Camp Chawanakee

Camp Chawanakee is nestled in the Sierra mountains on Shaver Lake.  Every summer it becomes the home for Boy Scout Summer Camp offering offering 64 different merit badges and other courses to 3,381 Scouts and 793 Scouters in 210 Troops. The week of July 1-7, 2012, 20 scouts from Troop 606 called Camp Chawanakee home.

The long drive (7 hours with multiple stops and LA holiday traffic) was picturesque.  Once you got out of the city and through the grapevine you are greeted with grape and fruit orchards.  After a trip through Sierra National Forest I finally made it to camp.

The view from the campsite was breathless

Fron behind my tent

Especially the sunsets

The boys participated in a variety of skill earning merit badges in Handicrafts, Scoutcrafts, water sports, High adventure and rank advancement.  Even the adults were able to take classes in training and high adventure.

DImitri Worked on four merit badges and advancements towards his Second and First Class Ranks.  He completed the Pottery and Reptile and Anphibian Study Merit Badges and hes one one requiremtn left to complete both Leatherwork and Basketry.

Jeff participated in the C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Physical Education), when included low and high challenges and a Zip Line.

You have to first climb up to the challenge

The telephone pole looks larger in diameterfrom below

Cables, at least I have something to hold onto this time,

Planking on the way down

After the COPE event Dimitri had the chance to practice his first aid and take out the splinters from Jeffs hand.

We even did an overnight under the stars on the opposite side of the lake.

Waiting in line for the boats

And were off

Canoeing/rowing at sunset, will we make it in time?

Finding a spot to sleep under the stars

At least it was a full moon

Rowing back at sunrise

We were able to celebrate the fourth of July while we were there, just no fireworks.

And of course, time to play on the camp pioneering projects.

Scoutmaster Tested

Kid Approved