Camp Charles is located near Bailey, NC, less than an hour east of Raleigh, and first opened in 1929. Although some of the infrastructure is in need of repair, it's still a beautiful camp with big granite formations, an allegedly stocked fish pond, and a fairly good sized lake.
This was the first troop outing for our new scouts that crossed over earlier this month. After receiving instruction, and demonstrating their competency, they all earned their "Totin' Chip." This is similar to the Whittlin' Chip they earned in Cub Scouts, but allows them to safely use and maintain axes, hatchets and saws, in addition to pocket knives. The Totin' Chip card should be carried with their BSA ID, and the patch should be sewn onto the flap of the right breast pocket.
Older scouts honed their compass and navigational skills on an orienteering course. This involved finding over a dozen hidden markers about the size of a quarter, spread out over an area of roughly a half square mile. Scouts had to use a compass to shoot a bearing, then gauge distance to the marker by counting paces. This is one of the requirements for the rank of Scout, First Class.
Later that afternoon, senior scouts helped the others work on advancements, then we grabbed our fishing rods and made our way down to the pond of poor, unsuspecting fish. Highlights of our catch included the elusive Tree Branch, the mysterious Bottom Muck, and BOTH pant legs of ONE scout caught simultaneously with ONE fishing lure. If any fish died that day, they died from laughter.
Saturday night's dinners were to be prepared in dutch ovens on open coals, but the sudden arrival of heavy rains, (almost an inch in total), forced the scouts to improvise cooking methods and ingredients. Despite this curve ball, masterpieces of chicken, chili, and pork chops were produced and consumed. A late night snack of fresh homemade donuts, tall tales and corny jokes, took the edge off the cold rain.
Sunday morning found us rising from the mud like tadpoles, packing our wet gear, and breaking camp. After a blistering game of dodge ball, it was off to Bojangle's (of course) and then home.
OK, so it rained. A lot. Big deal. The key to having fun on outings is being comfortable, and that means staying warm and dry. So repeat after me.
"A COTTON HOODY IS NOT A RAIN JACKET!"
"A COTTON HOODY IS NOT A RAIN JACKET!"
"A COTTON HOODY IS NOT A RAIN JACKET!"
"A COTTON HOODY IS NOT A RAIN JACKET!"
"A COTTON HOODY IS NOT A RAIN JACKET!"
Wet cotton loses all of it's insulation value, weighs a ton, and takes FOREVER to dry, even in direct sunlight. A good, waterproof, breathable outer shell is money well spent. Also, wet jeans are not only uncomfortable, but they are not part of either class A or B uniforms. Scout pants, especially the new style, dry quickly and will still keep you warm, even when wet. Check the equipment closet for "swapped" uniform clothing and boots. It's not brand new, it's better. It's free. Remember, a scout is thrifty.
