Camping in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens and Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean
By H. Vogelmann
Any troop 5 outing from a simple hike to summer camp is an adventure.
Troop 5 camping trips are more than your regular weekend, because you are with your friends. Suddenly you will remember small mistakes or little jokes that will last forever. I can’t even explain the fun and laughter I enjoyed with the Cobra patrol after just one car ride.
On a sunny Saturday morning we all woke up with one thing on our minds: The Beach. The expectations of digging holes and swimming got us motivated to move quickly.
We soon ate breakfast and piled into the car, ready for a day at the beach.
Troop 5 has many traditions, one of which involves digging a massive hole in the sand.
Towards the end of the trip most of the troop gets into the hole and becomes buried. Also a few scouts decided to play “kill the carrier” with a spikeball, there were somehow no casualties, just lots of water swallowed.
“While camping you can almost slow your pace of life where you don’t care about whatever someone halfway around the world did and posted online.”
Aside from swimming and digging the beach was also a place to lay down and play catch or spend time alone. Tired and sandy we left the beach appreciating why this trip continues to be an annual tradition.
A troop 5 campfire is most easily explained as magical.
A combination of the fire and the traditions make you seem entranced in the spirit of scouting, that we rarely get a taste of in our modern lives.
Besides the regular songs from the Kilkenny Collection there was The Window, Titanic, and Railroad.
Troop 5 skits are also a great way to get a short laugh with a lifelong memory on the side. The skits at the beach were Cobra Patrol Pokemon, and Mr Beast Roughriders. After the laughs and the songs the campfire was brought to a close with a small speech by Mr Donat followed up with apple crisp.
On Sunday morning while we pack up the troop slowly appreciates the luxuries of living in the 21 century.
While camping you can almost slow your pace of life where you don’t care about whatever someone halfway around the world did and posted online.
Instead you just think about you in the moment.
In summary, on the 2022 LBI beach trip we learn that scouting is best spent with friends.
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