“Finally Friday” as I am hearing from some of the troops. Yesterday was another day of wrapping up Scout Business. The Going Great guys are wrapping up their week of scout skills. Merit Badge guys are finishing up their work and today is mostly make up for requirements that they have not finished yet. Yours truly as well as Mr. Patel competed in the Scout Master golf tournament yesterday (mountain camping style). I finished +2, 2 shots behind the leader. Keep in mind I was playing with a tree branch fashioned into a club. Thanks Mr. Rhue for the club. This was all part of an effort by all base camp ASM’s to earn a Scout Master Merit Badge which included some education, training, and service projects. One of our hiking groups made it back to civilization/camp yesterday. The group of boys led by Mr. Blanton and Mr. Marchese visited us at base camp at the end of the day. I hear they are rafting today. I also hear Mr. Zies is still hiking with our Scoutmaster. They might actually enjoy the drive tomorrow. Yesterday was cook in your own camp day. The Camp provided all of the ingredients for us to make Jumbalaya in our own camp site. We had several boys cutting spicy sausage, onions, peppers, cooking spanish rice. This was accompanied by salad, dinner rolls, and camp site grape flavored bug juice. Probably the hottest and best meal of the week. Those that did not cook participated in clean up. The mail man showed up again and for those that stuck around after dinner were the beneficiaries of a large Camp Cookie from Mrs. Fields. You might see it in a picture, it looked like a large chocolate pizza. We continued with making S’mores and the boys had fun putting on some skits all of their own volition. So today is wrap up day. First Years are on their 5 mile hike as I’m typing. Mr. Waterbury went along with them to make sure no big boo boos happen. We have lost three teeth this week, yes through natural process. Two of which will be going back in my car. So the Tooth Fairy should be on notice when the boys get home. Tonight is the finale and we have a big closing campfire. We will be packing the trailer later today and heading home to our loved ones tomorrow. Not before a final night of showers, tooth brushing, and spider hunting in all the tents. It has been a pleasure keeping you all up to date. It has also been a pleasure and privilege camping with and getting to know your boys. It is great to be able to watch them learn new skills and grow as scouts and individuals. See you tomorrow, Rick

Thats right Moms you can rest easy today is Toothbrush Thursday. All of the scoutmasters made sure that all the boys broke out those dry toothbrushes and made sure they got wet this morning;) picture proof will be posted. But don’t worry yesterday was New Shirt Wednesday. And the day before that was New Underwear Tuesday. But I can only speak for those of us in Base Camp. After taking a trip up to Boonesboro, whew! I’m not sure they are adhering to the same rules of cleanliness that we good scouts in base camp are. And the Hikers….Helloooo they’ve been hiking and couldn’t even take that many clothes ha,ha,ha. I had to restrain Mr. Sifrit this morning. He had a bit of an issue with his cold chicken nugget/biscuit sandwich, pale hash brown and hot orange juice. The good news is anything that needs to be refrigerated is usually cold. Milk of all varieties D, Skim, Chocolate are served cold. But after the stories the boys have been telling from the Animal Science merit badge I’m not sure the boys will be looking at cows and chicken’s in quite the same way:/ Tonight they are learning about castration…OUCH!!! Yesterday the adult leaders were treated to a special lunch. Speckled Trout are common up here. We were all treated to a special fresh trout lunch. Yesterday evening we had a casual picnic style dinner in class B’s on the lawn. They had a live band playing the appropriate country Ho Down style music. We also celebrated Ryan Waterburys birthday. I believe we have one more to celebrate while here. Tonight CDB is providing the ingredients for us to make Jumbalaya back at our Iroquois camp site. Hot food really brings out the reverence in a scout. So does Texas Pete hot sauce. Thats it for now. Boy O boy I can’t wait for Fresh Shorts Friday to get here;) And we smart ASM’s will make sure they all smell like soap on Saturday. Having fun, Rick

FYI Troop, We have posted a lot of pictures. I believe if you double click one of the pictures it will take you to the Flickr site where you can browse all of them. Happy Hiking:)

Good Wednesday Morning 854!
Wow, what gives, homework at summer camp? Thats right when I said busy with Scout Business these boys are doing homework and working hard earning requirements for merit badges. Some of the boys are having fun playing cards before lights out at 10:00 P.M. Of course the Trading Post is a big hit and the banker is busy giving out the $ $. Yesterday 854 started a service project building wooden platforms for future tents to be set on. We had a little rain yesterday but not much. It was a little storm just like home. But not nearly as hot or steamy. Each morning before breakfast we get in formation outside the dinging hall and have a fun wake up song which requires crowd participation to get the blood pumping. I still love the Hokey Pokey. Mr. Sifrit and Mr. Rhue have posted some good pictures of the Boonesboro guys working hard and others. I hear later today the Boonesboro guys will be showing up with hand made Scottish Kilts and will be performing some Highland Games. Woo Hoo, it takes a real scout to wear a Kilt! Way to go guys. Tonight is the CDB Ho Down in class B outside in front of the dining hall. I have it on good authority (CDB Veteran) it will be cold hamburgers and not so hot dogs. Long as there is protein I’m good with it. Usually 3:00-5:00 is free time for the boys to run around camp. In the buddy system of course. They can climb a real rock climbing wall which is made of NC boulders not a fake one like on a cruise ship. They can shoot 22 rifles, shotguns, canoe, archery or fish. All are having a great time. Have a great Wednesday. TTFN

The boys learned about the Lunar Moth which we were told is protected and rare up here. They have been looking for one ever since. After lunch today a group of us went out and sat in the rocking chairs (just like cracker barrel) one boy looked up and there she was. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actias_luna

Good Tuesday Morning Troop,
Wow those early morning birds sure are consistent. How do they know it’s 6:05 every morning. The bright side is I don’t need to rely on the iPhone to wake up:) Did I mention the mountain we are staying on is called “Cold Mountain” yep just like the movie.
Monday was a busy day of Scout business. Merit Badges are in full swing and the merit badge scouts are making their way around the camp ground like grown up scholars. New Scouts are going from one station to the next learning basic scout skills. They are also working on some Merit Badge requirements, BONUS! Meanwhile ASM’s are running around making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be. Whew! Yes the diet or new exercise program has started. The ASM’s in base camp took a walk up cardiac ridge yesterday to check out the Boonesboro guys. They are busy making various items out of leather, pottery, and of course steel! I’m sorry I can not report on the hikers as they are out in the wilderness being hard core scouts. By the time we see them again in base camp it will be time to pack up and the blogging may be done for this trip.
Monday was also greeted by the mail man. Please see picture. Some lucky scouts were the recipient of many sweet treats which they opened in front of a exuberant group. They were very generous and shared the booty like great scouts. I’m also going to post a picture of a little bat that has made his home in one of the camp directory boards which is enclosed with glass. We get to walk by him at least a couple times a day to say hi.
Have a great Tuesday 854 Families! Rick

Sorry, I forgot to mention the swim test on Sunday. It was cold!!! But most did very well. So cold that some of the boys that signed up for the swimming merit badge are looking for alternates. Don’t blame you boys, I wouldn’t be swimming in that ice water either.

Family and Friends of Troop 854,
Monday morning in camp came early after a long Sunday. We had some free time to explore in the morning yesterday. And we adults just can’t understand the fun or running through that ice cold creek. The afternoon began the check in process at 1:00. We got a tour of the camp. You can see a map of CDB (Camp Daniel Boone) on their web site. Funny my feet don’t seem to remember climbing up and down a mountain last summer. We all got a quick look at what the Boonesboro guys are doing. Like making spoons out of a piece of wood. Making their own knifes and did you see their picture of the venison stew, yummy! In the evening we went to a Vespers Service at the camp fire ring. Following the Vespers service was a great camp fire put on by the camp staff with funny skits, some rock and roll, line dancing with some boogie disco to YMCA. We got back to camp around 10:30 and every one went to their bunks pretty much on their own. Good for the ASM’s;) This morning everyone is busy in their programs. The new scouts in the Going Great Program are busy learning scout skills and will be learning Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements. All of the Second year guys are busy running from one merit badge class to the next. Similar to taking college classes. This is a great independent learning experience for them. The Boonesboro guys woke up to a huge cannon blast at 7:00 a.m. The hikers are off as well on their week long hiking and backpacking experience. Funny I heard something about two female guides on one of these trips. Hope the 854 guys can keep up. Have a great week at home friends and family! YIS Rick

Good Morning Troop,
We had a great night. I even noticed some boys got showers on their own last night. We had the peaceful sounds of the rushing creek next to our camp site which lulled all the boys and ASM’s to sleep quite quickly. Not that hard after a 4:00 am wake up call and the long drive up. It was a cool evening and the bugs are minimal, woo hoo! All scouts were tucked in their bunks by 10:30 and slept through the night. We awoke this morning around 6:15 to the sounds of the rushing creek and a lot of chirping birds. We assembled in Class B uniforms to head to breakfast at 7:00. This morning was a smorgasbord of pastries, and assorted cereals. Diet starts tomorrow. However with the hike up and down to the dining hall I think one This morning is free time until lunch. The playing cards have all ready broken out. The fellowship and bonding has all ready commenced. Boonesboro campers have had a look at their Boonesboro Village where they will spend their week. They have cannons, blacksmithing, leather-crafting, gardening and lots of early america activities. Or would that be ancient america? As I sit here on the top of a mountain typing with a wi-fi signal;) The backpackers are getting their packs as light as possible and ready for a week of hiking. Good Luck guys! That is it for Sunday Morning. Keep looking for new pictures. Yours In Scouting! and Summer Camping Rick

Hello Troop 854 Families
Greetings from Canton North Carolina. The Troop had a great day of travel with no issues. We have all arrived safe and sound at CDB. However, reports from some drivers were that soda/pop and candy sales hit a high between Lake Mary and NC;) We arrived in time to have the dining hall all to our selves for our first dinner. We had turkey, stuffing and all the steamed veggies you could want and some lovely blue or red bug juice. Tomorrow we get up and have to head to breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tomorrow will most likely be a swim test in a very nice lake that I will post pictures of. There is also a very nice COLD water creek running through camp and some boys have all ready been sighted a little on the wet side. Boys will be boys. Don’t worry Mom it’s not that cold. Look for pictures on the current camp out page along with these blogs. Yours in Scouting! Rick Hubbard