Lessons from & for Camp

So, earlier this week, I went along as a chaperon for Bug's Webelos Resident Camp.  I am not much of a camper, and this was even more primitive in some ways than what I've ever done before, but also better in some ways.  There was an air conditioned Trading Post where I could sneak into if the humidity started getting to me, and there was a shower house with real showers and real flushing toilets.  All of our meals were eaten in the mess hall.  They were cooked by someone else, and the boys took turns setting and clearing our assigned table.

When I've gone camping in the past, I've slept in tents that are closed with a zipper.  During the day, you can unzip the inner zipper so the breeze can come in through the screen, but the bugs can't.  They also have solid floors, so you don't have to worry about things falling through.  This is what I slept in for 3 nights:

I'll be going back in a few weeks with Awesome for the Cub Resident Camp, and I've come up with a list of things that will hopefully make this stay a little more comfortable.

Cheesecloth  & Safety Pins - I'm hoping to come up with a way to easily pin the cheesecloth to the tent so I can leave the flaps open during the day to let the air through, but keep the pesky mosquitoes out.

Floor covering - I have some canvas drop cloths that I'm going to paint, if I have time.  I also want to add some gromets so that I can secure the drop cloth to the four posts of the tent.

Cot - I used one of the little cots that my parents have had FOR.EV.ER.  It's better than sleeping on the hard wood floor, but it's still a little uncomfortable.  The camp has some nicer ones that can be rented for $5.  Bug slept on one of those last year and said they were almost as comfortable as a regular bed.  I will be getting one of those this time around.

Did I mention that in the last couple of days, I have found 3 deer ticks on me?  Yep.  Those are the little bastards that carry Lyme Disease.  (My mom brought Awesome out for the campfire, and he managed to get one on his little man parts.)  We're watching these bites VERY closely.  I doused myself with bug & tick spray, but I think the buggers must have sneaked in under my jeans.  You know what that means?  Instead of just spraying my clothes, I think I'm going to sneak off to the shower house, strip down to my birthday suit, and dump half a bottle on me every morning!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I do have to admit that the 3 nights/4 days went by fairly quickly.  The boys picked up some new skills, we learned some new games (like Ninja and Human Battleship), and a good time was had by all!