Camp Cornhusker: June 13-19
With there being a bit of uncertainty when it was time to register for summer camp the Troop chose to stay local and attend Camp Cornhusker. This would be Ralph's 2nd year in a row of attending Camp Cornhusker and Henry's too in a sense since he went last year to Webelo camp - but his first week long camp.
In keeping with tradition I attended as well since it was Henry's first BSA camp. Most of the restrictions from last year were lifted - the biggest modifications from "regular" camp was most scouts camped in their own tent but Ralph and Henry could share. We were able to eat in the dining hall but the camp was split into two shifts and one Troop ate outside.
The Troop did flags on Monday morning. Henry helped with the American flag; Ralph posted the Nebraska flag.
Ralph took Pioneering (it met during two periods), Electronics, and Engineering.
Henry took "Trail to First Class" (which worked on various rank requirements), Swimming, and First Aid.
On Thursday Ralph and I were called out during the Order of the Arrow call outs. The Order of the Arrow is an Honor Society in scouting and Scouts must be invited to join.
The last night of camp the scouts decided to sleep in hammocks and took their tents down on Friday. Mother Nature decided she didn't like that idea and decided she might bring a storm to the area. Rather than sleep in hammocks the scouts ended up tarping the picnic shelter. Henry and Nathan slept in their parents tent due to space in the picnic shelter. Henry peaks in on the group Saturday morning.
We finally spied a sleeping Ralph on the ground.
Both boys completed all the merit badges at camp!
Grand Island Merit Badge University: July 23-25
I discovered the GI MBU last year . . and it seemed like a great opportunity to do some badges that are not readily available PLUS the meals are provided with no cooking required. They had some offerings I don't see very often including tinsmith and metalwork.
A total of 7 scouts from the Troop and 3 parents attended. There was a class Friday afternoon, water hose fights at the nearby Fire Station Friday evening, a morning and afternoon class Saturday, Oasis water park Saturday evening, and a class Sunday morning.
Ralph took surveying, metalwork (tinsmith), sustainability, and safety.
Henry took electronics, architecture, genealogy, and safety.
Henry has a few requirements to finish up on one badge but otherwise between completing the prerequisites and what was done in the classes they completed the other badges they were signed up for.
Order of Arrow Pow Wow: August 6-8
This campout was not on our list but came about when Ralph and I were "called out" at camp in June. We did not plan to have three campouts this summer; it just happened. The first part of the Order of the Arrow is going through the "Ordeal" weekend and that is what Ralph and I did this weekend. There will be a weekend in the spring we can go through the "Brotherhood"
Ralph and Malcolm relaxing before the events of the weekend.
Malcolm, Ralph, and Jullian after the ceremony - and Ralph receiving his OA membership card and other information.
Other Scouting Activities
The boys also did flags at the blood bank for scouts on Memorial Day and July 4th.
And spent Sunday evenings volunteering with the Lincoln Municipal Band handing out programs and collecting donations for service hours.
In an effort to find various day camps that weren't just "daycare" for Henry I ran across a two day Environmental Science merit badge class at the Wildlife Safari Park near Ashland. This was one of my views when I picked him up the first day as the building the class met in was partly through the safari.
