Here's a group picture taken right before we left to come home.
You can see the rest of the pictures at the Outpost 106 website: http://www.outpost106.org/PowWow2009.html. Let me know if you have any pictures you took that I can scan and I will try to add them.
Probably the most fun of all was had by Commander John who got to spend his afternoon--before coming to pick up the boys--waiting for the kids of San Ysidro High to get released by the bomb squad. Don't you just love Senior pranks, John???
Friday morning Commander Larry and I got everything loaded (except Anthony's stuff)into the trailer and chuck wagon. Then, as soon as Commander Mario and Commander Dave and two helpful boys got there, we hitched up and headed to camp, first making a semi-quick stop at Lolita's Taco Shop, where patience is the essance of fine Mexican food, for burritos and horchatas (do you like my accent?). Then the senic view (Commander Larry and I missed our turn) and before long, a mere hour and a half later, we arrived. The camp was already busy. Campers form 37 outposts were setting up. We found a spot toward the north end of our reserved area with trees, water and (not too near) close to the public facilities--a brick bathroom building with signs taped over the Woman to say Men and over the Men to say Boys. The six of us got to business and before long had several tents up. I broke off to get the kitchen going. By the time the bus arrived with the rest of our campers, most of the tents were up and food was almost ready. Kids got their gear off the bus and Commander John headed the bus back to civilization.
Friday night service was everything you want it to be at a Ranger campout. The grass was covered with hundreds of boys all trooped in and found places sitting on stools and camp chairs, shoving and laughing, some in uniforms, while a band--made up of boys just barely older--played Christian Rock music on a stage silhouetted against the darkening evening sky. Commander Tim took the stage and welcomed us all, thanked God, and introduced our speaker, our chaplain, Commander Wes who showed a video of Marines and told us about being a warrior and what a warrior for God is all about, ending with an altar call. Three of our boys made their way forward and prayed for Salvation, and angels rejoiced!
After the service, boys ate meatball sandwiches, spaghetti, and at least one leaf of salad, followed by chocolate pudding with whipped topping, mmmmm! Before too long, all the boys turned-in and we commanders had peace and quiet until just before sunrise Saturday morning.
Saturday morning, Commander Mario was off to the Senior Commanders meeting at just after 6am. Cooks got up, made coffee and several of the boys volunteered to help make breakfast. Commander Mario cam back with the day's plans, we said grace, and everyone dug-in. We had plenty of food and a nice variety so everyone got their fill. Once the eating was done, we headed to morning worship.
We sang songs and Commander Wes gave a devotion. Then Commander Tim introduced us to our missionary guest Dave Jenkins who told us about 13 countries in the world who's Christian leaderships have asked for Royal Rangers to come establish a children's program there. We took an offering and proceeds from campout patches were going to help fund his work.Commander Mario got his information so our Outpost can add his mission to ours.
After that, boys were dismissed to go have fun. There were several inflatables, paintball targets, a rock climbing wall, BB guns, archery, pudgel sticks, tomahawk throwing, and more. The missionary had a table and answered boys questions. While the boys were gone, some of the commanders got to finally relax back at the campsite. Until lunch.
Lunch was hot dogs and chips and watermelon all washed down with a bad flavor of punch. Several of our boys tried to memorize the memory verse but none felt ready to compete. So off they went again.
Now was time for the Seneca Run. Boys had to get themselves into 4-man teams and then run a race for the best time. Teams had to be all same age groups or a mix, one each from Discovery, Adventure, Expedition, and a commander. The race course started a an inflatable obstacle course. Boys had to take off their shoes and then go through two at a time and all had to get their shoes back on before running a distance from station to the next station. The next event, Cat Box Hunt, each boy had to dig around in a giant bowl of what looked like Coco Krispies for a piece of Tootsie Roll, which they all had to have in their mouths before moving on. Next they ran to Paintball, put on goggles and then one after the other shoot one paintball toward the targets. Then off to the FCF village, for tomahawk throwing. Next they ran to Eat The Worm in a Bottle, each boy grabbed a plastic bottle from a cardboard box and had to eat a gummy worm from inside it and then set the bottle back in the box. The final event was the water slide. Boys had to remove their shoes and then all four go up the steps to the top of a twenty foot high water slide and plunge down one at a time, the clock stopping when the last boy hit the pool at the bottom. Our Outpost had three teams, two mixed and one Discovery Rangers. What a great time!
As soon as the race was over, it was time for Gabriel to have his GMA board. I sure hope Gabriel wasn't as nervous as I was--not that I had any doubts. Next and final step, the GMA Ceremony in August!
We headed back to the Outpost campsite where we found Commander Rick continued as Wagon Master and already had his crew working on dinner. I grabbed up our 50 foot long wharf rope, gathered up the boys, and organized a tug-of-war contest--commanders against boys (just like paintball). But in just a few minutes, all the commanders and boys from the outpost at the next campsite came over and suddenly we had a really spectacular tug-of-war going! Before long, all the boys were worn out and made us commanders stop. I am betting most of those boys took a nap while I rested my eyes for the next hour.
After dinner we headed down to the Council Fire where, after some praise and worship, Commander Wes wore cammo face paint and again talked to us about what a warrior is, sharing with us some pictures and stories of Marines in conflict areas, and talked some more to us about the Armor of God and the Holy Spirit, ending with an altar call. Five of our boys prayed for Baptism in the Holy Spirit. There is no way to describe the feeling of awe and joy I get when a boy I am praying with opens his heart to the power of God.
Boys got ready to hit their sleeping bags as Commander Mario got a campfire roaring. We loaded them up with icecream while they sat around the fire listening to stories. Slowly they all slipped off to their tents and once again the commanders had a little bit of peace and quite.
Sunday morning boys got up for a pancake breakfast and then started tearing down camp. We went to the assembly where we won ribbons for our races and our flags and for being fourth best outpost at Pow Wow! They collected money for the missionary and said the proceeds from the patch sales would also go toward his work. We went back to finish packing and, as soon as Edwardo arrived with the bus, a whole load of tired boys (and really tired commanders) headed back to BVCC. Parents got the kids and commanders put away the gear and, before long, we too were enjoying our own soft beds.That night I dreamed of getting the Surfing Overnight planned, sometime in August!
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