2021 Camp

Due to the rain that fell on almost every day of our 2 weeks, our  Scouts passed the non-advancement time with games, laniart craft and plenty of good humor socializing .  Sometimes keeping us company was Mabel , the Springer Spaniel of Hank, USMC (ret.) supervisor of the rifle range.

Waubeeka of 2021                                                                                                      

     I was up at my normal "Camp Time"  ( July 18 ) of 6 am to unload the car before humidity set in.

     I was then having breakfast with the silence broken only by the tic of our clock & the

snoozing of our bulldog .... but noticeably without the enthusiastic  sounds of 8 Scouts chattering

away during breakfast preparation & mealtime.           Reality === Camp was over for this year" 

     Thanks to a several week effort last Spring by Sarah Beyrich == the driver, Juan, & the Van

made for easy arrival & departure transportation for the entire Troop as a unit ! THANKS to S.!

     Because of these 8 terrific Scouts both weeks sailed along smoothly .... AND this year was

extra significant because Mother Nature threw rain down on us for at least part of every

single day & night !!     Troop 4 to the last man ignored the inconvenience, went about

accumulating a terrific accomplishment of Merit Badges, built wood fires & cooked about 

30 delicious meals, spent spare time each day weaving laniart craft, playing cards or chess, 

going to the ranges, fishing,etc....or just chatting & joking around ( which they did a lot !)

       The meal preparation (& cleanup ) was well above average.  In fact a few leaders

from other Troops at Waubeeka commented , " Since Troop 4 is almost the only campsite

that still makes wood fires for cooking [ most of the others have succumbed to the offered propane stoves ] how do they always arrive at Camp activities 15 to 50 minutes

before all the other Troops ?!?!?"     My answer:  " Because they are just that great !! "

        Timely now to express a profound gratitude to Mr.Weiner, "Uncle" Steve Babcock,

and Ben for each of their week long support to the Scouts & to myself !!!

        Thankfully  for the mid-week Trip the rain resisted for 2 whole days.   

After the 5:30 a.m. trip to the laundromat & fast food breakfast, we were off to Vermont .

        Driving Alumni volunteers were Ben Bromberg, Mike Clifton ( taking the weekend

off from work in Troy ) & the "old reliable" Bill Bensburg ( arriving from Clermont , Florida ).

        The "Education Stop" comes first == this year was Plymouth Notch, VT, preserved

home & town of  Calvin Coolidge (30th  President of the United States).   ( As usual our

guide was super impressed with the decorum, attention & thoughtful questions from Troop 4)

        Since Mike's family has a summer home nearby, he led us to a nice nearby luncheon

spot.   Then on to the recreational afternoon at Big Bromley Mt. Ski area ---which a decade

ago started summer attractions :  a triple tracked Alpine Slide for a full 2/3 of a mile !!!  Some

also used the bungie connected trampoline & others the giant swing with 3G's of force .....

        Everyone was ready for a little nap in the cars as we headed back to NYS for dinner at

our commonly used Applebee's restaurant.   Following a leisurely dinner we were right on 

time to arrive back in Chestertown for the annual "July 4th"  Fireworks.

        Sunday everyone slept late & then we went over the mountain to Ft. Ticonderoga ==

Scouts' choice of brunch at : Subways, MacDonalds, or Dunkin Donuts ( all 3 are alongside).

Then across the street to Wallmart to pick up any items they needed for Week 2.

        As Paul Harvey used to conclude, " AND that is the rest of the story !!! "

                   THANKS for the PARENTAL SUPPORT which made it all possible 👍☺

                        [ Professional pix of Troop 4 Scouts each week are in the professional Waubeeka pix website section ]