Cub Scout Day Camp

It has taken two days, but I am finally recovered from my day at Cub Scout Day Camp. And after just one day with all those boys, I have a new respect for teachers. I just don't know how they do it and have any hair left.

The day starts out rainy and we just knew we would be coming home early. We divide the kids into their assigned cars anyway, collect lunches and packpacks, and drive the 20 minutes to the camp location. It is already sprinkling by the time we get there, but the kids don't even notice. We gather the boys and head to an open field for games. I relax into a comfort zone that all is well and all I have to do is sit around talking to the other parents. This blissful state lasted all of about fifteen minutes because I had not yet experienced idle time with our pack of 24 cub scouts and the 16 scouts that shared our rotation. Yes, that is 40 cub scouts with too much time and not enough patience. I was rudely jolted out of my ignorance when we did our next rotation at BB shooting, where only 12 kids could shoot at one time and the others had to wait. As you may know, waiting is not something that young boys do well. I survive the lull because the day is young and I am still stupid.

But then it is on to archery, and it is running behind schedule. I brilliantly decide to start a game of red light / green light with the ones that want to play. Bad idea... really bad idea. Have you ever supervised a game of red light / green light with all boys? It was cutthroat. Every single stoppage had arguments. The light was making up his own rules and had eyes like a hawk. I was saved finally by the archery field being ready for us. And then off to lunch (and i was thinking I should have brought a stronger drink).

It is at about this time I start to realize how hard it is to keep track of your 24 boys when all 300 scouts at the camp are wearing the exact same shirt. And I start hearing the same phrases over and over come out of my mouth: "Where do your hands belong?", "No, you can't use your water bottle as a water gun." "Mud stays on the ground.", "I have no idea what you will be doing next." "Where did Boy x go?" "I can't find the bead that you dropped." ,"Mud is not for throwing."

At about 2:00, the storms rolled in and the sky opened up. So all 300 cubs were herded into one building and I believe my eardrums sustained permanent damage. After thirty minutes of mind numbing inactivity, our leader made the decision to call it a day and I almost dropped to my knees in thankfulness.

At dinner, Jacob made the entire day better when he simply said "I am glad you came with me today, Mommy." What a great kid!

ps: Blogger won't let me upload the picture!