Great Dismal Swamp-2

 And they did it again! Although the weather promised to be FREEZING, Robert was brave enough to still take a bunch of scouts to Dismal Swamp for a two night campout. They all survived! And here is his report that he sent out to the parents of the boys. 

Camp by the numbers 
16 – lowest temperature in Fahrenheit recorded during the campout.  That was the first night.  The second night was warmer at a balmy 25 degrees. 

37.5 – total combined service hours clearing trails and campsites.  All pitched in and did their part.

11 – total number of young men at this sub-freezing campout

 

11 – number of Boy Scouts who did their parents and leaders proud

4 – leaders who realized they are too old for camping in the cold

1 – leader who wants to do it again

6 – miles hiked over the swamp and through the woods

0 – complaints (besides the occasional “are we there yet?”)

 

100+ – the number of handwarmers used

3 – the number of 5-gallon jugs frozen overnight 

2 – campfires well-supplied and deeply appreciated

Unknown – the number of hot chocolate packets consumed
11 – number of things we now know can actually freeze: PB & J sandwiches, marshmallows, hand sanitizer, granola bars, Swedish Fish, Nutella, Ranch dressing, carrots, broccoli, starbursts and socks. 
1 – park ranger who forbade us from renting the canoes because of the cold and ice

15 – number of people initially upset but then eventually grateful for his wise call because the ice would have prevented safe passage via canoe and likely some unfortunate soul would have fallen in
3 – hatchets 
2 – saws 
1 – axe 
0 – injuries

All glad to have survived and this will be remembered for many years to come.  And hopefully a few valuable, hard-earned lessons have been learned on the side.

Thank you for coming on this campout.  I hope to return next year on a warmer day for just a day trip so we can at least do the canoe experience through the swamp. 

Your scoutmaster,

Rob Watson