Girl Scout Camporee

Katie and I skipped soccer this Saturday to attend our local Girl Scout Camporee. Normally Camporee is held in the summer, but it had to be postponed due to the smokey air from local fires. I volunteered to be a helper-mom. It was fun, but exhausting at the same time. Our troop didn't have any adults as a certified "camper" so we didn't stay overnight - which I was thankful for.

We all met at the leader's house at 7:30am and headed up to Sly Park, Jenkinson Lake in Pollock Pines. We got there about 8:45 and set up our day camp in the same area as other troops who were setting up to stay overnight.

The girls had a busy morning activity schedule. Canoing, Swimming and Archery. Katie didn't enjoy the canoing, which suprised me considering how much she likes kayaking at the Russian River with the Ghidossi family. I think it was a bit too early and too difficult to control the big canoe vs. the one-man kayak. Katie vetoed swimming big time. The water level was SO low and the bottom of the lake so muddy, kids shoes were getting stuck in the mud. Katie just dangled her feet of the little boat dock and watched her friends swim in the mucky water. We had enough time to head back to camp for the girls to change into dry clothes.

Then we headed to archery. The lady who ran that event was a... crab apple. Each girl only got to shoot six arrows and half of those they didn't shoot by themselves because the teacher and helper would saddle up to the girls and "show" them how to shoot. Now I understand that archery is a big safety issue, but I felt sad for Katie and her friends. They seemed to like the bow and arrow and just needed some time to get the hang of it by trial and error. I was even wishing I could try it, as it looked fun.

From archery we went back to camp and ate our sack lunches, visted and sang silly songs. Then, the girls had SWAP time. Each girls brings a trinkety item on a safety pin, introduces herself to other girls from other troops, then they exchange the little items. Katie (and I) made little flip flops using foam, ribbon and a brad. They were cute and the ones she received were adorable. We still haven't had a chance to review them all.

After SWAPS it was time for badge rotations centers. The girls were working on their outdoor creativity badge and had to visit six stations (30 minutes each). Katie and her scout-mates: made lavender sachets, created a water-coloring inspired by nature, sang songs, picked out and practiced a skit (to later be performed at the campfire), wrote a nature hiku, and made a sun-prints using sun sensitive paper and things from nature.

Katie enjoyed the different centers, but got really hungry and got a stomach ached in the middle of it all. I am glad I was there to get her some Tums and snacks to soothe her pains. All the girls were hungry by the time we were done.

Bless our troop leader's heart. She had to think of so many things to pack, even for just a day visit. She remembered *almost* all of it - except the barbeque for cooking the hot dogs. Luckily a neighbor troop cooked up our dogs for us.

I've been neglecting to mention the interesting twist of this trip. Across the street from the Girl Scout campground is a public campground. It seems it had been rented for the day for a wedding. Seems simple enough - but the girls were magnetized to the event. Whenever we were at our campsite they would peak over and try to catch glimpses of the bride and groom. That was all fine and dandy. It makes sense, as the girls were raised on princess fairy tales that culminate in a grand wedding... but by the time we were getting dinner together the reception had started... and so had the party music. The girls were dancing and singing along (some not realizing the lyrics were not appropriate for 10 year olds). I certainly am not against rock music and being silly, but it really detracted from the "outdoorsy" feel the Girl Scouts were trying to promote for the day/weekend.

The leader and I tried to distract the girls and have them practice their skit they were to perform. They bought into that and practiced over and over; unless a really "good" song came on then they dance and sang to that.

Before the official campfire meeting time, the leader and I lead the girls away from the music and our camp, over a hill and to the waters edge. It was truly my favorite time of the entire trip. We found flat rocks and one girl taught the rest how to skip rocks. Hey, enjoying nature at Camporee... imagine that!


At campfire time we all the troops got together and took turns leading silly camp songs, throwing their wishsticks into the fire, and peforming their skits. Our girls did a great job (even if they had to do all this over the pounding sounds of the wedding reception just 100 feet away.)

When campfire time was done and the other troops went back to their base camps to settle in for the night, our troop took over the fire and made s'mores.

I was worried that all that sugar would amp-up the girls for the ride home, but the five girls in my van were fast asleep within 5 minutes of leaving the lake.

Katie and I made it home about 10pm. It was a long, dirty, fun day.

ps: I am SO glad we didn't stay overnight. I heard from another leader that the wedding party went on till 3am!