Mom's Groups Thu 9:30am
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Kamp Staaldraad 2010
- Warrick Black
- Jun 18, 2010
5 bakkies and 33 boys.
Everyone, excited, arrived at the church. After the drive the excitement dulled as we were told we had a 6 km hike ahead of us. Some were even less excited as they didn’t have backpacks, and one had a pink bag.
After an hour we arrived at the camp site and needed to set up our sleeping arrangements… and put together army tents. Assembling these tents turned into quite the mission while taking instructions from the leaders who thought they knew more (they did). PT was next and this year the group was really strong, so this made the first PT session one of the best we’ve had. But even thought the group was strong as a whole, there were still weaker boys. These boys, soon to be more men than boys, tended to be irritable during the first days. After supper (which was prepared by our very capable and very skilled cook) we had some time to get to get to know each other. This getting to know each other carried on the whole camp and was one of the best parts of the camp.
Day two started with PT as with every day on staaldraad and to say the least, it was freezing. After breakfast was an obstacle course of which the winning team got a warm shower and the chance to use soap, whether they took that advantage we will never know. When the race was finished a soccer match broke out which lasted closer to an hour and a half (it was one of the highlights of my camp). Free time after lunch was spent sleeping and chilling by the fire. Supper then stalk the lantern, a game almost no one wanted to play. This then prompted every one to collaborate together to try scare the leaders. The plan worked but didn’t scare the leaders and then, by some miracle, they chose team 3 as the winners. Back at the leaders lodge the great Collin and Gorge spoke while everyone went off to sleep. Prayer for people promptly ensued and some salvations and boys coming back to God were witnessed. Fire time and sleep followed quickly, but not quickly enough as tired minds make funny things funnier, and the term of Dawn Action Butter was born.
Day three PT began with the previous nights winning team leaving one of there smaller members sleeping in the tent while they were all lined up for PT. this prompted the leaders to take away the already undeserved victory in place of this minor error. Breakfast, and on to the climbing, abseiling and big jump, which was a highlight for most and pictures to follow. After lunch some more free time and more sleeping for some, while others enjoyed sleeping bag wrestling and holding their breaths. The surprise for that night after supper was a trip to the local 9-hole golf course to watch our beloved soccer team play Uruguay. The ride back was quiet.
Day four began with us arriving at the PT grounds with no leaders in sight. They eventually called us to the tents to dismantle them in under 30 mins (even though it took over 2 hours to put them up). This huge feat was accomplished and everyone thought all was well. However, the leaders still expected graduation PT from us, and this PT session was unlike the rest. Finishing strong was a talking point the night before and it was tested in this PT session. Thankfully all did finish strong and PT was over for another year. Breakfast was served and not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 4 baptisms occurred in the ice cold water, a memorable place to be baptized. This then was the end of the camp which was rightly timed as all were tired and the smell was getting stronger.
5 bakkies and 33 boys went out, 5 bakkies 33 men returned.
