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No camping for me this summer. I have a tear in my knee. My girls are going into Bear Mountain for weekend camping July 11. Their goal is to collect some leaves and rocks to complete some nature badges, but mostly to make S'mores.

Well . . . . not exactly camping. Between our two troops we had three campouts this past year, and three weekend sleepovers at local schools.

Just so you know they didn't get left out, the Daisies and
Brownies used Cookie Money to have an ice cream social. We made home made ice cream in three flavors (chocolate, vanilla, and cotton candy). We decorated white cloth umbrellas, made foam ice cream cone refrigerator magnets, made matching necklaces and bracelets with fimo clay ice cream cone charms and pony beads, had a BBQ lunch, played games, sang songs, and took home a goody bag with ice cream themed games and candy. They even got to take home their plastic, ice cream cone motiff bowls.

Troop #414 will be taking a Junior Trip to Pheonix, Arizona in a week or so. It's a four and a half hour trip, one way. The girls chose the base town, and voted on the sights to see from there. We'll stay in a motel both nights - a first for many of our girls. Saturday will be a day trip to Kartchner Caverns, including everything from a cave tour to an interactive museum to the gift shop. Sunday will be spent at World Wildlife Zoo. We'll hand feed giraffes and lory parrots; ride the carrousell, river boat, park train, and skyride; and vist all the animal shows and petting zoo.

The Juniors who are bridging to Cadettes have another trip. Started last year, and by vote of the girls now a troop tradition, they will be bridging across the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Most of our girls can't afford to travel to San Francisco to cross the Golden Gate Bridge along with thousands of other girls. Yep, it will be hot in Lake Havasu - about as hot as it is here in the Coachella Valley. We'll stop for ice cream about halfway throught the four hour drive. At dusk the girls will take a gondola ride on the river, which is actually quite pleasant weather-wise. The gondolier sings to them in five different languages. They snack on sparking cider, cheese, and crackers. We have a very late dinner at Denny's.

At 11:30 pm we start a very leisurely stroll across the half-mile bridge. They start on one side as Juniors one day, and reach the other side the next day and receive their vests as new Cadettes. We go swimming at the motel before check out the next day, shop at the shops under the bridge, have lunch at McDonalds, and drive home.

Troop #103, our Cadette/Senior Mariner Troop will be taking a four day trip to San Jose. The girls have chosen to see the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, Winchester Mystery House and The Tech Museum in San Jose, and Hearst Castle in San Simeon. We'll stop in Solvang (Swedish theme town) to shop, and The Madona Inn for ice cream (because even a sandwich is outrageously high) and just to look. For most of these girls it's the first trip out of Southern California.

The Mariners also have an overnight, sleeping bags on the floor of someone's home, trip in August. They are going to tour the Tall Ships (large clipper sailing ships) in San Diego. A dear Scouting friend of mine volunteers at the Maritime Museum in San Diego, and has taken our troop under her wing. She's getting the tour passports for the ships donated for the girls.

Oh, yes. I also have a day camp to direct in Early August (held mostly inside a school since summer tems average 110 degrees). In it's 12th year, I call it Sizzlin Holidays. We celebrate a different holiday each day. Staff arrives at noon to decorate, camp runs from 3:00 to 8:30, and we tear all the decorations down before we go home so we can start new the next day. A Thinking Day and Investiture Ceremony for new Girl Scouts, St Patrick's Day treasure hunt 4th of July water games and indoor obstacle course, pie a la mode on Thanksgiving, are all on the schedule. On Christmas we'll decorate two articicial Christmas trees, sing carols, and hand out stockings full of goodies. Friday is an overnight to celebrate New Year's Eve. We have 200 balloons falling from the ceiling, hats, leis, noise makers, confettis, shirley temples, and hor's d'oevres make this a crazy and wild celebration. Every day has a themed craft, and each age level earns a Try-It, Badge, or Interest Project as well.

A trip to minor league baseball team, complete with fireworks for both troops rounds out our calm, laid back, no fuss Girl Scout summer!

Susy,
I am going on a white water canoe trip in 10 days in northern NH. mainly Sr boys my oldest is going as an adult leader and my youngest ( just made life @ 16yrs)
is going should be a blast.
Zolo

Zolo, That sounds really cool! Please be sure to tell us all about it when you return - with pics if possible. I'll be eagerly watching the boards in a couple of weeks!

Ann "Patches"

Well I survived my summer BSA adventure. Did some white water (Class 1) and flat watere the first day. My canoe got sunk by my evil 16 yro (Eben) and his buddy. Got back to camp and the skys opened up we got ~2" of rain in 30 min then it stopped. The tent that my oldest son (RJ) and i were sharing did not get wet inside at all :). The next day we were on mainly flat water. This meant that the epic canoe battles were on ! My partner and I got the best of Eben by splash paddling and speeding away. Eventually
we let our gaurd down. Eben's best friend in another canoe
jumped out and flipped us! After that we worked on merit badge requirements.
On the last day we broke camp and did just class 1&2 rapids. I was in the front of our canoe and slightly heavier than the scout in back. So after taking on water from 3 separate waves we went under like a submarine.
lucky for us we had practiced canoe saving by another canoe.....also in the same area Eben's canoe went under....
thank God. So a good time was had by all (I did get both hips bruised).
Z = quartermaster TR135 manchster NH

It sounds like you had a blast - with the added bonus of a shared adventure with your sons. I'm afraid my canoe skills are pretty basic. I really believe in trips like the one you just took. Whether it's boys or girls, they gain so many intangibles from the adventure beyond the obvious excitement and bonding. Congratulations on your survival, and good for you for giving the boys the experience.

Ann

Love the canoeing story -- keep 'em coming.

I spent two weeks at Boy Scout camp as a voulinteer commissioner this past July. Iwas assigned three troops the firsat week and four troops the secnd week. My job was to get information to the troop leaders and answer any questions that they had about the camp. Sometimes I had to find the answer by asking others.
I have been a unit commissioner for almodt 40 years. During that time, I was anassistant Cubmaster, Troop advancent chairman for 4 or 5 years, I have been on the district outdoor program committee, outdoor program chairman and now I am back to unit commissioner. I enjoy working with Scouts. I believe that Boy Scouts are the greatest leadership training in the country.

As the mother of three former Boy Scouts (including one Eagle Scout), and a Girl Scout Troop Leaders for 34 years, I agree with you about the merits of Scouting.

I'd love to hear a little about your interaction with the Scouts during those two weeks. What was the most fun, the most rewarding, the most amusing, the biggest frustration . . . ?

Ann