Emerald Bay 04

Our trip over was great. The boat was fast, the water was fairly calm, and we even spotted a few whales along the way. No one threw up, although we did have a couple of mildly queasy adults. After an hour on the big boat, we transferred to water taxis for a short trip to the camp. We were greeted by our Ranger, a 15-year old staff member assigned as our troop helper. We were in one of the largest campsites and it was conveniently located to most everything. The first day we were given a guided tour of the camp and we all headed to the waterfront for swim checks. After getting more information from the camp stafff, we ended up juggling a few schedules and got everyone ready for the week ahead.

The camp facilities were excellent. We dined "al fresco" every day, sitting outdoors under the covered porch of the dining hall with a beautiful view of the ocean. The boys took turns as serving as "waiters" for each meal. The waiters would go early and set the tables, and would also handle all the cleanup afterwards. The food was . . . well, it was camp food, but usually filling, and there was a cereal bar at every breakfast and a salad bar at every lunch and dinner - with peanut butter sandwiches always available. After everyone had eaten, they rang the bell for "seconds" for those who wanted additional portions.

Our accommodations were raised platform tents with metal bedframes and mattresses. Bathrooms (with flush toilets) and showers were a short walk from camp. We had three picnic tables and a big canopy in the campsite, along with a bulletin board we could use to post schedules and messages. We had a few deer visit the campsite, and the boys spotted plenty of animals while we were at camp. The bees and the ants were unwelcome visitors, but we managed.

Monday morning, the program got underway. The "first year" program was run differently than at other camps. It was held during two sessions in the morning, and the boys were kept together as a group. The program was designed for new scouts, so those who already had their Tenderfoot and/or a large chunk of requirements completed, would have repeated too much in that class. As a result, we juggled schedules and added merit badges for some of the more experienced tenderfoots. Five of our boys were in the SCUBA program, so we only saw them during meals and in the evenings.

The rest of the boys were spread out through the various program areas during the day. Some were at the waterfront, taking swimming, lifesaving, rowing, canoeing, motorboating, small boat sailing, oceanography, and even waterskiing. The waterfront consisted of a large rocky beach area with two docks. The camp owned a large number of canoes, kayaks, motor boats, sail boats, and ski boats. Safety was a constant concern, and buddy tags were required so the staff would always know who was in the water.

The Scoutcraft area hosted the first year program, as well as cooking, Camping, Orienteering and Wilderness Survival. The boys in Wilderness Survival had to build a shelter in an area away from camp and spend the night in their shelter with no sleeping bags. After ants invaded them during the night, they more fully understood the realities of trying to survive in the wiilderness.

The Nature area was a popular spot for those boys taking classes in Fish & Wildlife Management, Soil and Water Conservation, Geology, Environmental Science, Astronomy and other similar classes. The staff, as in most of the areas, consisted of older Scouts, young adults, and a smattering of school teachers who choose to spend their summers working on camp staff.

Tuesday was "War Canoe" day for us. Along with about 100 other scouts and leaders, we woke up early, packed essential items in plastic bags, and loaded the gear and the people into an armada of 8-person canoes. We paddled out into the ocean and traveled around part of the island until we got to Parson's Cove. There we unloaded our gear and food and set our gear into campsites. After a day of snorkeling, hiking and other activities, the boys cooked stew and peach cobblers in Dutch ovens (the adults were forbidden to go near them during the entire food preparation and cooking process). Dinner was late, but very tasty! We slept that night on the beach under the stars. It was surprisingly warm, and although a few of the adults had trouble sleeping, the boys seemed to do just fine. We had to get up at 5:15 am to eat a quick breakfast, load the gear back into the boats and get back to camp in time for the next day's "war canoe" group to head out. It was a unique adventure that I'm sure everyone will remember for along time - and the added benefit was that during those 3 days when the various war canoe groups were out, the camp population dropped by 1/3, making the camp and the classes very uncrowded. Since everyone participates in War Canoe, the classes are designed so the boys can easily make up anything that was covered during the day they were gone..

Although there were technically evening classes, many of the boys found them difficult to attend because of the need to do homework for their daytime merit badge classes. And there always seemed to be special activities scheduled at that time also. We had a unit get-together one night, which was a hamburger barbecue out on the beach. We also had a troop kayaking adventure and a troop snorkeling trip. We were busy all the time . . . or it sure seemed like it.

On Friday, the camp hosted the big "Aquacade", a series of silly water competitions among the troops. Our buys competed in several events, including a sandcastle building contest, the Scoutmaster's Holiday (where 6 of our boys dragged Steven Izumi around in a rowboat), the Scoutmaster's Bellyflop contest (we dressed George up in a special costume that will be featured on the website whenever we get the photos developed), and finally, the Message to Garcia - a relay race using a canoe team, a kayaker, a swimmer and a runner. Lots of fun, and although our troop didn't win, we had a great time

On Friday night, the boys went to a campfire program (skits and songs galore) while the leaders finished up checking advancement requirements with the newer Scouts. Blue cards and partial blue cards were handed back, and we got packed up and ready to leave. Saturday was spent waiting around as the debarkation process progressed. While waiting, though, Troop 650 took 2nd place in the TV Trivia contest. Finally we were saying goodbye to Camp Emerald Bay and headed back home, all of us dreaming of hot baths, comfortable beds, favorite foods, and of course, TV and Playstation games.

Your boys should be able to tell you which merit badges they earned. If they only earned partials, please don't worry about it. This camp was strict on the requirements, and we saw a lot of partials handed out - especially in the shooting sports. Those can be finished up, if desired, at next year's camp, or on their own during the year. I have all the partial blue cards if you want them - just let me know.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the adults who helped us get ready for camp, who helped drive, and of course, we should all thank those leaders who gave up their precious vacation days to be with the boys (Gene Jang, Steven Izumi, George Mast, Albert Najera, Cheryl Smith, Angel and Nancy Vanegas, Herb Wong, Kevin Yoon, and myself).. And I hope your boys will thank YOU for giving them the opportunity to go to camp. I sincerely believe they are all better for the experience, and many of them got do at least one thing for the very first time. Many succeeded in things they hadn't tried before and hopefully gained a little more confidence. And thanks to the shared experiences, they undoubtedly feel a little closer to the other boys in the troop.