Clothes washed and packed away
Camp is over. Webelos Weekend is over. No powwow this week. Still trying to adjust to "after camp". I wanted to just take a stroll down all that was done and accomplished in this historical year, both personally, as well as for the Council and the Tribe.
In the weeks leading up to camp, no one was even sure that it would happen. The coronavirus had reached pandemic levels globally, and after nearly two months of the country being nearly shut down, it was not a given that camp would go at all, and if it did, it would certainly not be normal. Well, it wasn't normal, that is for sure.
Feast was canceled. The first two sessions of camp were also. Staff week became staff weekend, beginning Thursday before the start of Third Session. Many that were hired to work opted out, due to health concerns. The council, working hard to mitigate risk as much as possible developed protocols that would at least guarantee that those attending, staff and campers, would be asymptomatic. No Visitor's Night, no visitors to Tapping, and only essential personnel on Thursday and Friday nights (Runners, KSBs, TC, and Chieftains). That was only the beginning.
A self check and waiver for each camper (and staff member) had to be presented on Sunday, stating that symptoms had not been present for prescribed periods of time. Every morning, Troops had to do temperature and symptom checks for each member, and submit a form prior to being allowed onto the parade ground for breakfast. Any abnormalities required a trip to the health lodge, and likely the end of camp.
Extensive use of plexiglass shields were used in the Trading Post and Dining Hall, which also served individual meals in disposable trays. Due to social distancing, there were only four to a table, with the tables spaced apart. This necessitated additional space for seating and 5 tents Dining Tents were set up outside and sound system wired for outside broadcast of program. Extensive cleaning protocols put in place, including frequent cleaning of door knobs, sink handles, etc, and the use of UV lights to sanitize rooms. It is rumored that cockroaches were found feet up after a room was UV'ed. I can attest to the massive headache and disorientation that one could have by getting just a glimpse of these lights, as I went to unplug one after the timer went off, and there was a power bump, resetting the light to on. Yikes!!!!. Truly, precautions were taken to mitigate risk.
We added a session, to help make up for the two that were canceled, but even so, only around 1,000 campers attended this year, down from the nearly 1,500 anticipated. The busiest week was 6th session, with over 260 campers, plus adults, and the least populated being 7th. That was anticipated, once COVID hit, and we saw it first hand in the Trading Post. It was really hard to determine what to order, week to week, as the number of campers was so low, but we got through it. I believe that we were up, in per camper spending, I will have to double check that.
Personally, I set new goals to lose weight, again. I lost 16 pounds during camp, and have ambitious goals for next year, whether they come to fruition, too early to tell. I also had the personal satisfaction of seeing one of the best years for the now defunct Troop 103 at camp.
Two members of that Troop served on staff. Myself, and Gabe Cunningham. Gabe is an Eagle Scout, and as I have written previously, exemplifies that spirit more than any other Eagle Scout I have seen. His kindness to others, his desire to teach, and help those younger than he is all I could ever ask, but that is only the beginning. He was recognized by his peer group as an exemplar, and by the leaders of the staff, and the Tribe as one who sets the standard. It seemed nearly every week there was an accomplishment. Not really, but it seemed that way.
He was a work horse, willing to not only do what was asked, but what needed to be done without being asked.
He got along with nearly everyone on Staff, and with the campers. I only say nearly, as it can be tricky using absolutes, but Gabe nearly merits an absolute such as everyone here.
Fourth Session, Gabe advanced to Keeper of the Sacred Bundle. Yellow paint. Not unexpected this year, but not necessarily the second week of camp.
Fifth Session, He earned the Silver Coup, the highest honor for a Tribesman under 21. It is somewhat equivalent to the White Coup of Service for older adults. Actually I would rank it higher, and more rare.
Sixth Session, Gabe was the Tapper for what was to be an historic week, not that it was the first week that youth girls were tapped, as that was Fourth Session, but that it was the largest week, and some of those girls were advanced not just to Braves, but through Warrior to Firebuilder. He did an outstanding job, and it wasn't just this biased writer that thought so..
Seventh Session, He, along with the Staff, received Staff Coup. Normal, but as the Staff met to prepare for Webelos Camp, it was announced that Gabe had been elected, for the second year in a row, as Over 18 Staff Man of the Year.
I shouldn't feel the pride about Gabe that I do, but having been there in the beginning, waking a certain young man up to go fishing, and the year he was tapped when it was in the lower 50s, I guess I do feel that maybe I did have a hand in how he is today. Small, of course.
I have already written on these pages of the elevation to Tribal Council, to Sachem, and so I won't elaborate more. I think I may still be in a little shock and disbelief that it happened. Or maybe it is the UV flash? Suffice to say that I am humbled, and grateful for the confidence demonstrated in me by those who thought I should wear White paint.
The Tribe had some very unusual events this year (besides a certain Keeper getting White Paint) unusual, but necessary. As mentioned previously, girls were tapped for the first time Fourth Session, and more Sixth Session. But the changes didn't stop there. Some of those girls tapped in the beginning ended up assisting in "running" the girl foxmen Sixth Session. Some advanced to Firebuilder Friday night, also previously mentioned. This was necessary to build up female youth leadership in the tribe, as some of these girls were 16 or 17. This was historical.
The clothes have been washed, packed away, and tomorrow they go into storage. Textbooks need to be bought for the upcoming semester, regalia needs to be sorted, added to, and repaired. And thinking ahead to next year, hoping that we return to some sense of normalcy. Of course, as Doc Holliday told Wyatt Earp
"There ain't no such thing as a normal life, Wyatt. There's just life."
It is indeed swell.
Bonus points for knowing not the Holliday quote, but which tribal leader may have frequently stated the last line.
In the weeks leading up to camp, no one was even sure that it would happen. The coronavirus had reached pandemic levels globally, and after nearly two months of the country being nearly shut down, it was not a given that camp would go at all, and if it did, it would certainly not be normal. Well, it wasn't normal, that is for sure.
Feast was canceled. The first two sessions of camp were also. Staff week became staff weekend, beginning Thursday before the start of Third Session. Many that were hired to work opted out, due to health concerns. The council, working hard to mitigate risk as much as possible developed protocols that would at least guarantee that those attending, staff and campers, would be asymptomatic. No Visitor's Night, no visitors to Tapping, and only essential personnel on Thursday and Friday nights (Runners, KSBs, TC, and Chieftains). That was only the beginning.
A self check and waiver for each camper (and staff member) had to be presented on Sunday, stating that symptoms had not been present for prescribed periods of time. Every morning, Troops had to do temperature and symptom checks for each member, and submit a form prior to being allowed onto the parade ground for breakfast. Any abnormalities required a trip to the health lodge, and likely the end of camp.
Extensive use of plexiglass shields were used in the Trading Post and Dining Hall, which also served individual meals in disposable trays. Due to social distancing, there were only four to a table, with the tables spaced apart. This necessitated additional space for seating and 5 tents Dining Tents were set up outside and sound system wired for outside broadcast of program. Extensive cleaning protocols put in place, including frequent cleaning of door knobs, sink handles, etc, and the use of UV lights to sanitize rooms. It is rumored that cockroaches were found feet up after a room was UV'ed. I can attest to the massive headache and disorientation that one could have by getting just a glimpse of these lights, as I went to unplug one after the timer went off, and there was a power bump, resetting the light to on. Yikes!!!!. Truly, precautions were taken to mitigate risk.
We added a session, to help make up for the two that were canceled, but even so, only around 1,000 campers attended this year, down from the nearly 1,500 anticipated. The busiest week was 6th session, with over 260 campers, plus adults, and the least populated being 7th. That was anticipated, once COVID hit, and we saw it first hand in the Trading Post. It was really hard to determine what to order, week to week, as the number of campers was so low, but we got through it. I believe that we were up, in per camper spending, I will have to double check that.
Personally, I set new goals to lose weight, again. I lost 16 pounds during camp, and have ambitious goals for next year, whether they come to fruition, too early to tell. I also had the personal satisfaction of seeing one of the best years for the now defunct Troop 103 at camp.
Two members of that Troop served on staff. Myself, and Gabe Cunningham. Gabe is an Eagle Scout, and as I have written previously, exemplifies that spirit more than any other Eagle Scout I have seen. His kindness to others, his desire to teach, and help those younger than he is all I could ever ask, but that is only the beginning. He was recognized by his peer group as an exemplar, and by the leaders of the staff, and the Tribe as one who sets the standard. It seemed nearly every week there was an accomplishment. Not really, but it seemed that way.
He was a work horse, willing to not only do what was asked, but what needed to be done without being asked.
He got along with nearly everyone on Staff, and with the campers. I only say nearly, as it can be tricky using absolutes, but Gabe nearly merits an absolute such as everyone here.
Fourth Session, Gabe advanced to Keeper of the Sacred Bundle. Yellow paint. Not unexpected this year, but not necessarily the second week of camp.
Fifth Session, He earned the Silver Coup, the highest honor for a Tribesman under 21. It is somewhat equivalent to the White Coup of Service for older adults. Actually I would rank it higher, and more rare.
Sixth Session, Gabe was the Tapper for what was to be an historic week, not that it was the first week that youth girls were tapped, as that was Fourth Session, but that it was the largest week, and some of those girls were advanced not just to Braves, but through Warrior to Firebuilder. He did an outstanding job, and it wasn't just this biased writer that thought so..
Seventh Session, He, along with the Staff, received Staff Coup. Normal, but as the Staff met to prepare for Webelos Camp, it was announced that Gabe had been elected, for the second year in a row, as Over 18 Staff Man of the Year.
I shouldn't feel the pride about Gabe that I do, but having been there in the beginning, waking a certain young man up to go fishing, and the year he was tapped when it was in the lower 50s, I guess I do feel that maybe I did have a hand in how he is today. Small, of course.
I have already written on these pages of the elevation to Tribal Council, to Sachem, and so I won't elaborate more. I think I may still be in a little shock and disbelief that it happened. Or maybe it is the UV flash? Suffice to say that I am humbled, and grateful for the confidence demonstrated in me by those who thought I should wear White paint.
The Tribe had some very unusual events this year (besides a certain Keeper getting White Paint) unusual, but necessary. As mentioned previously, girls were tapped for the first time Fourth Session, and more Sixth Session. But the changes didn't stop there. Some of those girls tapped in the beginning ended up assisting in "running" the girl foxmen Sixth Session. Some advanced to Firebuilder Friday night, also previously mentioned. This was necessary to build up female youth leadership in the tribe, as some of these girls were 16 or 17. This was historical.
The clothes have been washed, packed away, and tomorrow they go into storage. Textbooks need to be bought for the upcoming semester, regalia needs to be sorted, added to, and repaired. And thinking ahead to next year, hoping that we return to some sense of normalcy. Of course, as Doc Holliday told Wyatt Earp
"There ain't no such thing as a normal life, Wyatt. There's just life."
It is indeed swell.
Bonus points for knowing not the Holliday quote, but which tribal leader may have frequently stated the last line.
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