If you have ever had the chance to talk to Green Bar Bill, you know that the most important person in Scouting is a new Scout. We only have one shot to properly introduce the program and hope that he likes it, for he is the future of Scouting.
This past weekend was the BGC's 4th New Scout Camp Out. We have been to all 4. The first one in 2004, was Troop 12's first ever camp out. We had a sign up night on Thursday, a meeting Tuesday, and we went camping that Friday through Sunday. (The schedule hasn't changed. We've got Conclave this weekend, followed by an Ordeal, next weekend.)
That April in 2004 was an event. We still call it "The Puke-O-Ree". After stopping on the way for supper, someone passed some gas, and well one Scout gagged and puked, which triggered a chain reaction and kids were puking all over the van. We pulled over at the only wide spot before camp and it was in front of the roughest house (snake worshipping, we later found) and some very nice folks came to our aid. Since then, we always blow our horn when we go by as a way of saying thanks.
Nothing like that happened this past weekend. It just rained. The whole time. I think that the two new Scouts that went had a great time. We also had two Scouts there who worked the event and plan to be on Staff at McKee this summer. Those two older Scouts were at "The Puke-O-Ree".
Green Bar Bill was right.
