Family Night, 2019
I almost forgot to publish the update from last night!
I tell you, as the week goes along, the pace of life in camp picks up and goes from hectic to very nearly chaotic!
Wednesdays bring Family night and this year, Troop 451 was joined by Amey Kashyup's parents, Nikhilesh Subbakrishna and Poornima Nikhil, as well as his grandmother. They all made the long journey up from Texas to see Camp Geiger, the Wednesday night Campfire, and tonight's Tapping Fire. We are delighted they can join us for these festivities.
After dining in the dining hall on pizza from the infamous Pizza Ranch, we returned campward to adorn ourselves in our faithful class A uniforms for the Campfire. We then gathered in "Scoutcraft Valley", just by the Structure that Chad Kral and another Troop 451 Scouter helped to re-roof this Spring. There, we formed lines so we could process into the Running Horse Council Ring in a stately fashion, arms crossed and in silence.
Kevin Koonce was announced as our troop's Senior Patrol Leader and Mister Kral as our Scoutmaster. As is the tradition here, this year's Troop 451 Campmaster, Phillip Pratt, was also announced as we entered the ring. This is only fitting as the Campmaster has a big job and Phillip has discharged it well. We are delighted with his leadership and service!
The evening began with the assembled crowd (some 600+ campers and perhaps three times as many family members) reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. To get the evening's entertainment 'rolling' Camp Activities Director, Eric Walker, again performed the ever-popular "log roll" stunt. Age cannot wither nor custom stale its infinite monotony ;-)
We then enjoyed a song. This was a repeat-after-me song and a do-as-I-do song. Your correspondent is uncertain of its title as the lyrics consisted of an extended concatenation of nonsense syllables. Delightful to listen to and to parrot back, the lyric is nevertheless difficult to recall at the remove of just a minute or two, let alone an entire night and morning.
Then came the skits that are the centerpiece of any successful campfire program. We were treated to a couple of old favorites by other troops and then another song in the same vein as the first (a different repeat-after-me and do-as-I-do song with nonsense lyrics). Then all THREE of your Troop 451 skits were called to perform.
First, Aaron Holcomb, Adam Holcomb, Daniel Woehler, Marshall Hayden, Mason Ratcliff, and Simon Sackey performed an original composition, "Slushie" in honor of the ubiquitous and popular Camp Geiger frozen drink.
This was followed by Amey Kashyup, Austin Reid, Christian Woehler, Dylan Beaver, Jack Gaven, James Morales, Kaleb Rutherford, Landon Pratt, Max Brooks, Ramsey Eschlimann, and Robbie Paul, presenting "Dylan's Gotta Go Whee!" This silly skit makes use of the confusion between "whee", which is an exclamation, and its homophone, which is a noun.
Lastly, Scouters from our troop presented "Spice Girls!" In this skit, various would-be pop stars are interviewing for an opening with the eponymous musical group. Tara Koonce served as the interviewer. The first applicant was "Southern Spice", played by Stephen Lampe, suitably attired in stage drag. Then came "Tired Spice", convincingly performed by the also-well-attired elder Lampe. Ben Bryant entered, likewise in a dress but with an apron too, as "Eleven Herbs and Spice," a 'chef' with KFC and aspiring singer. Greg Hayden took a turn on stage as "Old Spice," after whom, staffer Chad Kral came on as "Camp Spice." I shall not spoil the big reveal.
All three skits were quite well-received by an audience that, in all fairness, must be described as an easy crowd. "Spice Girls" got an especially warm reception. Putting big guys in dresses always get a laugh and even more when they sport beards!
Several more skits followed. The campfire program concluded with a patriotic reading from Johnny Cash with staffers attired as soldiers from various wars important to American History. The finale was the unfurling of a huge Stars and Stripes that filled the entire stage of the council ring, accompanied by patriotic songs sung by a choir of staffers.
In all, it was another amusing and moving campfire production and a delightful way to spend a Wednesday evening.
Then it was back to camp and to bed or to the pavilion to continue working on costumes. The "Call to Quarters" and "Taps" had sounded well before your diligent correspondent discharged his daily duties.
Now, having done so, he shall repair to his tent and cot.
I tell you, as the week goes along, the pace of life in camp picks up and goes from hectic to very nearly chaotic!
Wednesdays bring Family night and this year, Troop 451 was joined by Amey Kashyup's parents, Nikhilesh Subbakrishna and Poornima Nikhil, as well as his grandmother. They all made the long journey up from Texas to see Camp Geiger, the Wednesday night Campfire, and tonight's Tapping Fire. We are delighted they can join us for these festivities.
After dining in the dining hall on pizza from the infamous Pizza Ranch, we returned campward to adorn ourselves in our faithful class A uniforms for the Campfire. We then gathered in "Scoutcraft Valley", just by the Structure that Chad Kral and another Troop 451 Scouter helped to re-roof this Spring. There, we formed lines so we could process into the Running Horse Council Ring in a stately fashion, arms crossed and in silence.
Kevin Koonce was announced as our troop's Senior Patrol Leader and Mister Kral as our Scoutmaster. As is the tradition here, this year's Troop 451 Campmaster, Phillip Pratt, was also announced as we entered the ring. This is only fitting as the Campmaster has a big job and Phillip has discharged it well. We are delighted with his leadership and service!
The evening began with the assembled crowd (some 600+ campers and perhaps three times as many family members) reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. To get the evening's entertainment 'rolling' Camp Activities Director, Eric Walker, again performed the ever-popular "log roll" stunt. Age cannot wither nor custom stale its infinite monotony ;-)
We then enjoyed a song. This was a repeat-after-me song and a do-as-I-do song. Your correspondent is uncertain of its title as the lyrics consisted of an extended concatenation of nonsense syllables. Delightful to listen to and to parrot back, the lyric is nevertheless difficult to recall at the remove of just a minute or two, let alone an entire night and morning.
Then came the skits that are the centerpiece of any successful campfire program. We were treated to a couple of old favorites by other troops and then another song in the same vein as the first (a different repeat-after-me and do-as-I-do song with nonsense lyrics). Then all THREE of your Troop 451 skits were called to perform.
First, Aaron Holcomb, Adam Holcomb, Daniel Woehler, Marshall Hayden, Mason Ratcliff, and Simon Sackey performed an original composition, "Slushie" in honor of the ubiquitous and popular Camp Geiger frozen drink.
This was followed by Amey Kashyup, Austin Reid, Christian Woehler, Dylan Beaver, Jack Gaven, James Morales, Kaleb Rutherford, Landon Pratt, Max Brooks, Ramsey Eschlimann, and Robbie Paul, presenting "Dylan's Gotta Go Whee!" This silly skit makes use of the confusion between "whee", which is an exclamation, and its homophone, which is a noun.
Lastly, Scouters from our troop presented "Spice Girls!" In this skit, various would-be pop stars are interviewing for an opening with the eponymous musical group. Tara Koonce served as the interviewer. The first applicant was "Southern Spice", played by Stephen Lampe, suitably attired in stage drag. Then came "Tired Spice", convincingly performed by the also-well-attired elder Lampe. Ben Bryant entered, likewise in a dress but with an apron too, as "Eleven Herbs and Spice," a 'chef' with KFC and aspiring singer. Greg Hayden took a turn on stage as "Old Spice," after whom, staffer Chad Kral came on as "Camp Spice." I shall not spoil the big reveal.
All three skits were quite well-received by an audience that, in all fairness, must be described as an easy crowd. "Spice Girls" got an especially warm reception. Putting big guys in dresses always get a laugh and even more when they sport beards!
Several more skits followed. The campfire program concluded with a patriotic reading from Johnny Cash with staffers attired as soldiers from various wars important to American History. The finale was the unfurling of a huge Stars and Stripes that filled the entire stage of the council ring, accompanied by patriotic songs sung by a choir of staffers.
In all, it was another amusing and moving campfire production and a delightful way to spend a Wednesday evening.
Then it was back to camp and to bed or to the pavilion to continue working on costumes. The "Call to Quarters" and "Taps" had sounded well before your diligent correspondent discharged his daily duties.
Now, having done so, he shall repair to his tent and cot.
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