52 Blessings – Scout Camp

I mentioned last week that Calvin was asked to cook for 160-180 people at scout camp this past week. We left Monday morning about 5:00 am and got home Saturday afternoon. We cooked fourteen meals without electricity, running water, or fires. Not one person got a foodborne illness so that spelled success in my book of expectations.

Size and number of pots needed.  That big one on the right, when filled to the handles, will feed 100.

And the fact that we also had a great time and the food was really good made it even more successful.

There were over 2,000 boys at the camp besides all the leaders.  It was tree to tree tents. When we first arrived at the camp I texted family and said, “Men everywhere.  I now begin my role as Sacajawea.  Wish me luck.” 

Rachel, the historian, wrote back, “You do remember Sacajawea was married to a jerk don’t you?”  That I did not remember.  And since I later passed another woman waiting in the bus line to go home to sleep and shower, I don't have an ounce of Shoshone blood, nor is Calvin a jerk, I wasn’t really Sacajawea anyway; but I was outnumbered.

We have many Eagle Scouts in our family, I’ve served as a merit badge counselor, been a Blazer leader, stapled merit badges on the sash in a pinch, and gone to scout camp once before, so I’m not ignorant of the scouting program, but this week I finally appreciated it.  I realized what a valuable program it is for so many young men.  Our boys had the benefit of a father who loves the outdoors and camped with them.  They also had the advantage of growing up on a farm and digging deep holes, making forts, using a pocket knife and b.b. guns, building fires, and climbing corrals and ropes.  But this week I better appreciated how few boys get those opportunities.  The scouting program allows for many young men - those with fathers as well as those who don’t have father figures in their home - to be mentored by good men and to participate in activities that help boys become men. (I’m sure much of my newfound perception came from things learned in Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax.)

For many years I was a stake girls’ camp director and stake young women’s leader, so I have a lot of great memories from girls’ camp as well.  It was interesting seeing the contrast of the two camps.  One is certainly no better than the other, but they are run differently.

For example:

Boys don’t sing nonsensical songs.  Ever.  Camp morale comes from lots and lots of food rather than songs.

Another difference is that women keep the girls organized while men give boys a very long leash.

One other is how they make food.  I’ve seen cooks at girls’ camp pray that the food will stretch and feed the 5000, whereas men bring out their power tools and mortar mixers to feed the masses.

Calvin whipping the pancake batter.

It was a great opportunity to work and go camping with Calvin this week.  It was exhausting, but very rewarding.  It was surely one of this summer’s blessings for me and I suppose for many others as well.