CAMP  CEDARS

          When the troop got to Camp Cedars on Sunday we all started to head down to the office.  At the office we all got an orange wristband that said CAMP CEDARS then on the other side of it said www.mac-bsa.org .  Without this wristband we couldn’t do any of the activities around camp.  After that we went down to our new home, Doc R.  There we unloaded and started to set up camp.  Then we walked up to the dinning hall for troop pictures, say cheese!  Now it was time for the swimming tests.  Everyone had to get in the pool and swim around it doing either the breast stroke or the American crawl - our choice.  Next, we had to swim using the elementary backstroke; and finally, we had to float on our backs.  There are three ranks for the swimming test: Blue (best) Red (intermediate) and White (still needs allot of practice).  All of Troop 249 earned the Blue swimmer rank, enabling us to go anywhere in the pool!  After that, we went back to the camp site and finished unpacking.  That night at the camp fire we were greeted and welcomed by the staff and managers.  Different managers of different subjects would come out and tell what their subject was and then tell us the names of the staff members that were helping them.  Back at our camp site we all got to visit with the troop that we were sharing the camp site with until it was time to got to bed. 

          In the mourning we had to go to flags then, breakfast!  After breakfast we started off to classes.  Classes took most of the day. The latest class went to 3:45, others got off at 3:30. In the middle of all the classes there was lunch at 12:15 - mmmmm.  After lunch we finished up our classes and then return to the camp site to work on homework or play around while others went to the trading post or free swim.  Flags were from 6:00-6:25 PM.  Then it was time for supper at the Mess hall.  After dinner most of the campers went down to the camp site.  Others went horseback riding or to other activities for merit badges.  At 10:00 it was everyone in tents for lights out.  Tuesday was much like Monday, breakfast, classes, lunch, more classes, dinner, visiting at the camp site, then lights out. 

          Wednesday was when the fun for some people really kicked in.  It started out good - we all got up and went to flags.  There, all or most of the first years went up and did flags with the staff.  Then everyone went to breakfast and classes.  Lunch was at 12:15 again, followed by our two remaining classes.  A little bit after dinner we had a camp fire at the auditorium.  While there, six people from our troop were pick to be in Nanibazu!  They were: Austin Hanke, Tyler Hempel, Dan Wolf, Dustin Bellows, Mikael Scheffel, and Tarry Hempel!  These people left us for the night going to a secret place in Camp Cedars…  The rest of us went back to camp and talked and hung out with the other troop until it was bedtime. 

          Thursday, two more days till we had to leave.  At flags the rest of the first years went up to do flags, some that had already went up on Wednesday even got to help again.  During classes we saw the six people that had been chosen to be in Nanibazhu but we could not talk to then or temp then to talk to us.  After dinner the people chosen for Nanibazhu left with other people that were already in Nanibazhu and the rest of us went to the camp site.  We were going to stay up and wait for then to return but it grew to be too late and we had to got to bed. 

          In the mourning we saw the new Nanibazhu members and got to say hi to them and congratulate them . They were pretty happy too because for one thing they got into Nanibazhu; and, two they could talk now! 

          Friday, the last day.  Flags and breakfast came and went. Classes went by too, but at lunch, things were different!  We got to come to the camp site instead of going to the mess hall because it was Austin Hanke’s birthday party!!!  His birthday was really on Thursday but he was with Nanibazhu, so we had to celebrate it on Friday.  Arlynda, brought food, drinks, and birthday cake for all the troop.  Jan and Alison helped too.  We owe them a big thanks!  After lunch we finished up our classes then came back to the camp site.  At dinner, parents were allowed to come and eat with us at the mess hall, or they could come to the camp site and eat with us, it was up to them.  On Saturday mourning we all started to pack up as soon as we were awake enough.  Some of the people who got up early got finished packing, but the others who sleep in a little longer, had to finish after breakfast.  Then we headed home from our long and tiring, yet fun and exciting week at Camp Cedars! 

          We ALSO owe a big “ THANKS! ” to Tarry Hempel and Norm Lee for staying the whole week with us at camp!  Along with them, we also need to thank Suzette Juel, who stayed 2 nights; Dave Messersmith, who stayed 1 night; Jerry Graber, who stayed 1 night; and Mark Bellows, who stayed 1 night.  And a big thank you to all the other parents who helped, and to every scout who came to camp.

HOPE YOU HAD FUN!!!!