Webelos Camp

OK - here is the enormous post I promised about Webelos Camp - we had so much fun - the Man-Cub is really excited about going back next year as a Boy Scout!
Driving into the camp - they just got new signs...
The old Butler Wilderness sign...
A woodpecker visits as we set up camp...
The first night's campfire - lots of silliness here...
skits and firebuilding...
the skits and songs continue and the fire blazes...
Back at camp we made s'mores...
A vegan version - I was wondering how the Vegan Marshmallows would work for s'mores - deliciously it turns out...
The next morning we woke up to heavy rain - and as everything wasn't wet enough - the Man-Cub went around shaking the small trees to have more rain fall on him - such fun...
Our tent ROCKS!!! It withstood 50 mph winds in the storm and nothing got the least bit wet...
The persistent woodpecker even stayed in the rain...
Some unusual looking cloudy skies...
Some blue sky finally breaks through...
Slingshot...
Wolf Camp - it's not raining now...
The Man-Cub and I both passed the Swimmer Test - 100 yards without stopping - 75 could be any forward stroke - I alternated between the crawl, breast stroke and side stroke and the last 25 has to be a resting back stroke. The red at the top means beginner and the blue at the bottom means swimmer - you have to be a swimmer to take the canoes and rowboats out and to go out to the float past the dock - you always have to be paired with a buddy as well - the lifeguards keep track of it all on this board... Here I am knitting at the lodge - I thought I would have a lot more knitting time - I brought my Hibiscus for Hope 2nd sock - but only knit a few rows...
Heading out on a hike...
Y'all know my penchant for paths - it was well sated here...
At Outdoorsman class the boys had to work together to build a campfire - notice they have very lofty aspirations with these huge logs...
They settle (successfully) on a much smaller version...
Another hike...
and another trail...
The new Butler Wilderness sign...
Wolf Camp does the Flag ceremony...
They had a little trouble folding the flag - so another CubMaster and I went up to offer a little help...
Probably my favorite picture from the Camp...
A strange aquatic plant - in the crystal clear lake water...
A freshwater clam...
Some mushrooms by the trail - don't they look yummy...
a pretty flower...
The Man-Cub hard at work on his craft - a miniature Fort McHenry...
Archery...
The Man-Cub had a slight advantage because he practices with his own bow and arrow quite a bit...
His target - they each shot 4 arrows - three of his are on the black and one just to the upper right...
Cooking out at our campsite - beanie weanies - these were so good and all the boys wanted to try our vegan marshmallows and vegan hot dogs - a very openminded group...
another path...
further along the path - this was a shortcut to the climbing tower...
The climbing tower...
Much more impressive in it's upright position...
Getting geared up...
Climbing...
The Man-Cub insisted in going up on the 'Advanced' side - There were 4 climbing stations - the two on this side have a lot fewer grips and footholds - I offered a little bit of advice that since he's only done this a couple of times (both at other scouting events) - that maybe he should start out on the easier side - but he said 'I'm sure I can do it' - so I left it at that...
...and he did it...
I think the rappel back down was the most fun part...
Boating...
The Man-Cub learning to row...
We had a tornado watch and had to stay at the lodge - it was a dark and stormy night...
but it began to lighten up...
and in the aftermath - there were some dams to build...
This little guy bravely visited our campsite...
Wolf Camp worked hard on their skit - they came up with the idea at lunch (they had apples at every meal) - They titled it 'An Apple a Day keeps the doctor away' - we had to have campfire inside after the storm...
Basically the boys are all standing around eating apples and a doctor comes along and they all start throwing their apples at him and he runs away...
Playing horseshoes on the common after the storm - watch out for the splash when the horseshoes land in the puddles...
The Man-Cub's cowboy costume...

and on the way home we crossed the Mississippi River - I always take a picture of it everytime I cross it...

They say you can jump across it here...