By Alexander M.
On June 19th, 2011, Sequoia Elementary School saw a group of Boy Scouts clad in red hats and sweaters arrive around 6:00 in the morning. Around 7:00 a.m., 26 Scouts and 6 Scouters of Troop 380 left for a week at Camp Chawanakee. Alexander M. was SPL for the trip, and Zachary B. and Charlie P. served as ASPLs. The troop arrived at the camp around 12:30 in the afternoon, but didn’t enter camp until around 2:00. Troop 380, guided by staff member Shuck, was led to their camp and then to their swim checks. Only one person suffered any sickness the first day. That night, the troop attended the opening campfire, put on by the staff of Camp Chawanakee, Crew 5280. On Monday, the troop went about business, the Scouts doing merit badges and Scouters . . . well, ask them. The troop also held a campfire in camp on Monday evening. Tuesday morning heard 380 shouting out to the world of their manliness in the Polar Bear swim. 380 participated in the canoe overnighter. They left Tuesday night and returned at the crack of dawn Wednesday morning, in time to watch polar bear. Wednesday evening saw Troop 380 perform their signature skit, “Men in Red Shirts” at the commissioner’s campfire. Laundry was also done on Wednesday. On Thursday, Troop 380 was the color-guard for evening flags, and also had another campfire in camp. Some of the boys went to the Tribe of Chawanakee campfire. Friday morning had the troop kind of split up, with about half doing polar bear and the other half doing the Iron Bear. The Iron Bear recipients had to run a little over a mile and then do the polar bear swim. “Merit Badge Friday” also had the Scouts of 380 running around in Hawaiian shirts trying to finish up any incomplete merit badges before “Chawanadaze”, the camp-wide games. Unfortunately, Troop 380 didn’t medal in any of the games. That night, Troop 380 enjoyed the comedy of closing campfire, put on by the participating troops in camp. Troop 380 was awarded the Honor Troop award, and Alexander M. was called out as the Honor Scout of the troop. The next morning, the boys grudgingly packed their backpacks up and cleaned up camp after breakfast. The troop left camp around 10:00, and took a much needed lunch break at In-and-Out Burger. The troop returned to Sequoia around 2:00 p.m., and we quickly unpacked and went home.
