Snips and Snails

This past weekend the whole family went camping with Cub Scout Pack 242 at Newport News Park. The weekend called for rain but thankfully it held off until late Saturday night. Camping with the Cub Scouts is family camping in tents. There were at least 100 people there. At this spring campout, all dens were responsible for their own cooking, which made it a little more challenging but we managed well since we had 3 portable double burner stoves and willing parents that helped.

Matt actually didn't mind washing dishes...such a good boy.

On Saturday the whole Pack participated in a conservation project where we planted 500 pine tree seedlings. No trees had been planted at the park since Hurricane Isabel. Sounds like an easy enough project for the boys and parents to work together but finding soft ground was a problem. The boys persevered and all were planted. I had to laugh at one point as one of my scouts was getting a little tired and asked me, "Why the heck do we have to plant more trees in a forest?"

Afterward we had some den time. So both Tiger dens along with some Wolf scouts went on a hike/scavenger hunt. Ted covered the rest of the requirements for the Hiking Beltloop.

While on the hike the boys found a frog and the poor thing became the camp mascot. It was finally released at the end of the campfire ceremony on Saturday night.

Besides working on the hiking beltloop, I and the other Tiger den leader planned a game of kickball for the boys.The boys were having fun while earning that beltloop as well. Not long after, we found that just about the entire Pack was playing kickball with us. Go figure.

 At the campfire ceremony each den had to perform a skit or song. Both Tiger dens worked together and opted to sing. The boys showed so much scout spirit the whole weekend that both Tiger dens ended up sharing the "Spirit Stick". This is the second time my Tiger den was awarded this. So, I plan to have the boys decorate it with a frog, of course.

The boys got to make smores and have hot cocoa that Alex and Sophia helped put together.

 It was a perfect way to end the evening, besides falling asleep to the soothing sound of falling rain.