camp-300x144[1]I had the first of three fun-filled days at the Trails West Cub Scout Day Camp today.  I’m serving as “walking leader” and de facto camp coordinator for our Pack for the first three days of camp, and the other den leader will be doing Thursday, the final day.

After spending four hours in the hot sun yesterday setting up camp, we got to listen as howling winds and thunderstorms hit last night, leaving us all wondering if anything would remain of our campsite when we arrived this morning.  But we got all nine of our Cubs there, signed in, and past the opening ceremonies, and then arrived at our campsite to find…

…Everything intact!  We were lucky in that we were partway up a hill, protected from the worst of the wind.  Also, the other leaders and I added significant reinforcement to the awning we are using, which might have explained its stability.  Some of the campsites at the top of the hill were devastated; there were at least two elaborate shelters that had been reduced to bent scrap metal due to the heavy winds last night.

So we moved in, got settled, and then headed off to the first of five stations.  Or at least it would have been five stations if I’d read the schedule more closely and if the Boy Scout running the toad house/birdhouse craft project had known what he was doing.

Lunches were eaten, energy was depleted, and by the end of the day I think the boys had legitimately had a great (and exhausting) time!  Tomorrow will include fishing and archery — always favorites — and Wednesday will have slingshots and BB guns, so I think the boys still have plenty to look forward to.

More thunderstorms are expected the next couple of days, though, so the weather has yet another chance to ruin our experience.  Let’s hope it forbears.