2018 Cubs Fall Camp

This year's fall camp is come and gone, and all reports are that Cubs had a fabulous time.  This year Cubs returned to Scout Camp Otter Lake which they had not been to since Fall Camp 2013 - so it was a new facility for everyone except Akela.  Hathi was the first leader to arrive Friday evening shortly before 6pm, so she opened the gate and waited about 10 minutes before Akela arrived.  We opened the cottage which is a single room cabin with no electricity nor running water, a small kitchen in one corner with a propane stove and plenty of counter space, a wood stove, and about 24 beds, mostly bunk beds.  Oh and propane lights.  It was not long before Chill arrived, and shortly after that parents started arriving and dropping off their Cubs.  On Friday night we were sleeping in the cabin, and as Cubs arrived they picked their bunk and added to the general commotion and excitement.  Everyone was pretty excited about their first camp of the year and it really showed in the enthusiasm and spirit of the Cubs.

We had originally hoped for a campfire that night but a light sprinkle of rain convinced us to just tough it out inside, so we made hot chocolate and had some cookies, then went to bed.  4 or 5 of the last Cubs to arrive had to sleep on the floor since there was not enough bunk space, but nobody really cared.   A few also decided to sleep outside in tents to make room for others inside.

Saturday morning the earliest were up around 6:00 am and things were well underway around 7:00 when Akela sent the Cubs down the hill to Chill's tent to practice using their emergency whistles.  We opted for a quick-and-easy breakfast of instant oatmeal and boiled eggs, and then got down to the business of our activities.  We took the two Howler (3rd year) Cubs aside and had a quick chat with them about the criteria to use in forming tent groups, and they spent the next 10 or 15 minutes making all the decisions on which Cubs would be together in tents.  The Howlers clearly did a great job since there were next to no complaints from Cubs, so each group was then issued a tent to set up.

Once tents were up it was time to form our 4 activity groups of 6 or 7 Cubs each, and from there we set into our first activity.  The way activities run is that we divide into groups and run all 4 activities at the same time, with each group doing a different activity.  We then rotate activities throughout the day - with each rotation taking about 45 minutes.  At this camp our 4 activities were : (1) fishing lead by Mang and Baghira, (2) craft lead by Raksha, (3) learning to make a camp fire lead by Chill, and (4) learning about map and compass lead by Akela.  We did one activity before lunch and then Cubs stayed in their activity groups and each group made their own grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, which we enjoyed with cup-a-soup.

Around 1pm we continued on with two more activities and then took a long break for snacks, and finally completed the last activity after which there was free time until supper.  Cub leaders did the food prep and cooking for supper, which was beef fajitas with fried onions and red peppers, and falafel and quinoa/kale bites for those who could not eat beef.  Everyone ate extremely well, and after supper dishes were washed everyone was psyched for the fire building competition!

The main campfire was already started around 6pm, and around it we stood up 4 tripods about 4 feet high each, made from metal poles.  From each tripod we hung a water ballon, and explained to the Cubs that the competition involved building a fire under the water balloon, and the first to burst the balloon was the winner.  Around 6:30 the competition began, and the Cubs started scrambling around the woods near the campfire to gather tinder and kindling for their fires.  It was 15 minutes or so before any fires were going, and another 10 to 15 minutes before the first balloon was burst.  But even after the winners were declared the rest of the Cubs remained true to their task and fought hard to be 2nd place, and then 3rd.  And even the last place group was enthusiastically stoking their fire right until the grand finale when the last balloon finally burst!

By now there was a good bed of coals in the main campfire, so it was ready for making banana boats with bananas, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows.  All of the Cub leaders chipped in to help Cubs make their own boats, which Chill then arranged and tended on the campfire.  Bellies were full and happy by the time bed time rolled around.  Since it was going to be a lot chillier tonight than the previous night, Hathi and Baghira made the rounds to visit each tent and ensure each Cub was in their sleeping bag properly.  Oh and of course the tale would not be complete without mentioning that our lone girl Cub opted to spend the night in a hammock tent!

Sunday morning the first voices were heard around 6:00 am but it was not until 7:00 am that the campsite was in full roar.  Chill and Akela went off to cook bacon and make coffee in the cabin while the rest of the leaders assisted the Cubs in making their own pancakes for breakfast, which were cooked outside in the same area where they cooked their grilled cheese sandwiches the day before.  After breakfast a few of the leaders opted to start cleaning the cabin while the rest lead the charge corralling the Cubs into packing up their gear and tents.  At 11:00 the parents were arriving and within an hour only the leaders remained with their Cubs.

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