Tiny E: Spring 2010 Cub Scout Family Campout

Last weekend we were blessed with some BEAUTIFUL weather with which to enjoy the Spring Family Campout for Pack 1727. As last Spring, the campout was held at Peach Creek just up the road from us. Having it so close is really nice because it enabled Kim, Dylan and Gran to come visit us both Friday and Saturday evenings and have dinner with us!

Kim torches a marshmallow in preparation for S'Mores

Kim and Gran discuss the finer points of camp cuisine

Pop continues to step up his game, this year bringing a 30,000 BTU 2 burner propane stove to cook all the meals. He also brought a TV that he powered with the inverter! I was amazed at how good of a picture that little thing got. Finally, he brought a small generator; however, I don't think he used it. (This time around, the inverters worked and provided ample lighting for our campsite.)

The camp crew

While we were packing up to go home (we've always been the last ones to leave), Pop mentioned that maybe we shouldn't bring so much stuff. To that I replied that it's easy to say that when packing up to leave, but it's easy to forget how nice it is to have all that stuff throughout the weekend. The canopy, the stoves, the inverters, batteries, lights, air mattresses, etc, etc, all make it that much easier to go camping. I've never said that we were "Roughing It"! Plus, have you ever stepped out of a tent on a very cold Spring morning and smelled bacon and eggs cooking? It's Heaven! When we first moved to Houston before we had children, some Fraternity brothers and I went on several hiking trips where we packed everything we needed on our backs. The "meals" eaten on those trips and those nights of "sleep" that were had on those trips don't compare to what we've been having on these Scout camping trips. There is something to be said for roughing it, but right now, I'm enjoying this type of camping experience with my boys and my dad. And next time *I* may kick it up a notch by bringing a full out coffee maker! I'm tired of trying to perfect the art of making instant coffee. It just aint right! I'm sure the inverter will handle it, and if not, I saw a nifty one that I could buy online or at Target.

The Menu:
Friday
Dinner - Fried Shrimp, Catfish and French Fries. Yes, the entire camp full of boys once again came by to partake of the fries.

Saturday
Breakfast - Bacon and Eggs
Lunch - Hot Dogs w/ Chili and cheese
Dinner - Aunt Bessie's famous Chicken Jambalaya (ooooh this is so good.)

Sunday
Breakfast - Bacon and Eggs

After Dinner on Saturday night we had a huge bonfire and the boys told jokes, we sang songs and generally had a blast. Next time I will be fully prepared to play a lot of "campfire songs."

All throughout the weekend the boys played "War." They divided themselves into two groups: Indians and Warriors and played a generic version of Capture the Flag. It reminded me of my only two camping trips that I went on when I joined Boy Scouts as a teenager. Both trips we played capture the flag and me and Scott dominated everyone else. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, I dropped out of Scouts.

When we got home, we were so wiped out. Drew fell asleep on the futon upstairs, and I napped on the couch.