Monday, July 12, 2010 - 05:31 PM

- a memorable experience

It is June again, and that means it is time for 2010’s summer camp experience write up! It was planned in advance that Troop 594 was going to summer camp at Camp Rainey Mountain in 2010. Rainey Mountain is found in northeastern Georgia, about an hour and a half drive from Buford. It also definitely deserves its name! It precipitated three times while we were there, two of which were heavy downpours of rain.

Arriving on Sunday, everyone checked in, got a brief tour of the camp, and got all our personal stuff up to our shelter campground, Jefferson. Then we were told about how the camp is run and some rules to follow. Next it was time for the BSA swim test! Everyone in all troops took it and we all passed.

During the week many activities happened at camp. Every morning and evening there was a flag ceremony, in one of which my troop lowered the flags. Mediocre food was served three meals a day in the dining hall, except Thursday night (staff’s night off). On that night we cooked hobo meals on the campfire Nicholas thought of. Some high points in camp were the rope C.O.P.E. course, trading post, archery and shooting ranges, and nature lodge. A few of the many merit badges taught were first aid, camping, citizenship in the nation, climbing, and swimming. TNT classes were also taught to help new Scouts to earn tenderfoot, second class, and first class. Also, a unique program called Gold Rush let Scouts fourteen and older live like pioneers in the 1800’s. This took all week and you did not earn any merit badges doing it. That is probably why only two Scouts did the Gold Rush. Campfires were on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday also made Camp Rainey Mountain a memorable experience. Skits, songs, awards, and a special Order of the Arrow ceremony were all done at the amphitheater.

There were several things that I will always remember Camp Rainey Mountain for. Number one was definitely the staff. They had a cheerful, funny, optimistic spirit to them that made them unique. I also loved the merit badge classes and counselors the camp had. We earned the merit badges completely, or we completed most of them at camp. Because of this, I left camp with four completes and two partials. Lastly, I liked the fellowship with the other Scouts. That, too, made camp a memorable experience. The Scouts spent time together eating, walking to merit badge classes, building the dining fly and weather rock, and others. Overall, I would give Camp Rainey a 7 ½ out of 10 rating.

Matthew Carpenter