Encampment 2014

   Last June our biggest 3 went off to the annual Girl Scout Encampment. Bridget watched them prepare making swaps, and hats, and t-shirts and then she saw them excitedly head off Friday afternoon. When they were away she made the decision that she wanted to become a girl scout so she could go to encampment as well. And this year she did.

We signed her up for a troop in the fall and Bridget seemed to enjoy herself. It was a big group so she was reserved most of the time and quiet. Come spring the troops all start preparing for encampment but Bridget's troop didn't mention it and didn't have it on the schedule. I reached out Bridget's troop leader and she said she wasn't planning on going. Bridget had her heart set on it, so I volunteered to organize a day trip of who ever wanted to go. It is a crazy time of year and between dance recitals, lacrosse and softball tournaments, we wound up with 3 girls and 3 moms in our group. This was perfect for Bridget.

The theme this year was rain forests and Bridget's troop decided to be the Red Panda's. She had a great time painting a t-shirt with a red panda face and making panda tail "swaps". Emma, Rachael, and Megan all shipped off with their troops Friday night. Bridget observed the hustle and bustle of their packing and started asking me lots of questions. She was getting a little anxious. After they headed out, she and I got time together after Hanna went to sleep. We went over our packing list in a relaxed way and the anxiety transitioned to excitement.

She woke up early on Saturday ready to go. She wore her red panda t-shirt and we joined her matching troop mates. She was a bit wide eyed at the 300 scouts gathered around the flag pole, and smiling. Our first activity was boating. She was happily greeted by a friend who is a class mate when we got down to the boats and was glad to get to go in a row boat with them. Bridget is generally quiet in big groups, so it was fun to see little bursts of animated talking as we walked to and from activities. We saw Emma, Rachael, and Megan occasionally as we traversed the camp grounds. Bridget made a cocoon, did archery, tried to knock stuffed frogs out of trees, went on a nature walk and went swimming. We ate in large groups at long tables and the girls swapped themed pins with other troops. Bridget was very reluctant to approach girls she didn't know but did enjoy the challenge of getting new swaps, so she put herself out there, just a little bit. After dinner, our little group built a fire, roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. We ended our day at the flag pole as the scouts gathered to take down the flag. On our way to the flag pole Bridget asked if we could stay and share Emma and Rachael's tent for the night.  Next year she will.

Megan was with the leopards this year and is a seasoned encamper.
Emma and Rachael's troop were Jesus Lizards. After Bridget and I headed home, the over-nighters had a bridging ceremony where girls who are moving up a level, walk a bridge to the next level of scouting. Emma bridged to Ambassadors.

Sunday morning the troop has a cardboard boat race. Each troop made a huge boat out of cardboard and decorated it according to their theme. Megan was chosen as a rower for her leopard boat but her troop didn't stand a chance against the synchronized machine of Emma and Rachael Kehrman rowing for the Jesus Lizard boat. Em and Rae took the overall fastest time of the day and came home with a huge 1st place ribbon. All 4 of the girls were exhausted by weekend but the weather was amazing and the events smooth. They had a great time and great memories.