A Day in the Life at Bear Paw

It's seven o'clock and the wake-up bell is sounding. Matt knows that if he doesn't roll out of bed now he is not going to get any hot water. After showering, Matt returns to his room in Staff Lodge to get dressed. Class A uniform shirt, today, Matt is in the color guard. After the morning flag ceremony a pair of scouts invite him to eat breakfast with them. These were the guys who were working on lashings yesterday in Scoutcraft.

After breakfast Matt has a chance to sit and relax a while. He has to instruct Wilderness Survival at nine, but he did it last week and is prepared for today. Matt sits with the guys catching a little cartoon diversion in Staff Lounge before leaving for Scoutcraft. Today Matt has his nine o'clock Wilderness Survival in groups of three. They have to go into the woods and collect kindling, then start three fires using his alternative tools. The scouts really like starting fires but seem to have a hard time with the steel wool. Later they discuss the shelters they will be building and camping in during the week.

The Bear Paw staff is comprised of patrols. Each week every patrol is assigned a share of the general duties around camp. This week Matt's patrol is responsible for providing special programs. This means he will be helping provide songs and skits for the campfire as well as serving on the color guard.

After lunch there is a knife and ax demonstration in the Scoutcraft area. Matt gets permission to use this time to prep a song he will perform with another buddy in his patrol. For the rest of the afternoon, Matt is assigned to work helping scouts in the area. He spends his time lashing on the tower in the area and helping a couple of scouts with their menus for Cooking MB.

Finally, five rolls around and Matt retreats to his room. He has to lay out his costume for the jug band performance after dinner. He is the washboard player and wears an old mop for a wig.

The evening is pretty quiet in Scoutcraft tonight. Matt is taking the lull in the action as an opportunity to prepare part of his report for Environmental Science. He has been able do his observations during his off periods and has an opportunity to earn another merit badge at camp. When quitting time rolls around Matt swings back to Staff Lodge. Tonight the guys are planning to watch some silly 80's Leslie Nielson movie. Then it's off to bed and get ready for a new day, at Bear Paw Scout Camp.