October Buck Lake Camp

Oct 22-24, 2021

The camp was filled with activities and fun. After a long drive to camp that lasted about 2.5 hours, we ended up in a quiet, dark camp outside Ocala. We set up patrol boxes and tents in the dark, and then we ate cracker barrel (Takis and Oreos for most patrols). Lights Out was 10:30. It was difficult to sleep thanks to numerous noises including car engines and loud dogs. At 6:30 AM, the bugle sounded and we woke up. We ate breakfast, and then we began the first activity, which was field day. The first two rounds we picked teams and played Dodgeball, and each side won one round. Then we played a variation of dodgeball called Army Dodgeball, where when you get hit you have to fall over onto the ground. Then your teammates have to grab your arms and pull you to the back of your territory. When you make it to the other side, you can get back up and keep throwing. Then we played football, and Trey McCormick’s team won 21-7. After a long field day, we went back to camp to eat lunch. After lunch, there was a plant identification scavenger hunt. Each patrol found a lot of plants, with the Sons of Liberty patrol finding the most at 11. Then we did a fire-building contest, where each patrol had to make three fires that burned a rope sitting above it, all using different methods. None of the patrols had trouble building a fire with flint and steel or steel wool and a battery; the bow method, not so much. Only one patrol could do it, and that was the Sons of Liberty patrol. After the fire-building contest, we ate dinner. After dinner, we ate cracker barrel and hung out in our patrols until lights out. We woke up the next morning well-rested (or not) to pack up. We ate our breakfast, packed our bags, and went home. Another long drive followed on our return to the church. We all had a good time and are looking forward to the Alafia River campout in November.