Camp Geiger - Sun. June 19

Sunday at Camp Geiger brings the arrival of the rest of our crew, setting up camp, the swim test, our first meal in the dining hall and tonight, the opening ceremony in the new Council Ring. For members of Mic-O-Say, it also brings a visit to the Mic-O-Say grounds for a recommitment to what being a member of the tribe is all about.

We started our day about 6 a.m. unloading the truck and stacking everything up for the road warriors coming on the bus. After that, we enjoyed a very happy Father's Day breakfast at the local Bob Evans - a feast of eggs and bacon, pancakes and French toast, biscuits and gravy. Oh, and our last chance for caffeine!

After breakfast, it was back to camp to clean up and organize the rest of camp. Part of the real joy of camp is watching the boys gel as a troop and reconnecting with friends they've only seen in passing during the previous year.

The day is gorgeous here! Thankfully the temperature is only 72 degrees because the humidity is through the roof - at least for us Texans. The Missouri is still swollen from all the rain earlier in the spring so things are a bit stickier than most of us like. There are also plenty of mosquitoes and horseflies, but we have our bug spray and quick reflexes.

The boys are smart and are finding fun ways to stay cool. They are working hard setting up camp, but are also finding plenty of time to relax. For many, this is the first time to set up any kind of living space and they are pretty proud as they should be.

While the boys worked hard putting up all the dining flies...

The adults engineered a way to get Mr. Kay up on the roof of the latrine to lay out all the hoses we've strung together to make our own shower. The Geiger shower houses are a good 1/2 mile from Arapaho and there's nothing quite like getting clean and then sweating your way back to the campsite. So about 8 years ago, Gary Leuking, Terry Goodnight and company came up with the brilliant idea of stringing 5 hoses together, putting a nozzle on the end and laying them on the roof to heat the water. We keep the water on, let it heat up and then voila! we turn on the nozzle and... instant shower.

Mr. Kay is doing a great job as camp master and already has us ticking like a Swiss watch.

For now, camp is set. The tents are organized. The boys are on their way to take their swim tests and the troop gateway is up welcoming all those who come to visit.

It is only appropriate that our first visitor after getting the gateway raised, was 451 Eagle Scout and now Camp Geiger counselor Brad Leuking (on the left) who showed up with one of his buddies on staff. Elliot Covington is also one of the counselors here this summer and has visited us a few times. Yes Moms, this is what happens to your little guys. They seem young now, but in the blink of an eye they too will be grown up and coming back to Geiger on staff.

We are all so excited to be here and look forward to what the week will bring! We are reminded everywhere we turn of God's wonder in all things large...

and small...

and we are all just happy to be in the middle of it.