Last night we went out to Lost Pines for an Order of the Arrow event, and got a chance to check in with our boys on camp staff there. Ben S, Jonathan P, and Matt C are staffing - Ben and Jonathan are teaching Eagle Quest - the first year camper program staffed entirely by Eagle Scouts - and Matt is teaching Lifesaving again (I think this is his 4th year doing that). They're having a great time - they'll be at camp for 6 weeks this summer, and the really good news is that instead of having to pay to go to camp, they get paid (a little, anyway) to go! It's a great experience and I'm really proud of them.
We also have three more boys on staff at Camp Sol Mayer, the Concho Valley Council camp near Fort McKavett, TX. Michael B is back for his third year there, and is serving as waterfront director. John G is there too, and Cory is on staff for their West Texas Ranch Adventure - a high adventure program where boys get to spend a week being a cowboy, riding horses from ranch to ranch in the area. We haven't heard as much from them as it's pretty far and there's not much cell phone coverage but it seems to be going well. This is their 4th week at camp and they'll be done this week, but they may stay for a few more days to help out with some other camp events next week.
For the boys who have earned their Eagle and are at least 15 years old, serving on camp staff is an opportunity to both have a great experience and give back to Scouting to help other boys have the sort of great experience that our younger guys are enjoying at El Rancho Cima. We are really blessed to have six Eagle Scouts who are still so engaged with Scouting that they're willing to do this.
