2009 - Jul - Mataguay Scout Camp

Mataguay Scout Camp, July 13-18 2009

On Monday morning, we arrived at camp, unloaded our gear, checked in, took the swim test and set up camp. We started the merit badge classes after lunch.

On Tuesday evening, the scouts went on a hike. Some of the boys (Terrill, JT, Don, Josafat, and Christian) hiked 1.5 miles to Trainers Grave where the staff told a campfire ghost story about the death of John Trainer, The cursed rock protecting his grave, Mikatawbe and the spook donk. For the other boys who were to scared to hike to Trainers Grave (Josh, Thomas, Jason, Noah, Bryan, and Nicholas) they hiked about .5 miles to a field where they could see devils throne and they watched a three stooges movie and ate smores.


On Wednesday morning, we had camp games. Don, Jason and Noah participated in the Mataguay Triathlon (we didn't do so well). We also competed against other troops in some camp games. We took first place in 4-way tug-a-war, and the water can relay race. Josh, Christain and Josafat did not compete in the camp games because they had to go on a rock climbing outing for the climbing merit badge.


On Wednesday night, the scouts went on a "Rugged O" (rugged overnighter). Six of the scouts (Christian, Josh, Jason, Josafat, Don and Noah) went on the Wilderness Survival Rugged O where they made their own shelter and slept in it. Some of the boys on the Wilderness Survival Rugged O tried to do it "Man vs Wild" style (with no sleeping bags), they froze and had a miserable night. Those who brought a sleeping bag slept a little better. Five of the scouts (Thomas, Bryan, JT, Terrill, and Nicholas) went on the Pirates Rugged O where they played in the pool, played capture the flag, ate smores and slept outside near the lake.


On Thursday night, we had a campfire program at our campsite that was organized and conducted by Don (it was a communications merit badge requirement). We sang songs, had some skits, and listened to Thomas, our Senior Patrol Leader, give a spiritual thought. After our little camp fire program, we joined the other LDS units at Silva Lodge for root beer floats and to watch a movie (Legacy).


On Friday night, some of the parents came up for dinner and the closing camp fire program. During the closing camp fire program, our troop was awarded the Top Knot Award (and a watermelon). This Award is given to only one troop in all of camp and is mostly based on Camp site inspections. The Award is given to the troop that put the most effort into improving their camp site and keeping it clean. Back at our camp that night, we ate our watermelon and we had a small little camp fire program put on by Thomas, our Senior Patrol Leader.


We had 11 boys at scout camp and they earned a total of 45 merit badges. We had 3 boys (Don, JT and Terrill) who attended water dogs at 6:15am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On the last day of water dogs, they had to lay down in a tub of ice water for 10 seconds. Most of the nights, many of our scouts slept outside, under the stars, in their cots. The days were hot (100+ degrees), the nights were pleasant (~60 degrees). Everyone had a great time.