BSA Troop 451, Lewisville, TX

And we escaped the rain once again last night.  Forecast showed rain and storms starting around 2am and going throughout the morning.  Aside from a scattered shower or 2 during the night, the campsite was fairly dry as the troop started to wake up. Around 5:30 or so you will begin to hear rumblings around camp...yawns, a slow shuffle down to the pavilion, or coffee being made.  Grabbing daily temperature checks before we head to the dining hall to stay compliant with the camp Geiger Covid protocols.  The assembly at the flags is at 7:20 am and Troop 451 was there early and ready to eat.  Today’s breakfast was a hearty helping of pancakes, bacon and juice.   As the troop inhaled their pancakes one of our scouts had a head of wet hair, which is odd considering the lack of rain.  One of our scouts, Jonathan Stephens had just returned from the swimming pool where he had completed the camp Geiger 1 mile swim.  Accompanied by Luke Goss each morning for practice to satisfy the “buddy system”.

 Who doesn’t love a nice surprise?  I mean really...a larger tax return, that extra cookie in the cookie jar, just a warning instead of a ticket for speeding.  All something that we want in our lives.  An example of an unwanted surprise?  Your youngest son informing you of the 6:00am nature hike for his bird study class...at 10:30 the night before.  Obviously not having an alarm clock, I offered my services to wake him up at 5:30.....he said with a forced smile. Rain was in the forecast for all of the evening and luckily the weather men up here in Missouri are just as inept as the ones in Dallas.  No rain at all during the evening but as my alarm clock emitted that joyous sound, the rain started to fall.  A light rain that ended up lasting for a couple of hours...but just enough to get the ground muddy in some spots.  The rain from the previous week is still making its mark here at camp Geiger.   Breakfast was a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit with hash browns.  Cereal with milk....and

I’d love to tell everyone that I got started on the blog late as I slept in to catch up on my much needed sleep.  But as I lay here wide awake  at 3:37 in the a.m. I am quickly reminded that even adults can be eager with anticipation for the day to begin.  Alas, it is the first day of merit badge classes.   All of the “chaos” of the checkin day is gone. The boys get a dose of structure and planing as they are reminded of what their classes are and where on camp that they need to go to attend those classes.   Breakfast was sausage links and French toast sticks with choice of water or apple juice.  As the scouts inhaled the selections of the day the camp Geiger radio station KAMP played the hits.  A few of the adult leaders left after eating to make our way back to camp as to make sure that we have the site as clean and ready.   The scouts already ultimately responsible for the campsite but a double or triple check never hurts.   The boys have classes 1, 2 and 3 before they break for lun

 As I lay here awake at 4:45am listening to the musical notes of the cricket that has decided to tent with me I realize that camp is almost here.  The bus en route currently and it currently in Topeka, KS driving north to St Joseph.   This is my first year coming up with the “early crew” as my first years were on the bus, watching Space Jam, eating junk food, giddy with excitement.  The official number of scouts and adult leaders climbed to 51 this year therefore some leave Saturday morning to haul the trailers.  Footlockers, cots, chairs...as much as the trailers could handle that were loaded on Friday night started the trek to Geiger on Saturday morning.  Jessica Harris, Shelly and Jim Koonce, and Mark DiCiaccio in one truck, with Richard Covington, Mark Lampe and myself in the other truck.  Normally there is only 1 trailer taken but we were blessed this year as Mr Covington is part of the Ranger staff this year and that afforded us the opportunity to use the 2nd trailer.   We arrive