This past weekend John and Brendan were treated to a totally new and different experience. They attended their first Scout Camping weekend at Camp Ware in Pennsylvania. This camp takes place over four days and three nights. Tim went with them to be Brendan's "buddy", as the younger cubs need a parent along. I think it was a very rewarding time for all of them.
The reports are still coming in, as they remember things that they did that they want to share.
Tim and John and Brendan left on Friday morning to be up at the camp by 9:00.
Paul and I went up to Frostburg to help Laura, Andrew and Lucy move into their new home.
Laura already blogged the weekend and her pictures are better than mine so you can read about OUR adventure here.
The guys got there and checked in. Tim and Brendan were staying in the main Lodge.
Brendan showed us his bunk.
John was down in "Camp Hawkeye" with the Webelos.
The weather was really hot and humid. The swimming pool was a favorite spot. Tim said they probably drank 20.00 worth of bottled water. The water coming from the tap was...questionable.
Brendan seemed to really get a lot out of his time there. Tim is such a great dad! He really gave Brendan his all. Brendan got to have a great time with the other boys.
He learned about Health, First Aid, water safety in a lifejacket, and archery. One of the highlights of his weekend was his score on the shooting range. He scored "sharpshooter" his first time at camp! He didn't care for the food but Tim said that he ate everything they served and had a pretty good attitude about it. He took me aside last night at the closing ceremony and very quietly asked "Mom, since I ate everything this weekend, and I didn't like most of it, tomorrow night...can we have pizza?" We are.John loved archery, he got two "bullseyes". He got his "whittling" card, so he can use and carry his knife at scouting events.
He liked the shooting range as well. He got his "Polar Bear" badge for getting up every morning at 7:00 to take a swim. He went on a nature hike, made a tie dyed kerchief, carved an "arrow", and learned a lot about local stones from a geologist. This has been an interest of his for some time. He got a bunch of his accomplishments for next year out of the way.
His sleeping situation was less than perfect. He was afraid that he would roll out onto the ground.
There was a huge rainstorm one night and he got pretty wet. But that's camping!He was really pretty much on his own with a bunch of people he didn't really know. I was very proud of him. Tim was there but they didn't see each other very much.
Paul and I went up last night to have dinner and attend the closing ceremony.
He was sure glad to see his brothers! He really missed them. 
We had a nice time and watched the boys receive their badges for attending camp and some other awards. 
Then they lowered the flag 
and we went in to dinner.I was really happy to have everyone back together under one roof! What a full weekend!
I am so proud of my guys and all they did. Can't wait for Paul to get in there too. Scouting just fits our family so well! It really helps boys grow up well. I guess I'm going to be a Den Mother for a LONG time!
