Memories of Camp

Some memories in my head from camp last week that I'd better jot down before I forget...

• For the Fishing merit badge, Jimmy filleted a fish for the first time. A fillet the size of a half dollar from a big sunfish isn't too bad.
• Jonathan left his sunfish hanging in a tree to fillet later and it was a black mass of flies when he came back. Luckily, the racoons took care of it for him.
• Chris swam for 90 minutes without stopping and completed a mile swim, now that's perseverence.
• Jack returned his camp knife after every meal until he earned his Totin Chip - he only used the camp knife for the spoon and fork on it for meals.
• I lost count of how many foot stool basketry projects there were around camp.
• Brandon got his annual knife cut.
• Chris and Jack are still magnets for dirt.
The only time I got to talk with my older son was late one night taking garbage to the dumpster. The younger son was my shadow in camp making sure I knew everything that was going on.

Some things to remember:

• Fire is fun.
• Wood is made for chopping and cutting.
• Yelling and screaming at racoons never gets old.
• Rain on Monday is forgotten by Friday.
• Boys notice everything you do.
• There are a surplus of cooks and a shortage of dishwashers in the world.
• That first merit badge is awful special.
• The SPL is still a boy and needs to have fun.
• Stories are more important than s'mores around a campfire.
• There is magic in the air, water, and dirt at camp.