college day, booths for you to see what the troop is about.

The boys all were able to participate in different events while the adults heard about the troop. Some of them really had a lot to say, but by the end of the day they all said basically the same thing. I'm glad we still have time to check them out and decide which troop Morgan will fit into best! Any Scouts or leaders have some recommendations on what to look for in a Boy Scout troop?

This was the first time we have all gone camping together. All of the scouts in Morgans' group shared a tent and the adults set theirs up around it. The boys were responsible for planning, preparing, and cleaning up after the meals.

After morning flag ceremony, we broke up into groups to tour the troops that were at camp. The boys learned about making cook stoves out of soda cans......how to throw tomahawks...

...how to care for and use dutch ovens, survival shelters, and different camping/cooking ideas. Once we had visited all of the troops, the boys checked out the cave man playground that had been set up:

Troop 1145 invited us for dinner. They made some yummy fajitas and we talked with their leader a bit longer. 1145 had been teaching the soda can camp stoves. They used one to heat beans for our fajitas. The Webelo groups brought dessert for everyone, Webelos 2 brought s'mores and our group brought fried Oreos.

Brian tells me a lot of things get deep fried in Texas. I would never in a million years thought of Oreos. They were interesting...not sure I would make a batch of them again, but glad I tried them. For those who want to make some, mix up pancake mix (we used the kind you just add water) and dip a cookie into the batter. Then place the coated cookie in hot oil and fry. We found the thicker batter worked best. It coated the Oreo much better. We used Halloween, mint, and regular Oreos. I tried the mint, not bad....but not my favorite sweet :D

After dinner, all of the attending scouts gathered at an amphitheater next to the lake for campfire. We really enjoyed the program put on by the Boy Scouts. (Sorry, the picture is fuzzy.)

The boys proceeded to having a pillow/sleeping bag fight for a few hours after returning to camp. They fixed us breakfast tacos the next morning.

Brian snuck out of camp around 5 am to go fishing. He usually has a fishing pole of some sort in his truck and this trip was no exception. He took his 2 weight fly rod to the lake and was able to catch some really nice fish. He had to quit when a big one darted out, took his lure, and took off - snapping his line in the process. He really wants to go back there with his 6 weight. The water was crystal clear and the fish were really active.

This fish is the first catch of the morning, notice it is STILL dark!

Biggest landed fish of the day.