We're On Our Way!

Saturday Night, June 15th, 2019

Off to Camp Geiger!

What would summer be without a week at summer camp?

Less fun, for certain. A lot less!

For our Troop 451 Scouts, our annual trek to Missouri to experience summer camp at Camp Geiger is surely a high point of the hot weather season of the year. For our 2019 sojourn, we gathered at First United Methodist Church, Lewisville, our Charter Organization and the home to Troop 451, at 9:00 PM Saturday for a scheduled 9:30 departure.

Each Scout and Scouter packed and brought a sack lunch for Sunday and the large ice chests provided to keep them cool were soon filled with food of wide variety, some homemade and some store-bought. It's all good. The sack lunch is needed because the first meal served in the dining hall at Camp Geiger each session is Sunday dinner. Most other troops (but by no means all) who come to Camp Geiger call home locales considerably closer to St. Joseph than is North Texas. As a result, arriving early afternoon Sunday is a logistical breeze by comparison to those who hail from much further afield.

Were we to arrive at, say, 1:00 PM Sunday, we'd need to depart about 3:00 in the morning and that would be a hardship for families and their Scouts (not to mention Scouters!) Thus, we embark in the late evening and arrive well before lunchtime. Being the first troop on camp has its own charm and it is fun to get the lay of the place at a leisurely pace before the camp is fully filled with eager, active young people. 

A large crowd of families and Scouters was on hand to pitch in with the last minute chores needed before we could get underway. For some Scouts, this trip will mark their first extended stay away from home and family and many of the goodbyes are heartfelt indeed. For others who have run through this drill many times before, the moment is less fraught but no less poignant, notwithstanding.

We were underway before 10:00 pm and seemed to fly through the dark night. Our well-appointed bus, arranged through John Morales of Tempus Transportation, comes equipped with video screens and a player. Alas, on this particular conveyance, the WiFi was temporarily out of service, which made watching the movies a popular choice. 

We first viewed the Bugs Bunny/Michael Jordan classic "Space Jam," followed closely by "Guardians of the Galaxy."

We ran into rain a little South of Oklahoma City, shortly before we stopped at a Love's Truck Stop for a much-needed break about 12:45 AM. The brunt of the storm had passed through town before we arrived at Love's but we were treated to a steady, light drizzle and unseasonably cool temperatures. It just feels odd to want a jacket in Oklahoma City in mid-June, even after midnight. Who knew it would be 65 degrees Fahrenheit out?

 It is great to stretch one's legs and enjoy the convenience of indoor plumbing. Additionally, many folks availed themselves of the opportunity to acquire some sort of snack or drink. A few of our hungrier boys purchased sandwiches from the Subway Sandwich counter inside, while others were sated with Bugles, Cheesy Fries, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, etc. 

It should surprise no one that our Scouts were orderly and well-mannered in the suddenly-crowded truck stop, just as we have come to expect them to be. Even though it is no surprise, it is nonetheless gratifying to see our boys present themselves and represent our Troop and Scouting well. This is your correspondent's seventh trip to Geiger with our Scouts and, but for one exception some time ago, they have never disappointed.

Notably, as instructed, no one bought an energy drink. As long-time Troop 451 members are all too aware, energy drinks and long rides in the back of a bus do not lead to pleasant outcomes, though the combination does, most assuredly, lead to outcomes! It is nice to have young men who do not feel the need to circumvent every restriction and probe every limit! We have a great group of Scouts and it should be a wonderful week of Scouting at Camp Geiger.

Once back aboard our motor coach, the movie resumed. For a time, it seemed certain that the villainous villains would keep the upper hand but the steadfast Guardians somehow soldiered on despite almost insurmountable odds (and a veritable kaleidoscope of special effects!) it was not long before the audience began to dwindle as the excitement and activity of getting ready for and heading to camp began to take its toll on our hardy crew and, one by one, folks were embraced by the arms of Morpheus. 

Your stalwart Scoutmaster and your humble correspondent were among those Scouters remaining alert as an extra precaution. Even with an experienced, professional driver at the helm, an extra set of eyes (or two) is a good plan. The Scouters of Troop 451, as, one confides, is true of all Scouters, take the safety of the young people in our charge very seriously.

The rain continued and picked up North of Oklahoma City and the night was darker than on any previous bus ride to camp that I recall. Fortunately, the rain was not so heavy as to make visibility an issue. 

As usual, the bus ride has been uneventful and the Scouts have been very well behaved. For a busload of boys, they are quiet and calm. The first time I made this annual pilgrimage to the Geiger Reservation, I was surprised by this calm. From my own days as a Scout, recalling long bus rides to various camping adventures, my expectations were for a bit more color and noise from the boys. I am not sorry that my expectations were pleasantly confounded. By now, I take this for granted but I mention it now because it is worth reporting. The long ride to Missouri is not a rolling zoo and for that, I believe, all of us Scouters are grateful.

The long and action-packed second movie is now over and, somehow our heroes prevailed and utterly crushed the dark forces of whoever it was with whom they were struggling. For a while there, things were touch-and-go. We can relax, knowing the galaxy was saved once more. 

Now, our bus is even quieter than before. The night is dark and damp and wise souls are seeking, and perhaps finding, sleep. Come the morrow, the day will be packed with many things to do but there will be updates as frequently as can be managed. I note I have had no occasion to refer to any Scout by name so far and, for the bus ride, that is a good thing!

For several Scouters, their Father’s Day present will be a week of summer camp, serving our Scouts. Lance Brooks is here with his Scout Max and Gregory Hayden is here with Marshall. Steve Kral will be seeing his son Chad, who is staffing at camp again this year. Jim Koonce is joined not only by our SPL Kevin Koonce but also by his wife Shelly and their daughter Tara, who is a Scouter with our troop. Our Committee Chair, Mark Lampe joins his son Stephen for a week at Geiger and Phillip Pratt returns for his second year along with his son, Landon. Your correspondent is more than grateful to spend a week with his son, who after several years on camp staff is attending Geiger with our troop as a Scouter.

Happy Father’s Day to all of our Troop 451 dads and to all Fathers, wherever they may be.