It’s summer camp season.

I heard about a first time camper and it made me think back to my first week away from home at Boy Scout Camp George Thomas near Apache.

The camp was nice and provided two-person tents.

Being my first camping experience I really wasn’t prepared for the week that was in store for me.

I can’t recall the exact number but I think it rained 100 inches that week or so it seemed.

The first night water was running about two inches deep through our tent.

So after that first night we raised our cots and put all our gear up on bricks.

I remember getting chigger bites all over my body and I do mean all over my body.

I remember getting very homesick.

By the time Thursday night’s family night came around I was ready to sack up my dolls and go back to Hobart with my folks.

But they talked me out of it.

The same couldn’t be said for Lynn Airington.

He went home with his folks and I’ve never forgotten it.

Made it through that trying week and ended up going back to that camp year after year.

In fact, as a Senior Patrol Leader, I was left alone with the troop and sure enough we had a kid get hurt.

Jim Perry ran smack into a very solid rock charcoal cooker while playing capture the flag late one night and needed medical attention to his knee

It wasn’t a pretty sight when the powers that be found out there was no adult Scout Leader  with us.

I enjoyed Scouting, making Eagle before I hung up my back pack.

That first week away from home is an unforgettable experience.