Troop 96 ... Survival Weekend

We're always very excited when we have repeat groups up at the Camp, and that especially holds true for the folks of Troop 96, who came up late Friday afternoon for a weekend of survival training!

Once again, the weather was simply wonderful and very mild for mid-August camping.  All our summer campers have really lucked out with that this year.

Friday night was a relatively tame night.  Tents pitched around (and under) the pavilion and a campfire going and whatnot.

There were several boys that were "new" to the survival/wilderness training and they were very excited.

Saturday, after some training and being passed a few basic supplies, the boys headed out in three groups to set up their shelters for the next day and a half.  One group headed down to Serenity Pond and made use of the dock to help set up their structure.

Of course, the mosquitoes were also probably very happy to see them!

The second group headed off to a clear spot in the woods off High Ridge Trail.  

A bit of a slope to this one.  But it looks like all their supplies are 'high' and dry.

The last group headed down to Crawdad Creek to set up shop.

Now this is my idea of an 'air' mattress!

They had a marvelous time and the boys were very good-natured.  As always, they did a fabulous job cleaning up and definitely fulfilled the Boy Scout outdoor code by being clean in their outdoor manners, being careful with fire and being considerate in the outdoors.  Thank you for visiting, Troop 96 -- come back again soon!

Owens Cross Roads Youth

Friday was cool and overcast and anything but your typical August day ... which made it the perfect day for a group of youth from Owens Cross Roads Baptist Church to enjoy a fishing expedition -- a final carefree day before the grind of school started!

Under supervision of their youth pastor (Brother Rusty) and their pastor (Brother Charles Miller -- a good friend of the camp and regular fisher of the ponds) they came in around 10 or so and headed straight to the ponds.  Both Rusty and Brother Charles fished two rather good-sized bass out of the pond.  Most of the youth managed to snag a bream or sunfish, as well.

They had a good time fishing and enjoying the day before packing it in and heading out to share a meal together.  We look forward to having them come back and visit again, soon!

Huntsville Park JAM!

Typically, August is not the month you want to camp ... it's hot, humid, and the bugs are, well, buggy!  But this summer has been anything but typical and the weather (after a stormy start) was quite lovely for an over-nighter when the group from Huntsville Park arrived Friday afternoon.

This was their annual JAM (Jesus and Me) camp for their children's department and they had a great crowd. About thirty children plus another ten youth workers and assorted adults.

The first order of business, while the cook got dinner on the grill, was for the kids--under youth supervision (or maybe it was the other way around)--to get the tents set up!

Once that was taken care of, they settled down to the business of having a good time, eating dinner and settling in for the night!

The next morning came in bright and clear and the group had breakfast and then settled in for morning devotions.

When their devotional time was finished, they moved onto game time!

One of their games involved a bowl, goggles, an M&M and whipped cream.  Definitely not a game for the feint of heart!

All in all, the group had a great time and we were happy to have them here ... and hope to have them back again soon!