Well, it’s over once again.

Up with the sun again this morning, but this time everyone was busy breaking down camp. A breakfast of bagels, cream cheese and milk was sent down to our campsite. After all was loaded and ready to go our campsite we reluctantly ate our last breakfast in camp and then hiked up to the parking lot where we loaded into our cars and vans and headed home.

Its been a good week, full of surprises and excitement. Over all it's been a good first experience for our troop in attending an out-of-council summer camp. In fact it may well have been the proverbial Pandoras Box.

We have had new scouts complete merit badges with skill that out-shone our more veteran campers in shooting sports and on the rock wall.

Next year sixteen of our older members will be headed off to Sea Base and the younger scouts remaining to a conventional summer camp. For the first time Troop 9 will be split in its summer activities. I guess there are growing pains for an organization as well as for a boy.

No matter where we end up, either in or out of council, there is comfort in knowing that in the end it all boils down to a single thought:

"Good shade, good chairs, good friends and good conversation..it's a great day to be a Scout."