The Krohn Family

This past weekend Joshua and and I enjoyed a 2-night family campout with Cub Scout Pack 197.  Our whole family didn’t make it due to some flu in the house.  It was a Joshua and Dad weekend.  We traveled south to the trees and hills of southern Indiana and the Spring Mill State Park.  The first night of the campout was tough: 45 degrees and raining most of the evening and early morning.  Fortunately dad’s old Eureka tent and warm sleeping bags served us well.  We stayed warm and dry, though getting out of the sleeping bag was tough.

Saturday was a full day starting with a robust breakfast of eggs and bacon. There is something about camping food.  Mmm, mmm.    A common comment throughout the weekend was how great it was to see the dads cooking and serving the families.  A number of other scouts and their families arrived Saturday morning and soon we had a full 50 or so in the group.  We split up by scout age and spread out throughout the park to clean up trails and public areas.  Surprising how much a motivated group can do.  Joshua’s group took a trail that led us by the old Hammer Cemetery about the time that the sky cleared and the colors of fall fully emerged.  Beautiful site.

The scouts enjoyed the campfire the most, especially “helping build” it by piling on more sticks and stuff they found that would burn.  The fire pit became the central gathering place – for food, heat, and just relaxing conversation.

Saturday evening was the highlight for me and many of the scouts.  The sky remained clear and the Cub Master set up his telescope.  The scouts learned about the stars in the sky, constellations and then got a good look at Jupiter and its 4 moons.  At one point Joshua look at me and said, “Dad, we are really small, aren’t we?”  “Yes, Josh, and God is really big and cares about you”.

There are a number of pictures on our SmugMug site of the campout, and even a short video available as well.  I believe this is the first of many campouts and we are both looking forward to more.