UPDATES FOR THE 22ND AND 23RD!!!

Our brave warriors arriving home from a drippy night in the beach after War Canoe

Our drippy War Chief, Matt...

Telling drippy stories to the elders

More drippies...

All the drippies celebrate their victory, except Zach who had to drip dry his way to breakfast waiter duty

Staff at ease awaiting morning colors

Cody getting safe for canoeing class

And the unload...

And its up and out...

Cody coaches younger boys in the hoist..

And back to dry dock...perfect execution boys!!

Mr Finley at the potters wheel, wow!


The troop enjoys lunch w Ranger Joooe!!

Off-duty Scoutmaster enjoys a late lunch w Ryan in a tropical setting at Two Harbors before heading home for the week. We will miss him!!!

Jordan shares wisdom and stories about Kindness, as part of the nightly Scout Law teachings, followed by Zach leading the group in prayer before dinner.

After silently stalking their Prey for hours, Preditors Palmer, in red, and Matt, right behind him, attempt to steal an egg from its nest in a final "pounce."


"Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, Tomorrow! Ur always a day away!"

Morning Session comes just a bit too early with the days so full of fun!


Indian Head Rock!




The boys are perfect angels as they wait in the dinner line...they always seem to b the last ones called, so they get a little fidgety! Notice the matching shorts, evidence of the espri de corp of this tight little group.

MORE FUN!

Paddle Return!

Bumper Boats!

A Little help from the scoutmaster and he's ready to join the Penguins!

Justin practices the scout law, cleanliness, by keeping his fingernails buffed, shaped and dirt-free
Jordan's Bike Shop

THE FINLEY BOYS.... HMMM - NO SOUND, WHAT COULD THEY BE DOING?

Day 3!

The Story Behind The Socks

Ok...a story is told of this freckled, pale-faced indian princess many moons ago, Young Red Stripes

Ok, really. Jordan says generations ago, in the days of BOYS ONLY scouting, all laundry was hung on the line. But the camp director in those days didn't think the slum dog look was appropriate for an esteemed organization as Emerald Bay Scout camp.

So every Sunday (laundry day), he would go thru camp stripping tees, shorts, socks, undies, suits, towels and any number of other danglies, and auction them off as the evening's main event.

This ingenious fundraiser was so successful, that the tradition has continued for over 40 yrs. This historical pair of 1960-ish double-striped crew socks are considered collectable and highly valuable. They are more rare because Emerald Bay has discontinued their use in favor of the current, more fashionable three-striped knee highs.

Why am I in possession of these prized pieces? Because they r evidently mine from my former life as a very manly freckled, pale-faced indian prince, who was once an Emerald Bay Boy Scout Staff Member. Notice the initials...DLR...that's me! Donald Leanne Redmond, aka Young Two Stripes.

WAR CANOE ADVENTURES

The reason I took that nasty swim test was so I could go on War Canoe with the boys. So after blogging my way to sleep last night, I slept fitfully, while my head spun with funny things to say on my next post (likely a side effect from the coffee I downed an hour before bed).

Waking just after the boys round 6am, I ran my gear down to the dock (actually I handed my dry bag to Brian and HE ran it down to the dock for me while I brushed my hair and gave this old body another good morning stretch...talk about snap-crackle-pop!). They lined it all out and came back for a quick breakfast before launch time.

I felt rather adventurous and imagined myself to be an indian princess (pale-faced and freckled) as I stood thigh-deep in the tide, holding the canoe steady while my braves loaded our war gear. I asked for war paint, but this is boy scout camp, nobody brought any make up...duh mom). My lower jaw was shivering like a pair of wind-up dentures, but I took it well. I simply tried not to talk much because all my words were coming out in 5 and 6 syllables with the clammer of my teeth.

In a sincere effort not to get the benches wet (NOT), we sloshed over the side and sploshed into our seats. I suggested we all put our lips to the canoe floor and suck up all that extra water before we sink...but again, nobody took me on). Justin was our launch man and it was an incredible sight to behold him running in slow motion, pushing our canoe deep into the waves and then take a flying leap into the bow to take his position as point man.

SPL Matt took charge of the rudder, and we circled around to join the other canoes, while everyone yelled how-to instructions until he finally boomed, "Just keep rowing! I've done this before!" We stealthily sped through the ocean deep, waves licking the sides, a beautiful trail behind us...perfectly synced oars slicing thru the deep to the rhythm of my ancient sea-chant, "Stroke..Stroke... Heart Attack...Stroke! Broken Leg... Hypothermia... Stroke ...Stroke!" Finally Zach broke our trance-like state with, "MOM!! That's really irritating, just stick to the Stroke!"

With our hero Jordan coaching the boys, we wove a windy path thru the treacherous waters and fish-tailed our way to the other side of the island. We narrowly avoided the jutting boulders and played bumper cars with a few other canoes along the route, but no real damage was done. Well done, Mighty Braves!

All this and more is documented in pictures...but upon landing I lost my balance and went neck deep under water, phone and all...and now it won't take a charge. So I'll keep blogging as I get time on the staff computers, but hopefully Brian will be able to keep up with pictures for me. All for now! d

Day 2 begins....

Yummy! Fruit Loops/Egg Burrito

Time for War! AAaaaarrrrrgh!

Things a woman hears at scout camp...

* don't feel bad, ur not the only one on this boat who's vomitting (heard as I tried to maintain my balance w my head in the trash can)

* don't nag, that's the SPLs job! (As explained in previous post)

* don't touch those dishes, that's the boys' job! (A different boy serves as waiter each meal)

* don't worry, ur body goes into a kind shock when u first jump in, u can't breath for a minute or two cuz it so cold, but u get thru it. (As I was preparing for my swim test)

* now tell me, was that as bad as giving birth to him? (As two men had to pull me up out of the depths of the ocean after my swim test...I wanted to dump them back into the depths, but I refrained because I owed them my life)

* at least u didn't get stung by a sting ray like that guy last week! (I'm glad they saved that little comment until I was dragged out and lay gasping for air on the dock)

* gee u look pretty when u wake up (they haven't actually said that, it would just b nice to hear it, even knowing its a lie)

Day 1 Canoe to private beach for campout

HA!! Go Matt!!! We got our own private beach!

Yummmm

BBQ chips anyone?

As I lay me down to sleep, I heard someone say that Ken had sent home pics of our musical hoopla...so I thought I'd explain before u think too much of me.

Understand this: I teach piano so everyone thinks I play too, which I don't. I mean I could... years ago...... rather badly .......... now I fake it. Isn't that what teachers and coaches do? Talk the talk?

Anyway,when Ken told me about the staff Monday Music nite, I thought, Campfire Sing Along, guitars, Kumbaya...yay! I'm in!

Then he led me over to this big room w a piano at one end. The guitar player sees me and says, Good, r u the piano player?......who ME?! Not me! What has Ken gotten me into???

Well when Jordan gave me those puppy dog eyes, how could I let him down? Specially after he had just snuck my swim cloths into the StaffOnly dryer.

So I gathered up the same courage it took for me to pass that death-defying SwimTest, and sat down at those pearlies and thought, Do it for the boys, Girl! And I did.

Amazing to think that 6 beginning harmonica players HeeHaw-ing their way thu the banjo version of Over the Rainbow, Elton's Rocketman, Jet Plane and more (I drew the line at The Entertainer)...accompanied by this old lady plinka-plunkin' along...could actually sound good! But we pulled it off!

It was Ryan the guitar player who saved us all and we had a great time together! By the end of the nite, we were marveling at our incredible talent. "We should do this EVERY nite!" I thought I could hear the howling dogs on the mainland sounding off in agreement....