GOSHEN

Ben set off on Sunday for his first time at Webelos Scout Resident Camp at Lake Merriweather, VA also known as GOSHEN. While Sam couldn't get the whole week off he was able to go down with him and stay till Tuesday. Great photo below - too bad Nathan photo-bombed it!

 

Sam got home last night. While Ben is not doing so well with his sensitivity to the food they are serving he is have a great time. He wasn't very happy to have Daddy go home, but Sam talked to the other leaders last night and said he was doing well. We will keep our fingers crossed!
Here are some photos Sam brought home.

 

We only had 4 boys go. The boy beside Ben in the orange shirt is his good friend Ronan

 

The pack in the campsite next to them had 18 scouts!

 

In front of their campsite

 

The swim test was a very stressful moment for Ben. Sam said he was a mess leading up to it. We had him prepared ahead of time knowing he wouldn't pass it as we found out the extent of the test prior to leaving.  Sam did not take it since he was leaving so he couldn't go out in the boats with them this particular day - they are shown with their cubmaster.  Ben made it to beginner level but because he didn't pass he couldn't go out in the kayaks - everyone else passed so he was a bit upset.  The station leader told Sam that even though kids pass the test, they all swim in the shallow area typically because they can touch and play games.  We'll see - but I think he might have changed his mind about participating in swim team for next year!

Sam took this at the campsite before he left. He had dumped water over his head as it was so darn hot and Ben was a bit overheated.  And keep in mind the above photos were all from Monday morning till Tuesday at lunch!  They get up at 6:45 to get ready for flag raising and have been hitting bed around 10pm.  Sam said they have to wake all the boys up to get them dressed in time. I think I'll have a very tired scout when he gets home.

More tails to follow upon his return!

In other news, our life is pretty much prep for VBS.  We have the most pre-registered children in the history of the program his year which is more than double last year - so I've been a bit busy. The little boys have been living at the church but as so are most of my friends and their children - they are having fun and have discovered all the 'secret passages' of the building.  We have set the heart rate of the elderly receptionist into over drive. She is very stressed by the energy the 16 kids bring :-)