Yawgoog Day 8

The problem with summer camp is I am surrounded by kids. Let me clarify—I am a teacher in the midst of my two month break from students and I am surrounded by other children. Some of these scouts are fantastic and I greatly enjoy conversing with them. But others are loud, and rude, and aggressive. When I teach, I go home at night to decompress. Here, we all go back to the campsite together. Sitting with scouts in the dining hall is a challenge. Again, many of them are polite, some I even seek out for their conversation, but others have never learned basic table manners. By far, the highlight of this week was the time I spent with G3 at night. I came here because I wanted to share the experience with G3. But I am not sure I would chaperone summer camp again. I love being with G3, but there are seven other weeks of summer to spend with him.

This morning, I went down to the water by the campsite and one of the three large snapping turtles that visit led periodically came to say goodbye. We packed up camp and then headed down to our last meal in the dining hall. At breakfast each troop was recognized for their achievements this week.

Before we could be dismissed, we had to pass inspection. Once we did, we had to line up for a parade and closing ceremony which took place on an open field. We stood for roughly forty-five minutes in the blazing heat—no shade—wearing our class A uniforms, and listened while each camp and troop was recognized further. If it wasn’t so hot, it would have been a nice ceremony.

Since my car is totaled, Kati drove up to drive me and the scouts who had been in my car home.

I’ve been thinking about the bingo card incident . If nothing else, this will be a really good learning experience for G3. Being a leader is difficult. The hardest part is getting along with and leading the opposition. it might be a rough year for G3, but he will grow from the experience.

We made it home without incident—thankfully.