Camporee (and Catch-up)

On Saturday, my co-leader Elaine and I took our Brownie troop to Camporee at Camp Tweedale near Oxford, PA.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from the event since it was our first Camporee; this year was themed The Amazing Race. We left at 8:30 am and didn't return until 9:30pm -- so it was a lot of Camporee.  But, wow, the organizers did an AMAZING planning job, and not one but two of the girls have since told their moms it was the "Best Day of Their Life."  High praise!  Abby was literally weeping yesterday when she realized that our next Brownie meeting is 2 full weeks away.  "Mom, can't you just plan an extra meeting???"

Abby in a Sari in India

I cannot take any credit whatsoever for most of the activities that were planned. Since this is the 100th anniversary for worldwide girl scouting, the Amazing Race team had the girls 'visit' the four world centers of girl scouting:  Our Chalet in Switzerland, Our Cabana in Mexico, Sangam in India, and PAX Lodge in England.  We also 'traveled' to Africa and Australia.  We went around the world by hiking to various stations within the campgrounds. Each of the stations featured games and crafts from the country, and those activities were run by an older girl scout troop, who our little girls looked at with starry-eyed reverence.  It was a neat interaction to watch.  Some of the girls running the stations were only in 6th grade, and Abby later told me that she can't wait to be able to lead a station when she's bigger. 

After the stations, we had a few hours in the afternoon to entertain ourselves at the campground before dinner.  Our girls were ready for some unstructured time, so Elaine and I put out a parachute, an inflatable beach ball, coloring things, and beading things, and then watched the chaos that ensued.  One amusing moment came when a girl was trying to make a beaded bracelet with alphabet letters, but ran out of space.  Her finished bracelet reads, "I LOVE GIRLS."

For dinner, we hiked up to one of the campsites and joined two troops of older girls.  We split up into little families comprised of a few of our girls and a few of their girls, and prepared and ate a grilled dinner together (pita pizzas and baked potatoes).  Our girls were in heaven with all the attention from the older girl scouts.  I just got an email this morning from the older girls' leader and was happy to learn that her troop ranked the dinner as their #1 favorite part of the trip.  It was really, really special.  We had practiced some campfire songs at our recent brownie meeting, so I had our girls sing to the big girls as a thank you. They LOVED it.  An exciting part of the evening came when a mommy mouse ran out of the chimney with three of her babies still attached after the fire was started.  The mom and babies were rescued and put into a bowl until they could be returned to her nest.  You're probably thinking, ew. Mice.  The baby mice were so cute I now understand how people could have them as pets.  The babies were only as big as a quarter and had not yet opened their eyes.  (And, no, we did not allow the girls to pet the mice, much to their very great dismay.)

Although we didn't plan Camporee, I still found myself so busy with Camporee preparations (packing lists, sit-upons, transportation planning, SWAPS, etc., etc.) and regular weekday activities last week that I didn't get a chance to blog. What did you miss?? 

Something Slimy

Ben:  "Dad, my nose is full of boogies. Will you get them out?"

Ben then grabbed Scott's finger and shoved it up his nose.

Dad looked surprised.

Something Silly

Mom:  "Ben, pull up your pants higher."

Ben: "You mean like Grandma does?"   (we don't know which grandma he means, by the way)

Something Summery

Enjoying one last hot summer day

Ben:  "Mom, I'm fast now."