Now that we are going on week number whatever of the state and local safer at home orders, the Boy Scouts of America and its local councils have been focused on developing programs to keep our youth engaged in scouting virtually. This week the West Los Angeles Area Council (WLAAC) and Greater Los Angeles Area Councils (GLAAC) have partnered to plan the Camp Out in Place weekend event where families can plan a camping event in their yards or homes. Of course, we got in on the fun.
The event began on Friday night, June 26th (Stitch Day!) and ran until Saturday morning. Cubmaster Brian, aka “Hubster”, created a schedule for Duarte Pack 188 to follow to make sure our whole Cub Scout Pack could join in on the fun and reconnect. Here’s a look at the night’s events:
Our kiddos decided that they wanted to setup their tent indoors this time. So, they setup the tent in the loft with sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, camp lights, and all the essentials…like a big screen TV. 😂
After the sleep quarters were all set, we moved on to dinner prep. Violet needed to cook dinner for the camp as part of one of her Webelos requirements so she did the grilling this time. We made hamburger and vegetable foil packets on the grill right on the coals.
This was one of the first times that we were challenged by managing two different scouting events at the same time. While Brian ran the Cub Scout Pack camping activities with Violet, I ran back and forth between the pack and Duarte Troop 185 meeting with Ethan. Now that Ethan has bridged to Scouts BSA we sometimes have to manage overlapping activities. Luckily, the Pack meeting ended just as the Troop was starting to make s’mores. Ethan had to make five s’mores – one for Most Creative Competition and the four more for the S’mores Eating Competition. He did get very creative but his s’mores were beautiful – not too beautiful to eat though. He took advantage of the coals still being hot to roast his marshmallows over an open fire.
roasting marshmallows 
assembly 
the finished product
Overall, it was fun night. The kids got to do something new and we had fun as a family participating. It was great to see some our fellow Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA friends that we’ve been missing during this pandemic too.