Tent-know-ledgy
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 06:19AM This weekend I had the opportunity to go camping with Boy Scout Troop 91 of Prairie Viillage, Kansas of which my grandson Paul is a member. They hosted an overnight "family" event (primarily to recruit Cub Scouts - grandson Miles is one) at Camp Klassen, near Ottawa, Kansas. Paul's and Miles's mom and dad graciously allowed me to chaperone the boys for this adventure. I loved the chance to relive my own misspent youth and spend some time with my grandsons.
Camping in some respects has changed very little from when I was a little Scout growing up on the prairie back in the early 60s. Boy Scount camping still feels like one has been dropped in the middle of the plot of The Lord of the Flies. Sleeping pads are no more comfortable. All boys are still total pyromaniacs at heart. Troops still march on a diet that consists largely of fatty meat products, partially cooked. It still gets very dark and cold at night. Kids still play with knives and call it whittling. Bonfires, skits and songs are really dorky, but cool. And camping is still just about as much fun as a kid can have before he discovers girls.
While I remember reading that there are now merit badges that involve computer games and other digital technologies, personal tech was forbidden at this camp. Boys actually played cards - with a deck of cards! They practiced campfire skits. Sang songs. (The dads and grandpas, however, still monitored the progress of Saturday football games on smartphones and read e-books and took digital pictures.) It was a little retro, but really fun to see kids in nature doing non-technology things. Last Child in the Woods, anyone?
But tech is creeping in, even in scouting. Flashlights are now LED headlamps. Tent tech has changed dramatically. This is pretty much the tent I had as a kid:
It was made of green canvas and supported by stakes, wooden poles, and guy lines. I learned to trench around the base, use a good rain fly and ground tarp and not to touch the walls when wet. Of course I still got wet, and the thing took what seemed like an hour to set up.
Here is today's tent technology (and this tent is several years old):
Four shock-cord poles, no stakes, plastic clips - and in less than 10 minutes...
Voila! The thing kept us warm and dry.
Yet I was most delighted by the things that remained unchanged. The foil packet entree for example. Ours was a frozen hamburger patty, frozen hash brown potatoes, frozen carrots, and fresh sliced onions - coated with Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper. If you cooked it for 15 minutes the hamburger was thawed, not cooked. In about 45 minutes, you got this... Mmmmmmmm. Most boys - and I think a couple dads - ate theirs partially cooked.
Anyway, the boys and I survived.
We are upright, alive, and capable of a smile after a night of camping. Perhaps the boys' parents will trust me with their well-being again.
I love technology. I love the information, the entertainment, the engagement inherent in it for children.
But I also love my real live grandchildren, being outdoors, and having an experience.
It's lovely to get away from the screen and look at life instead. We should all do it more often.
Reader Comments (6)
The more screen time we suffer, the more turf-time we require. I spent the weekend with chainsaw and dog at my wife's Girl Scout camp at 8,000 feet (burn restrictions lifted after our first snowstorm), and balance has returned somewhat. There was a sort of sweet justice in seeing the smart phone reduced to working as an alarm clock. Only.
Hi Bill,
Glad you had a good weekend. I am not sure how much I would get done (between breathes) at 8,000 feet! I really enjoy the vacations where I am out of touch with the world. My guess is more of us who deal with technology everyday will be seeking those kinds of retreats - at least those of us who hope to keep their sanity!
Thanks for the comment,
Doug
Our school has been taking the freshman class on a four day river trip (canoeing) down the Colorado River for twelve years now. I have been able to attend the past seven years, and it is one of the highlights of my school year. Unfortunately, there are a couple teachers who have spent hours wandering around in the hills looking for a cell signal - it's especially funny to see them during the night.
At one time I brought a GPS to see where we went, but then realized I could more easily use Google Maps from home.
I hope we never forget to spend some time out doors and enjoy God's creation!
Hi Kenn,
Colorado River! Take me with you. On my bucket list.
Doug
Absolutely priceless, Doug. Thanks so much for describing these adventures with your lucky grandsons. Your tale brought back vivid, somewhat-fond memories from Campfire Girls--those foil-packet "meals" and heavy, leaky--and musty-smelling--tents. But the s'mores! And the songs! And the ghost stories! Our pop-up tent trailer is hardly "camping," but our kids had great adventures on road trips to beautiful state and national parks--and the campfires were still grand.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Donna. Great to hear from you. Some of these adventures are better experienced as memories, for sure!
Good to hear from you,
Doug