Quarantine of Sub-Camp C

We learned Monday night that part of Sub-Camp C was quarantined to prevent  a Jamboree outbreak. 

The reason for the quarantine was diarrhea. Not sure of the exact cause but poor hygiene may have contaminated food. It also could have been the result of the hay bales given out to help with the wet campsite conditions. 

We have not heard an exact count of troops impacted but it ranged from only six to over thirty. They literally put up yellow caution tape around the sites with signs saying "Quarantined." 

Luckily Sub-Camp C was on the other side of the jamboree from us.  

We used this as a learning opportunity to stress a Scout is Clean. 

  

No scout had made me award of any lingering issues with any medical issues. 

Quiet bus ride

I love the bus ride after a long camp. 

The Scouts are dog tired and it is a very quiet bus ride right now. 

If the scouts are not sleeping they are literally just awake with blank states on their faces. Not even enough energy to talk!

Muddy Buddy and cleaning boots

Tip - to save your scout's boots do the following:

1. Let the mud dry on the boots. 

2. Use a soft brush to brush off the dried 

    mud from the boots. 

3. Most boots are leather. Buy some leather 'conditioner' and follow instructions. 

4.  If appropriate ( read instructions first) also consider applying water resistant sealer to the boots. NOT all boots can handle this sealer - do Internet research first. 

Doing all this will help clean up and re-condition your scout's boots to use again. 

Jon S. 

Shipping Out for home

Well, lucky for us we got hit with another line of thunderstorms a about 3:30 am. Unfortunately for troops departing at 5 am - they woke up at 3 am and started taking down tents. I assume they stopped or if not got soaking wet. 

While we officially got up at 6 am we were really up at 3 or 4 am due to the storm an the other troops packing up. 

The scouts got a lesson in packing up a Jamboree campsite by the leaders using the EDGE method. The interesting part was the fact that at our home troops we emphasize not packing wet tents.  We had to keep assuring the scouts that we could pack up the muddy and wet tents and it was OK. (The plan after Jambo is that the West Virginia prison system will sort, clean and re-sell the items).  

We packed 85% of our troop gear Tuesday night. That have us some cushion Wednesday and allowed us a little more relax time. 

We boarded the bus around 11:15 am and we are on our journey home.   We did some last minute changes in our bus plan to get off the Summit property quickly. We are meeting at a food court to swap buses and then eat lunch. 

After lunch we get back in the buses and head for the Charleston airport to leave. 

Lucky we are in the first flight out. Our plane will be in time. The airline had one plane breakdown and they are sending a replacement. The combination of Charleston having a short runway and the replacement plane being a 737-400 means the later flight has to stop along the way to refuel. 

Some photos below. 

One if scouts at the staging area waiting on the bus. 

Below this is the last day trash disposal. The big pile of plastic tarps ( they look white) ate being recycled. (Some of us old guys think it may resemble the aftermath of Woodstock)

Our Day of Service

We left camp for our day of service at 7:30 am.  We walked up to the departure point and were assigned to a bus with another small unit to fill in the seats. 

We rode the bus for about 45 minutes to "Rally point."  At this stop we met our main contact to get our work assignment. 

We were assigned a project at Pipestem Stare Park. The group was split into two at the park. 

One group with Mr. Donart and Mr. Sturgis went with a park naturalist down a tramway into a canyon ( don't think Grand Canyon - think deep valley 1,100 feet down to a river). There we walked around with the park person getting some history and nature lessons. 

Funny story about the tram ride. Not to far down from the top there was an overhang of rock. Almost like a large opening to a cave. Inside the overhang were some pots and a still. ( to make moonshine). Before the land was turned into a park there was a still in that spot and they set up the fake still to show people. The naturalist mentioned at one celebration they got an old timer with a big white beard to play the role of the moonshiner - equipped with a gun and all. 

Then other group with Mr. Connolly and the other unit leader went to an overlook in the park and constructed stone pillars. The overlook eventually will have a small shelter and fences. They did such a great job that they finished the project. 

After a quick lunch we switched areas and the working group took the tram down while the other group went to a nature center and cabins. 

While we spent more time traveling via bus than working the scouts got a good lesson in this. As we traveled they saw first hand that there are people right here in the United States that could use a hand up to get them back on track. 

In talking with other leaders across camp they helped with fixing schools, doing roadwork, making or repairing trails and many other projects. I for one hope this continues at the Jamboree - but maybe not do it on the scouts very last day. 

Photo from bus of a river 

One of the larger small towns 

Photo of one of the two groups

Go Big, Get Wild and then Get Soaked

Just a heads up to parents. 

The last three or four days we have been hit by hard rain. This has turned our once green grass campsite into a mud pit covered with hay. 

We have been battling wet feet for four days now. Wet shoes, wet socks,

Etc. 

We learned that some scouts did not pack two pairs of shoes or if they did - they got both wet. 

We have educated the Scouts about Gold Bond powder. In wet or sweaty conditions the powder helps dry things up. Hopefully from the scouts real world experience they will learn from it. 

When your scout comes home be prepared for wet and smelly clothing. Their shoes will probably be wet and will definitely be caked in mud. I suggest you may room in your garage at home and tell your scout to sort things out there before allowing into your house. 

During the last storm one tent lost its rainfly and the Scout's gear got wet. Gabriel L and Christian D were the victims of the storm.  

PS - some air freshener in the car might be needed. 

The poor flight crew on the trip home has no idea about what they are getting themselves into!

Day of Service

Tuesday is our day of service. 

We hustled out of camp to get on the bus to our service site. 

We are working on a West Virginia State Park Visitor Center project. 

The scouts are learning about a world wide Scouting movement called the Messengers of Peace ( or MOP). The intent is to emphasize providing service to get people to work together. 

After the scouts complete this they will be awarded a special MOP "ring patch" - this ring can be sewn on around the purple colored world crest that is on their uniform. 

See this for more information:

http://www.scouting.org/messengersofpeace.aspx

After we get our project done we will post more.