Troop 161 went to Summer camp at Kia Kima Scout Reservation in Arkansas from June 21st to 27th.
On the first day, we met near Leander Unit Methodist Church at 7:00 AM and departed for summer camp. We split the trip into two parts because if we did it in one stretch it is a long drive of around 11 hours. After a few hours of driving, we stopped at Bridal Veil Falls to enjoy nature’s beautiful falls. We started again and after driving to Highland Valley United Methodist Church, we rested, ate dinner, and spent time playing games like basketball, videogames, card games, and pool. Some scouts went to get groceries for our next day meals. That night, we all went to sleep and woke up early the next morning to continue our trip to the scout reservation.
We arrived at Kia Kima and there was a grand welcome at the administration building. We received instructions on what to do (schedules, merit badge class locations, and map). We went to the dining hall to eat our pre-packed lunches. Later, we returned to our campsite to set up our tents, choose tent buddies, and unpack our gear. That evening, we attended the awesome and energizing campfire, where we watched skits. We then returned to camp, took showers, and went to bed.
On Monday, we woke up and got ready for morning flags. Wearing our Class A [field] uniforms, we marched to the flag ceremony, our camp director, James, would call attendance for each troop and dismiss us to meals based on troop characteristics. For example, he might say, “If your Senior Patrol Leader is wearing Class A [field uniform], you are dismissed.” We then went to eat breakfast. Afterward, we attended our classes for three hours before returning to camp.
At breakfast, we sat at assigned tables and talked with friends. After cleaning up, we headed to our first class. From breakfast to lunch, we had a three-hour block filled with classes. After that, we would either eat lunch or take a short break, depending on the schedule.
Each day, a sports tournament took place featuring Soccer, Gaga Ball, Basketball, and Ultimate Frisbee. Our troop signed up for everything and played well. After the tournament, we went to our next class. We had classes for another two hours in the afternoon before getting free time for the rest of the day.
During free time, we could visit the trading post, go swimming, or participate in open shooting. In the evening, after the flags, we listened to announcements and troop recognitions. Once we finished our activities, we returned to camp, took showers, did tick check, and then went to bed. We also took turns in cleaning the bathrooms. The next 3 days were pretty much similar except for the activities we participated in.
On Tuesday, we participated in a soccer tournament. On Wednesday, we attended chapel, delivered a speech in Telugu (a native Indian language) and took part in both an Ultimate Frisbee and Gaga Ball tournament. On Thursday, we wrapped up the week with a fun and competitive Scoutmaster Cook-off.
On Friday, essentially the last day, many of us who were taking Citizenship in the Nation went on a field trip to downtown Arkansas, where we visited a historic site. We were given boundaries for where we could go. Many of us went to the ice cream shop to explore and buy treats—almost everyone ended up getting ice cream. Also, some of us went on a Field Trip for the Aviation Merit Badge.
Afterward, we gathered at a pavilion to discuss the historic site. We then returned to Kia Kima and ate lunch. Around the same time, it started to rain, so we stayed under shelter until it cleared. It rained heavily and a lot of our items got wet.
After evening flags, we went to dinner, and then made our way to the closing campfire. There was a final award ceremony, where our troop received several awards, and members of the Order of the Arrow were recognized. Afterward, we returned to camp, took showers, and went to bed.
We woke up at 5:00 a.m., packed our gear, and ate breakfast. Once everything was loaded, we got into our assigned cars for the long drive home.
We then drove to Wesley United Methodist Church, where we stayed for the evening and ate our dinner (pizza). The next morning, we woke up, packed our stuff, ate breakfast, and began our final journey back to the church. Once we arrived, we unloaded our things and went home to wrap up the trip.
