Today started off early with Doc up at 4:30 chasing Raccoons around the camp. It appears that the left-over chocolate and caramel scout popcorn we brought along for the week is also popular with the year-round residents.

This morning the Polar Bear group had dwindled dramatically, as well as the mile-swim class. Yesterday’s mile swim was so crowded that it was difficult to swim without running into someone else. Today the total group had dropped to 8, two of which are from our campsite, Will and Dominic.

Today Jeff, Tom and Brad began their “Climb-on” instructor certification training, which will continue for the remainder of the week. This will allow us as a troop to participate in climbing and rappelling activities on our troop outings. Carole and Dan completed their Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense training and received their certification.

Michael W. and Alex qualified for their rifle MB this morning. Later in the afternoon Michael switched to shotgun and skeet shooting and promptly qualified there also! This camp has been great for him!

Today’s “ice-crew”, two scouts responsible for bringing back a full container of ice to camp for drinking etc. was Trevor and Austin. The 10 gallon drink barrel we use for hauling ice was almost as tall as them, and on the way back two scouts from Troop 19 saw them struggling and brought it into camp for them. It was a good deed and a great example of what a Scout should be. We took the time at closing ceremony to thank them publicly in front of the entire camp.

Doc climbed the tower today! We constantly kid him about being older than Baden, but he proved himself to everyone today. All Jeff and Brad say they remember is his laughter as he rappelled down after the climb up. I think he surprised even himself! Who knows what can happen next! Carole was heard to say that “…if Doc can do it then I’ll try too..”

Tonight the first round of the basketball competition began. The Tigers (Green Valley campsite team) whooped the first team they played but then was overrun by the second match up. There were a couple of good plays where the short boys shot the ball between the legs of the tall guys on the other team, and some tremendous plays by Andy of Troop 39 who came away wounded after a roll across the parking lot where the game was being played! (We made sure to wrap the elbow up with red tape to make it more dramatic looking!)

The two troops have blended completely and if a stranger were to come into camp he couldn’t tell by their actions which boys belonged to which troop.

There was an OA meeting this evening at the visitor’s center and all our members sashed up and attended. It was a great opportunity to meet other Arrowmen and learn of the similarities and differences between lodges.

Tonight we set a trap for the raccoons, placing some popcorn in a lid from the popcorn can and floating it in the 40 gal fire bucket. The idea was that the fire bucket walls were very thin plastic and the raccoon would be unable to balance up there and we’d hear a splash when they went for the popcorn. As it turned out, the walls were no problem at all; a chance glance later that night with a flashlight showed the biggest raccoon calmly and completely balanced on the fire bucket with the popcorn lid deftly flipped out onto the ground and 4 little raccoons happily devouring Scout Popcorn. When you’re beat by a raccoon it’s time to give up… we all went to bed figuring they had full right to anything they could find in camp.