Stone Mountain Campout
Stone Mountain State Park
January 12-14, 2007

It was supposed to be our winter campout.  We wanted to camp in the snow.  But, the forecast was for mild spring like weather.

The State Park is a three hour drive and the park gates are locked at 6 PM, so Mr. D. and Mr. S and five Scouts left for Stone Mountain about 2 PM on Friday. That gave us two SUV’s to shuttle the gear in from the gate when the rest of the Troop arrived about 8:30 PM. The advance crew set up camp getting canopies up and lanterns positioned and lighted. We were expecting rain, but it never materialized (because we put up the canopies).  They also started a fire to keep everyone warm when the rest of the Scouts arrived.  The late arrivals all walked the mile from the gate to camp.  The tents were up and everyone was sitting around the fire and talking by 9:30 PM. Lights-out was at 11 PM.

We were up at 7 AM on Saturday and lighting the fire was the first thing on the agenda because it was cold.  Everyone had a good breakfast and it was a leisurely meal that didn’t finish with clean-up until about 9:30 AM. You see this campout is the one where we didn’t have any planned activities. The Scouts could choose on their own what they wanted to do.  At 9:30 AM a group of 6 adults and 7 Scouts left for a 5 mile hike through the park.  Some where along the way they decided to take a little 2 mile side track and unfortunately it turned out to be a 5 mile side track. So, the three hour hike turned into a four and a half hour hike.  They had a good time and saw the falls with more water than they have had in several years and also spent some time at the homestead (a turn of the century farm that has been restored).

The other Scouts did all kinds of other things.  There was a group of about five or six Scouts who played lacrosse all day.  They put up a net as a goal and now that net is in the Troop trailer so they can play on other Troop outings. Another group of Scouts played Frisbee tag and ball games all day. There were a bunch of tree climbers, small groups of Scouts going on short hikes, and several card games going. Several of the younger scouts worked on rank advancement.  Two Scouts completed their Tenderfoot requirements and half of the Second Class requirements.  One boy competed his Scout rank requirements. At the end of the day the Scouts discovered a cut in the trees going all the way up the mountain that was a clearing for the power poles.  One of the Scouts Scott B. thought it would be fun to run to the top – about a 1,000 foot climb.  He did it up and back and started a round of challenges of teams of Scouts racing up and back.  Before long the entire Troop was on the grassy knoll watching and cheering on the Scouts who were competing. One Scout, Alex G. challenged another Scout Sam H. by saying, “…come on and race me – you’ll make me look good.” Alex beat Sam to the top, but Sam won the up and back. Boys – they make fun of each other, have fun playing, and laugh about the out come of their games.

After the mountain runs it was time for dinner.  There were several good meals going.  Tom Br. made home-made chili for the adult patrol.  The Vikings Patrol had some real nice looking steaks, the younger Scouts made spaghetti, the older Scouts made bacon-cheese burgers.  Yes they all had a balanced meal with vegetables and salads. I saw a range of deserts, but the best was the apple cobbler made in a Dutch oven by Tom Br. for the adults.

Daniel M., a Scout working on his communications merit badge planned and ran the campfire ceremony.  We had song, skits, stories, jokes, and a flag retirement ceremony for three flags.  Daniel did a great job with the whole ceremony.

After the campfire ceremony just about all the scouts left camp for a grassy area to play manhunt (a variation on capture the flag that is played in the dark). The Scouts played for about an hour and a half – where do they get their energy.  We had a couple of minor bangs and scrapes, but that’s just being a boy.

Lights out was at 10:30 PM.

We were up at 7 AM again and rushed to get breakfast and pack-up in time to make a planned 9 AM departure time.  We left at 9:15 and made it home to the meeting place on time at noon.

I heard a few Scouts say it was the best campout ever – I guess they like to just do “nothing.”  There were a couple of tired adults. But, no one admitted it. It’s always nice to get home and get that nice hot shower.  And, then sit and think about the next outing … the ski trip.

Bob De Contreras
Scoutmaster
Troop 216