Hail, Hail Camp Whitsett

While Harriet was at Girl's Camp and the boys and I were at Cub Scout day camp, Jack was spending the week far away in the mountains of central California at Camp Whitsett Scout Camp! All of our camps were during the same week, which was the reason Harriet and Jack weren't able to work as Orange Shirts at the cub scout camp this year which was so fun for them last year, kind of a bummer. 

But that aside everyone had a great time at their respective camps!  Harriet and Jack actually camped quite near to each other in the Sequoia National Forest, and the Scouts even visited the girls one day at their camp when they came to river run on the Kern river. (Which the girls did as well) 

Jack spent five days at the camp with his troop, and had good time.  Camp Whitsett is a bonafide Scout Camp with a staff, canvas tents on concrete platforms with cots for sleeping, and many more of the amenities of home than just a rough-it scout camp experience.  Jack participated in many activities with his troop, everything from white water rafting to archery to leather working to pottery and basket making, to walking up a river and swimming in the lake.  He earned five merit badges during the week, and came home tired and ready for a flush toilet, but happy with his experience there and his accomplishments. 

Obviously I wasn't at Scout Camp, but, not unlike with Harriet's Girl's Camp, I asked the leaders for any and all photos of the camping experience and of my kids participating in the activities. Harriet's leader sent me at least 5 Picasa photo albums full of photos and videos of Harriet and of the camp experience, literally well over a hundred images that I had a hard time picking and choosing from. 

Jack's leader sent me nine photos he took with his iPhone. 

But, I was grateful for them and for the glimpse they gave me of his fun week at Scout Camp! 

folding tables and chairs, plates, silverware, 

lots of good food 

Working on the Environmental Science merit badge 

as with the Cub Scouts, everyone looks forward to archery 

Basket Making, one of his merit badges 

Pottery

with some of his troop members 

Already looking forward to his next camp out - this one will be at the beach! 

Read all about it...

Pete's write up in the ACSA newsletter was part of this week's edition - it is also published online with the same article.  I'm proud of him and get to brag, because he'd be the last one to bring it up.  (plus I get a shout out in the printed article if you can read that small...) 

Click here to read the online article

here's some photos of the write-up...

Girl's Camp '11

Camp Week continues...

while the cub scouts and I spent the week at day camp, 

Harriet was with the Young Women on her first Girl's Camp campout!  

morning meet- up; backpacks, sleeping bags, pillows

trailer loaded with the rest of the gear

awesome camp set up 

Camp cook serving dinner - the girls ate very well on the trip.

Harriet's only complaint was too much bacon. (!) 

dinner is served - can you spot Harriet?

made it through the first night - pancakes for breakfast! 

campsight in the shadow of a giant rock

Morningside together - a lesson and discussion regarding the upcoming service project today.

Harriet makes a pop top bracelet as she listens. 

Extra pop tops 

Service Project - Planting trees with the U.S. Forest Service 

Green Forest Service truck full of greenery for the service project 

listening to instructions

with armfulls of greenery, ready to go! 

Harriet the hole digger 

Lake Forest Ward Young Women - emphasis on "Forest" 

After the service project is finished the girls spend

 the afternoon hiking through the nearby Sequoia National Forest.

great group photo 

Harriet said it was "so cool" walking through some of the swampy underbrush - they

walked on giant felled branches through the marsh. 

walking through the giant sequoias

climbing on the oversized boulders 

Harriet said this was a silly reenactment of Simba's Presentation from The Lion King

conquering the giants

everyone helps and needs help 

The girls really enjoyed a day with nature 

gathering for the evening program with skits

Harriet and her group getting ready for their skit

Third day: River rafting on the Kern River! 

Harriet's group listening to their river guide - 

they seem to be avoiding looking directly at him for fear of cracking up.

Preparing to launch 

our awesome bishop joins them for the activity

 (and gets pummeled while protecting the girls

 from every tree on the river  - notice his scraped left arm)

The waterproof camera went in the other raft so no action photos of Harriet

on the river. Here's the after photo of the raft. 

Last night together - testimony meeting and s'mores

Day four: Lake Isabella and drive home 

The group stops to swim in Lake Isabella before starting the drive home 

Bishop Smith shows where the rattlesnake was

 hiding that bit his son Ryan two years ago

on a Scout activity on the same river 

Ryan had to be airlifted to Loma Linda which was hours away 

marking the progression of the venom up his leg 

ever wonder what a rattlesnake bite (eventually) looks like? 

The girls cautiously make their way out in the chilly water 

Harriet gets some help getting in 

enjoying the warm sun on the rocks 

Harriet helps her friend catch her floating shoe while trying to stay afloat herself!

enjoying their last moments away together while eating lunch

signaling a return to society - power lines and Magic Mountain