Marcy & Lana Get Certified to Camp!

Well, we survived - a weekend at camp.  We arrived at Camp Arnold at 8:00AM and carried our gear to the campsite.  We then met with our patrols to sort out our gear, equipment and duties.  Marcy's patrol was the Blues Clues, and Lana's was the Purple Princesses.  There were a total of four patrols - each one having a leader and a co-leader.  

Marcy learning how to roll up the sides of the tent.

The first day (Saturday), we learned how to take inventory of all the council- provided camping equipment (dishes, cookware, etc.), how to build a 10-minute (small) fire, how to start a charcoal fire, tool safety, cleaning the latrines, inspecting the tents, care of the tents, and ceremonies.

Marcy in front of our tent	Marcy building her 10-minute fire
Lana using a saw	Lana practicing a flag ceremony
One of our tent-mates cleaning the latrines.   The gentleman was one of our trainers, Ron.

Each patrol was responsible for their own meals, and was split up into four 2-person teams.  Each team, at each meal, had one of the following responsibilities:  cooking, fire-building, hostess & cleanup.  For Saturday lunch each patrol cooked a one-pot meal.     Lana's Patrol preparing lunch on Saturday.  (Lisa, Debbie, Sue & Martha) ---->

For dinner that evening we made foil packet dinners.  The fire builders had to build a charcoal fire using coffee cans, charcoal, and a home-made firestarter (made with a paper egg-carton, dryer lint and paraffin).  Lana's patrol was responsible for building and  lighting the Campfire Ceremony fire (a rather large fire). 

The fire that Lana's patrol built. Lana started it with one match!	Marcy enjoying the Campfire Ceremony.

We got to bed around 10:30 that night - VERY exhausted.  Marcy and Lana did get to sleep in the same tent even though they were in separate patrols.  The tents are very nice.  They are all on wooden platforms that are about 2 feet high.  We had cots to sleep on (that were actually pretty comfortable, although squeaky).  The temperature stayed pretty comfortable until around 5:00AM, when a cold front moved in.  It got extremely cold!  Lana had on thermals, a sweatsuit, socks, and a hat, and was still shivering in her sleeping bag!

Sunday morning we learned to cook breakfast on our vagabond stoves.  We had to make the vagabond stoves and heat sources before we came to camp.  The vagabond stove is a large coffee can with one end removed, and a hole cut into the back (for your heat source & air).  The heat source was made with a tuna can, cardboard and paraffin wax.  And yes, it actually worked!     <--Lana's "buddy" Mary, cooking her "egg in a hole" on her vagabond stove.

We spent most of the day on Sunday in the warm, heated trainer's cabin learning how to tie knots, outdoor safety, etc.  We then went outside for a tree hike and learned about various trees. 

Then Marcy's patrol (the Color Guard) led the flag ceremony.

Afterward another patrol led the closing ceremony, at which we each shared our feelings about the weekend, and finished with the Friendship Circle.

Marcy and Lana had a great time and are looking forward to going camping with the troop soon!