Scouts happy to be home?

We're not quite sure what this scout was doing; kissing the ground because he was happy to be home or finding an opportunity to take a nap before the trailer arrives...

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Bartle welcome home crew...

We received a warm reception upon our return. Do you think the first year moms missed their kids??

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Arriving at the church.. 11:38 *;

Departing Bartle 2009

Final gathering in camp before coming home. Mom, Dad - we'll be home in about 2 hours...

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Bartle 2009 closing campfire

Final night's campfire at Piercing Arrow for this year. It was a long 10 days, but we made it (barely).

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Day 9 fun...

Day 9, the 9th day

The last full day at Bartle ...

Our campmaster thinks this is a glorious day.

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Lunch Flagpole Day 9...

Make-up day for merit badges and lots of rank advancements happening. Rain again this morning but nothing severe. Everyone is doing well.

More from shotgun shooting...

Each scout got to shoot 25 shells at 25 clay pigeons. Fun!

Shotgun Shooting Outpost Day 8

Older scouts participating in trap shooting at Bartle today. A nice cool day!

Intense water polo

After the 5' and under team took their water polo championship, the taller boys are working their way through the brackets...

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Mom and dad - I won't be coming home

Quote heard at camp on visitors day:

"I could stay at Bartle all year if we had this every week."
G.Dunkerly
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Visitors day begins

The first visitors brought a second wave of rain showers. Please leave the rain at home...

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Day 7, the 7th day...

Protestant church services were moved indoors because of more rain. But it's visitors day, and the boys are looking forward to that.

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Day 6, the 6th day (end of day)

Standing at the flagpole at the end of the day. The weather held up this morning's post. Tomorrow is visitors day. Yeah!!!

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Adult leaders

Blacksmithing and black powder shooting

Several Scouts went to the Mountain Man outpost Wednesday evening.
They made neckerchief slides and shot 50-caliber black powder rifles.
Taco pie and pineapple cobbler cooked in Dutch ovens was served for
dinner.

The weather missed us...

After a very hasty wake up call due to a very powerful storm cell coming our way, the storm broke up and went around us.

We've now been cleared to go back to our tents. In an hour most of the adults will be up again. We're letting the boys sleep until 7...

Good night.

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Surviving the severe weather...

Saturday morning at 4am finds us in the dining hall with the threat of severe weather. We are all ok.

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Flag Burning Ceremony Part 3

Several older Scouts and one leader also participated in the
flag-burning ceremony.

Flag Burning Ceremony Part 2

Each first-year Scout had the privilege of placing a stripe from the
flag into the fire.

Flag Burning Ceremony

Tuesday evening a worn-out American flag was retired in a flag-burning
ceremony. It was an incredible experience.

Several people spoke about what the flag means to them. Then the field
of stars was cut out and each stripe as well. Each first-year Scout
put part of the flag in the fire.

Tuesday evening

The Scouts had a campfire at our site Tuesday evening. The splashing
water was part of one of the skits presented by Scouts working on
their Communication Merit Badge.