Dear Mom and Dad,
I saw Rocky the Raccoon last night! We had just gone to bed when lots of people started screaming. I looked out of my tent and saw Rocky in the middle of camp. He had found somebody’s food and was dragging it out of New Shirmer.
This morning I was really, really tired. I think I stayed up too late playing cards and talking to my friends.
Sausage biscuits
Breakfast was really good. We had two sausage biscuits and some cereal. I had Apple Zings today – they were a lot like Apple Jacks. Mr. Lawton squeezed all the grease out of his sausage patty before he ate it. It looked like his napkin was soaking wet, but I just ate all the grease with mine!
Today was the last day for most of the classes at camp, but lots of boys have to do some make-up work tomorrow. Some of the boys still need to shoot for archery, rifle, and shotgun so that they can earn a high enough score to earn the badge. Lots of other boys have a chance to go kayaking or canoeing tomorrow when they don’t have class.
Woodsmen Beef Stew
I made beef stew in a dutch oven for lunch. All the Woodsmen worked together to make it, and it tasted as good as it smelled… and that was AWESOME. I think I can cook stew for both of you and Grandma once I get home. Angus has been a really fun teacher for all the first-year scouts.
McClure M. told me that the rest of the boys had meatball subs for lunch. I bet their food wasn’t nearly as good as mine.
I think I’ll get my Tote and Chit card tomorrow. That means that I can have a knife on camping trips now, but if I do something I’m not supposed to do, Mr. Gage will cut a corner off my card. If I lose all four corners, I have to earn a new card. I think a few of the older boys might need to lose some corners this week – I’ve seen a few of them with bloody hands and band-aids after they were carving.
Mr. Gage told me that Will N. was the first boy from Troop 1 to ever finish Radio merit badge at camp. Lots of boys told stories about how the teacher was boring, but Will told me that he had a lot of fun in the class. I think I’d like to take that next year – and maybe Santa Claus can bring me a radio so that I can talk to people all over the world!
Hank teaches lashing
Lots of boys are working on rank requirements today. Hank L. was teaching people how to tie lashings and make camp gadgets. Mr. Lawton says that Hank’s lashings are the best in the whole troop.
We started our scoutmaster conferences and Boards of Review for Tenderfoot this afternoon. I’m hoping to get my Tenderfoot rank by the time the week is over. I’m almost an Eagle scout!
We didn’t have to wear Class A uniforms for supper tonight, and the dining hall was open whenever troops wanted to go eat. We had fried chicken, rice and gravy, green beans, rolls, and ice cream for dessert. James B. ate six pieces of chicken!
After supper, some of the scouts in the Order of the Arrow had a Native American dance show. It was pretty cool to watch. After that, we went to the campfire and there was lots of dancing and some not-so-funny skits.
Order of the Arrow ceremony
Once it got dark, there was a big ceremony for the Order of the Arrow. Lots of people were dressed in Native American costumes, and nine of our Troop 1 scouts got “tapped” to be members of the OA. The older boys had voted on who they wanted to be elected to the OA a few months ago, but we didn’t know who was selected until tonight. There was lots of fancy music, and a few parents of the boys who were selected had come to camp to see the ceremony.
Tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun, and we are going to beat the counselors in ultimate frisbee again tomorrow night!
When I get home, I’d like for you to set the thermostat at 48 degrees for a few days.
I know you miss me, but I’m doing ok. I don’t really want the week to be over.
I love you,
Your son
Troop 1 lowers the camp flags
PS – Troop 1 lowered the camp flags tonight and I got to help!
PPS – Ligon showed everybody his abs today. He has a lot of muscles!!!
PPPS – I spent all my money. Do you think you could send me some more before we leave? They have really good ice cream and candy in the Trading Post.