Flint River Baptist Community Group

Even though we'd had a little rain overnight and on Friday morning, and the temps were going to dip down into the 40's on Saturday night, that didn't stop the Community Group and their families (and some youth, too) from Flint River from heading to the camp!  

They arrived right around 4:00 and immediately there were tents going up, folks headed down to the ponds with fishing poles, and some *serious* cooking going on!

Y'all . . . that really was *serious* cooking.

I think it may have been the first time there's been a shrimp boil up here. Isn't that gorgeous?? We were so tickled to be invited over for dinner and then Bill, the group's coordinator, also asked if we'd speak a little bit about the camp and about our ministry.  We were delighted!

There was a good sized group that was there for dinner and then it whittled down a little to the serious campers.

And campfire lovers! We have it on good authority that a significant number of the adults spent the entire night around the campfire . . . who needs a tent??

It was the perfect weekend for camping in the elements and suffice it to say, they had a great time. We hope the camp made some new friends!

Trail Life Troop 1613 & American Heritage Girls 3110

This past weekend we enjoyed the company from not one, but two groups!  The first was the Trail Life Troop 1613 that meets out at Southside Baptist Church. The guys arrived late Friday afternoon -- just in time to see the end of the warm temps we'd been enjoying all week and to get in some 'polar' camping!  In fact, it was so chilly Saturday morning, it took a while for folks to start stirring.  It was too cold to abandon those warm sleeping bags!

Along with the guys from Trail Life, we also had Troop 3110 from American Heritage Girls who also meet at Southside. 

A lot of the families are involved with both groups, so the guys graciously allowed the girls to piggyback on their reservation.  The guys just stayed the one night, but the girls were working on a badge that required a two-night stay.  Their leader told us that since there was ice on the ground Saturday morning, she'd also be looking for a polar camping badge for the girls to earn!

Friday evening there was some friendly girls vs. the boys camp cooking competition. Each group fixed a dinner and then had judges decide which was best (1) tasting, (2) looking, and (3) most original!  Not quite sure who the winner was, but both groups did an outstanding job of serving up camp grub!

Saturday the groups enjoyed a variety of activities including hiking the trails and some archery instruction.  While they were hiking down near the creek, one of the girls spotted a 'critter' on the ground, so of course they wanted to bring it back to show us . . .

A fuzzy, little tricolored (maybe?) bat . . . whom they named "Cheeseball".  The cold was probably a bit too much for him and he ended up on the ground.  By the time the girls brought him back up to the campground, he'd warmed up a bit and wanted to get moving.  They let him go on an appropriate (?) tree.

The girls also performed a service project and repainted all the electric boxes in the campground.  

They're now a very bright orange and highly visible!  We really appreciate the girls taking care of this.

Despite the cooler temps and a little frozen precipitation on Friday night, both groups had a wonderful time.  We hope they'll make another trip out, and soon!

Boy Scout Troop 70

The weather wasn't perfect, but that didn't stop the scouts from Troop 70 from having a great time!

These guys are serious about their camping . . . and their cooking!

Those are three propane-powered griddle stations!!  They're also serious about their cleaning stations:

It rained off and on throughout the weekend, and the temps stayed very cool, but other than a few who took occasional refuge under the pavilion (with a fire going, I might add), the boys were off in the field, playing tag, tossing the frisbees (we found disc frisbees *everywhere*), and hiking the trails.

The fellows of Troop 70 are long time visitors to the camp and we're glad they enjoyed their stay and didn't let a little rain hinder their fun!