Yesterday was a good day. We got to the Scout camp site around 3:30 and the rest of the day flew by. The boy and his friends ran around all afternoon, the parents all mingled and relaxed. Based on my experiences with it so far, group camping is about as good as it gets for parents. Infinite diversions and distractions for kids, none of them the electronic variety, along with low opportunities for getting in trouble.
About the only form of trouble that does come up is the inevitable friction that comes with being in close quarters with other personalities. But that’s a strength as well, since they have to figure out how to cope and make nice. Plus, other parents can usually step in a smooth the flare-ups over without too much fuss.
After dinner, the Order of the Arrow showed up and performed a graduation ceremony for the various dens. It’s a hokey ceremony, as these things go. The Boy Scouts show up dressed in Indian garb, excuse me, Native American garb and they recite some poetry. Then, I hand the earned rank badges to the head Akela and he in turn hands it to the Cub Scout.
But it works. The boys are quiet and attentive the whole time and the ceremony is done in 15 minutes tops. The parents all enjoy it was well. A fun thing on a good day.
After that, it’s more running around followed by s’mores followed by more running around and the night for the boys ends with some songs by the campfire, as well as a skit where I’m the butt of the joke. I and another parent are human props holding a stick to act as a counter at a store. “Customers” come up one at a time and ask the clerk for candy, who tells them that he doesn’t have that kind of candy. Finally, the last customer comes up asks “Well, what do you have?” The clerk answers “Two suckers on a stick” and points at me and the other parent. Rimshot.
I stay up a bit later to help clean up while the boy goes down for the night around 10. By the time I’m done and the fire has finally died down, he’s fast asleep in the tent. So I settle down to join him.
Then, he’s awake and it’s early morning. He’s on top of me and shaking me saying “Dad!” in an urgent but hushed voice to get my attention. I shake off cob webs enough to acknowledge I’m not asleep anymore. I check my watch, it’s 4:30.
He says “Happy Father’s Day!” Then scampers off to the bathroom.