The final campfire is over and the boys are headed back to camp as a write you. They wanted this award and worked hard to get it. They participated in all the activities they could and exemplified the Oath and Law this week. This is a very special award that is given to the one troop that is the best in camp. Congratulations to the 20 scouts who worked together this week. This is an honor well deserved. YIS, Bill Faulkinberry Scoutmaster
One day to go. Thanks to Daniel and helping with our dinner. The boys truly enjoyed it and there was at least one comment that Ed has some competition. The boys elected to do the morning flag ceremony this morning and as they usually do, the worked on it until about 10:00 last night so they could make an impression. Things went well during the ceremony, but the food delivery truck came which made it hard to hear. The boys raised the American Flag, the Georgia Flag and the Camp flag. We obtained permission and were able to fly the “Ben” flag. It is the third flag we raised in the line. The boys did their usual “pop”. But before raising it our SPL said ” This flag is being flown in honor and remembrance of Ben Stewart, an Eagle Scout from Troop 514. He served as the senior patrol leader for youth leadership training. He earned boy scouting’s Triple Crown. He was a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. He was on the Dean’s List at Georgia Southern University. He was a mentor to many and a friend to more”. We have pictures of the flag flying briskly in the wind this morning.
YIS,
Bill Faulkinberry
Everyone is everywhere today. They are everywhere from the Ballard Cabin up to Big Rock. Today is Free Range Thursday and activities are planned for the scouts to participate in that are fun for them. Some are shooting to finish their qualifications for their particular shooting sport merit badge and some just for fund. The lake has canoes, paddle boards, kayaks, and sailing boats floating around. the blob has a small line as well. There are competitions as well she the boys are participating in too. They boys are to be congratulated as they scored the highest score on their camp inspection, a 98!!! The weather that was anticipated last night did not occur but it’s always better safe than sorry. We had an area campfire around a candle at the waterfront hosted by the nature lodge and waterfront staff. Skits and songs were enjoyed by all. This was followed by an Order of the Arrow get together at the dining hall for the members of the Order, both in our local chapter and any chapter who was represented in camp. Our own Steve Back drove up after work yesterday to attend. Today, our own Daniel Carter drove up. Daniel has been entrusted with Ed Fleeson’s lasagna recipe and will be using Ed’s Dutch ovens to prepare the meal for us. It is the best meal of the weekend. Tomorrow will be the last day and after the inspection we will start breaking down the camp and preparing to leave on Saturday. Our trailers will be remove from camp at 7:00 and we get breakfast at 7:30 so we could be on the road as early as 8:00. This means we could be home around 9:30. We will make calls as we get closer. As far as I know everything is going smoothly. No home sickness that I am aware of, in fact I think our boys are helping the other troop sharing a campsite which is truly wonderful to see. Tomorrow on our last full day at camp and I’ll send another update, internet permitting. YIS, Bill Faulkinberry
Sorry, but had internet problems. Just want everyone to know everything is great. We have pretty good weather up until this afternoon when we had rain come through and kept all the aquatic merit badge scouts out of the water this afternoon. Check in on Sunday went smooth and the scouts who wanted to took the swim test. After trying all passed who needed passed so they were able to take their swim test. We are staying in the Adirondacks at the Powell camp sites. The Forth of July fireworks were done here at the opening campfire on Sunday night. After skits and songs by the staff we have a 15-20 minute show. Great fireworks were enjoyed by all, and for us the commute home took all of five minutes. Classes started Monday and the Scouts have given me good feedback on the classes they are taking. Even the oldest scout has said this is his best summer camp yet. The three scouts in TNT are doing well and enjoying the skills they are learning. Foot is pretty good to. Not to much is being thrown out so they must like it. Tomorrow is Free Range Thursday with all types of activities being available. The TNT scouts will be taking their five mile hike tomorrow morning and attending a CPR demonstration when they get back. The guys taking shooting sports will be working on qualifying. The campfire this evening was changed to 8;00 due to some incoming weather coming in about 9:00. We will be in bed by then. More tomorrow if the internet holds. YIS, Bill F
Yesterday was free range Thursday where there were no official classes, but plenty of activities. The scouts were everywhere at camp yesterday, participating in scout craft competitions, water front activities, and shooting sports to name a few. They had fun participating and did well in several events.
Last evening our own Mr. Fleeson came to camp and prepared dinner for the troop. Thursday is the camp staff’s night off. He fixed his famous lasagna for us and as always, it was the best meal of the week by far. Thanks to Mr. Fleeson for doing this for the boys.
Yesterday evening was first real rain we have had all week and luckily it came after dinner was done. It lasted about 30 minutes.
This morning the troop raised the flags for the camp. They practiced a couple hours last night and it showed. The did a great job and ended with pause from the camp.
Today is our last day at camp. The scouts have a full day of classes and one last camp inspection. We will start taking down the gateway this afternoon and prepare to leave early in the morning. Our goal is to be home no later than 11:00. We will call you to let you know specifically what time we will be getting in to the church. After the trailers are unloaded and everything is put away, the scouts will be free to leave.
Thanks to all for allowing me and the other adults to spend this week with them. They are a joy to be with and our greatest reward is watching them grow and mature.
YIS,
Bill Faulkinberry
We had another good day. The boys are all getting along well and getting everything done they need to do. They are keeping the campsite clean and their bunks squared away. Don’t believe them if they say the don’t know how to clean their rooms. They are ALL doing a good job here. Their campsite inspection yesterday will back it up. They got a 60, a perfect score. All remain well with no injuries or illness to report, but one is walking like a cowboy but is better with treatment.
Had the skit/song/OA campfire last night. Different skits and they had us laughing. Weather look threatening, but held off until we were back in camp and then just rain. Cooled everything down. We had a visit from our lone scout in Gold Rush last evening and he relays he is have a good time too.
Today is free range Thursday. No classed, but activities all over camp. Our SPL has organized to hopefully give us maximum participation. The scouts in TNT will be on a 5 mile hike this morning. Other scouts will be participating in a various competitions.
John and I are on our way to Gold Rush and then back to camp to cheer on the other scouts.
YIS,
Bill and John
Boys were all over camp attending classes yesterday. They are telling me they are enjoying it and learning. They have really come together and are having a lot of fun too. Before dinner the football is being tossed around camp and they are playing board games which some how fit into their foot lockers. We distributed troop t-shirts last night and all are wearing them today. The looked sharp this morning marching. They invited a smaller troop to march to flags and they really got into it. You could hear the echo which is quite impressive.
The flag pole is up, all 50 feet of it. We can safely say that the American Flag flying in our campsite is by far the highest flag flying in camp. It doesn’t hurt that the Bridges campsite is on top of a hill as well.
Last night we had a scout represent the troop in the minute man competition and tied six knots in a minute. He said the people around him were only doing 2-4 so he feels good about it. The winner will be recognized at the final campfire on Friday. The camp also put on a reptile and mammal show for them last night as well. Mr. Smith represented the scoutmasters in the Scoutmaster Dutch oven cook off making a classic Georgia peach cobbler.
Today it is more classes for the boys. The adults will be doing their service project for the camp which will also help the boys in their goal in winning honor troop, the best troop at camp.
All are healthy and (knock of wood) injury free. Weather is hot but just a little cooler yesterday as there was ran around us, but not at camp. Hopefully more of the same today. The first of the care packages came yesterday and I want to thank you parents for the sugar highs we experienced that always goes along with us.
I’ve got to get breakfast and then be ready to teach a class.
YIS,
Bill
Weather is hot but the scouts remain in good spirits and are keeping hydrated. We have ice water and gateraide in camp and all the class location have ice water as well.. Everyone is here now. We won’t see one until the campfire on Wednesday night as he is doing the Gold Rush Program. They go back in time to 1829 and live like they did then, making their own eating utensils, working iron and throwing knives and tomahawks.
Had a few changes in merit badges yesterday, so everything should be settled down today. It’s fun to see the younger scouts participate in our traditions. The cadences are getting louder and our SPL still has his voice.
Last night was the scoutmaster belly flop contest. Our very own assistant scoutmaster, Pink Belly Mike, held his own.
The food remains good in comparison to previous years. Hot dogs for lunch and Sloppy Joes for dinner. Breakfast this morning will be french toast.
We had our first campsite inspection yesterday and the boys did really well. The scored 59 out of sixty and were tied at the top. Lost one point for trash somewhere. They took it into their own hand not to miss that single point and did trash line this morning. As yes they are making their beds (sort of anyway).
All is well, no sickness and no injuries. You would be proud of all our boys.
We have second shift for the meals so I’m headed back to the dinning hall to meet the boys
YIS
Bill
We made the trip up yesterday and after a quick bite at Wendy’s headed to camp. Check in went smoothly and by 2:30 we are in our campsite. We have Upper Bridges, our favorite site. We are sharing i with two other troops, a small troop which has two of the Adirondacks in upper and a troop from the Tampa Florida area in lower bridges. The scouts got the gate way up in record time, while others are were at the waterfront taking their swim tests.
Food is better this year than any other year that any of the adults can remember. The have a good salad bar with dinner and a potato bar which is new this year.
We have fireworks last night for Independence Day. Has to be one of the best displays I’ve seen as you don’t have to fight crowds afterwards and literally the fireworks are going off directly overhead. The only drawback was rain when we first sat down, but stopped during the show.
All the boys had a good night last night and woke up ready to go. They have started their first period classes and we will be walking around checking to make sure all are have a positive experience.
I will check in tomorrow to let you know how the rest of the day went. That is if I survive the scoutmaster belly flop this evening.
Bill
