Cub Scout Camp Out: A Wrap-Up in Pictures

I'm not exactly quick on the up-take with my recap, since our trip was the 12th, but the Cub Scout Winter Family Camp Out was a blast. The weather was unseasonably warm for Michigan, in the mid-50's (yes, that was before the recent  Arctic blast!), and the boys got to enjoy their 5-mile hike and some time outdoors before it got dark.

That's my boy, with his back to the camera, and his best buddy is in the red coat.

Look, I made him turn around!

I don't really have a double chin (do I?). It was a trick of the camera (I think).
And it looks like the wind messed  my eyebrows up.

Intrepid first time Cub Scout campers that we were, we chose to opt for the unheated, un-electrified rustic cabins instead of the main lodge. The sleeping loft there was a little overcrowded, and Dakota and his friend were feeling adventurous, so we voluntarily dragged our mattresses 25 feet out into the wilderness to "Fort Michilimackinac."

If you're a history buff, you'll note that this isn't the real Fort Michilimackinac.
The real one's much bigger. And probably has heat.

Once we set up our beds on the plywood bunks (there were eight of those and four of us, so I got a top bunk!), it was back outside into the still balmy, 48 degree dusk to play a cutthroat game of human foosball. This handsome gent was goalie. He was too nice to respond to the trash talk coming from another camper from a different pack, but check out his look of concentration.

Other kid: "You can't get it past me, buttface!
Dakota: Fwomp. (The sound of foosball sailing over trashtalker's head).

Human foosball was pretty cool to watch. Except when the little guy in the blue shirt got nailed in the face with a rogue ball, thankfully not kicked by Dakota. Poor kid! He was back after five minutes of wailing on his dad's shoulder, though. Tough guy.

After we worked up an appetite outdoors, we headed back to the lodge for hot chocolate, then spaghetti and breadsticks, prepared by the most efficient team of camper dad cooks I've ever seen, followed by board games and then a campfire.

You can't see it, but Dakota is grinning ear-to-ear.

After that, 10 PM came quick and it was lights out (not that they were ever on) in Fort Michilimackinac. Luckily we managed to stay warm, because the rain came and dropped the temps into the low-30's overnight. Next morning was breakfast (again, the scary-good dad cooks threw down some amazing food), a few cups more of hot cocoa and some cleaning up and saying goodbyes, and it was time to hit the road.

This was taken before I even turned the car on - don't worry!

Good times at Rota Kiwan were had, and we can't wait to do it again!