A Few brief "funny" stories from camp
John Pannell (PANNELLJ@DELPHI.COM)
Mon, 31 Jul 1995 18:12:35 -0400
Last week I spent my third week this Summer at our council's camp, Cherokee
Scout Reservation near Yanceyville, NC.
We had been averaging about 200 campers per week but since this is the first
time any of our predecessor councils have had a sixth week of camp,
attendance was at about 120. Our First Year Camper program had been
averaging 40 - 50 per week but had four last week.
Our "foreign exchange" Scout this summer is from the UK. Each Wednesday at
camp there was a special theme, usually played out at lunch. Well, last
week it was "Salute to England." So, I had organized a bit of an event with
a youth staff member. We thought tea would be appropriate. His mom had
brought back scone mix from the UK. I had brought up china from home.
Originally it was going to be a small affair at lunchtime but it was later
decided that it would be more appropriate if we served "high tea" at 4pm.
An open invitation to "high tea" was given to all at lunch. The china was
for myself, our British Scout, and the other staff member. The "commoners"
had to do with styrofoam cups. *g*
So in 95 degree heat under a bright afternoon sun we sat on the dining hall
porch drinking hot tea! *g* It was fun and most of those who came got their
first taste of scones and the "proper" way to fix tea. (generally, here tea
is a beverage served with lots of ice, lemon and sugar -- very rarely drank
hot!)
I was serving as a provo. ASM again. We had one 12 year old Scout who was
visiting his aunt and uncle in the area and decided to spend last week and
this week at camp. He was from Venezuela and was a member of a Direct
Service Council troop there. I am fuzzy on the details since the troop
seems to be using both the Venezuelan and BSA program. He wore the
Venezuelan Scout uniform. Fortunately for all concerned he's fully
bilingual in English and Spanish.
Occassionally, particularly when one of the other kids did something
especially dumb, he would lapse into Spanish thinking no one else could
understand him - never anything really nasty. Little did he know that I also
spoke some Spanish and would just give enough of a smile in his direction to
make him wonder if I understood... *g*
Well, one day it was decided he would give the troop report. All the troops
are called. When Provisional is called, he steps up and says in a loud
voice, "Todo presente o acontado por, seNor." (pardon my spelling or any
other errors...) There were a lot of baffled stares. I chuckled to myself.
*g*
One of the local troops here in Burlington has a new member who was active
in Scouting in Belize. He was one of our CIT's last week and I had a chance
to talk to him. The British program is used there. We had a few
discussions on how much more "shackled" American youth are compared to the
youth of his home country. Their youth leadership has much more authority
and is more directly involved in running the show, so to speak, not only on
the troop level but the equivalent of the council and national level as well.
They also have an honor organization, whose members are knights. To become
a member, one must pass a series of tests that are similar in some respects
to the OA. I was very fuzzy on the details. They also have another
organization (seems to be more of a governing body) composed of Scouts from
around the country. It is a great honor to be a member of this organization
and he had served as its head. The closest parallel I could understand
would be a rough equivalent to out Boys' State or Boys' Nation programs, but
modelled on the British parliamentary system rather than our system of
government.
He attended the BSA '93 National Jamboree as a member of the Scouts of
Belize.
I was beginning to think it was International Week at camp! I
suspect that was the most non-American Scouts this council has seen in camp
in one week.
YiS,
John Pannell
ASM Troop 39 -- Old North State Council
pannellj@delphi.com
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