Dramatis persona*

helenhead Helen Chick

I've always wanted a bumper sticker that said "I'm a female, LDS/Mormon, Scout leading, geocaching, piano-playing, bicycling, mathematics educator with a PhD in maths ... and I VOTE"!

I think this makes me a minority group of cardinality 1!

* Since there's only one of me and "personae" is plural (I think), I've gone with dramatis persona.
March 2024
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Weekend Scout camp

It’s often the case that getting away to Scout camp is a bit hectic, but the good thing is that once I am there, it is usually good fun and enjoyable (if tiring). This weekend’s camp was to help the younger kids to learn some new skills, to help the older kids develop leadership skills, and to have some fun. They set up their camp (in the dark), cooked all their meals and cleaned up (with the expected amount of urging!), did some first aid training, did a little construction, engaged in some thoughtful reflection during the Scouts’ Own, and packed up pretty efficiently at the end of the camp. In addition, we had fun on the big flying fox (a 12 second run harnessed on to a wire cable across a valley), had some good night “wide games”, worked our way around the challenge course, and enjoyed a couple of good campfires (with songs and jokes but no actual fire, due to the summer conditions).

bJamesSwinging bTroopInTree BMiniFlyingFox

It was also the last camp for our two oldest Scouts who are now moving up to Venturers. It has been a privilege to watch them progress from 10 year olds just out of Cubs, to young leaders who can help teach the other kids, who have the skill to camp independently, and who are just decent teenagers. On their last night I noticed them up late and chatting to the next older two, and since it was a mild night and a special occasion I acquiesced to their request to sleep in the trailer beneath the stars. One of the things that such camps offer to kids is the chance to do things that are a little unusual in a relatively safe environment. I’m not sure they got much sleep however: as you can see, there’s not a lot of room for stretching out.

One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing a koala up close, an exciting novelty for many of the kids who live in the suburbs where such wildlife is rare.

And, of course, there were the usual silly moments, which included adding to the collection of antics “perpetuated” by a number of soft toys who have become regular attenders at camp. I have nothing to do with this; indeed the older boys were responsible for starting and continuing this tradition, with Dr Quackers having been carried on a hike (where he was a key player in an amusing game of “keepings off”), Drop Bear featuring in last year’s competition camps successes, and Mario (in various incarnations—there have been several Marios) being subject to various indignities.

As suggested, getting away to Scout camp can be hectic and tiring, but the kids themselves, my chance to give service, the humour, watching the kids as they develop as people, and the zaniness of youth all provide some balance to other madnesses.

bTrailerSnoozers bKoala bMario

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