A very long weekend

This past weekend was our Girl Scout Service Unit Encampment out at Camp Lyle McLeod. Okay, in laymans terms, that means that all the scouts from this area get to have an entire camp to ourselves all weekend. An older troop plans and runs the entire weekend, so all we have to do is show up. It's a great camping experience without all the work.

My troop (9 girls and 4 adults) got the wonderful pleasure of staying in the Ark this time. The camp is actually situated around a lake - there are several units along the 1 1/2 mile trail around the lake. The Ark is a floating cabin that is on the complete OTHER side of the lake from the lodge and all the activities. It's very cool to stay in a floating cabin (complete with full size walls and closing doors that many units don't have), but it is a challenge walking the 3/4 mile through the woods to get to everyone else! Sooooooo, since we are "special", we got to CANOE across the lake to our cabin, in the total darkness, on Saturday night after campfire! I have to admit (and note, I am NOT a camper), it really was very cool to canoe by moonlight! Truly the highpoint of the weekend.

The girls actually did a great job cooking, hiking, acherying, wood burning, swimming, crafting, cleaning, and all the other "fun" things involved in girl scout camping. I heard no complaining this year - a wonderful change from past years. I'm exhausted - but I think they all could have stayed another day or two.

Here are a few pictures ... for more, check out our troop picture album at: http://www.costcophotocenter.com/groups/juniortroop3127.And Camryn was able to attend with her troop this year - their first camping experience! They did get to stay in an indoor unit tho, complete with electricity, flushing toilets, and hot running water! Man, I was jealous of their warm (and clean) leaders!