Summer Camp at Camp Thunder – June 25 – July 2 2022

This year’s summer camp was at Camp Thunder in Molena, Georgia and as per norm for this troop, there were multiple families and some non-family members that were willing to help get this troop and their gear to their camping destination so that they were able to learn and grow within the program.  While the troop leaders both adult and youth know that learning and growing as a person is important, they also know that having fun as well as letting loose is just as important and boy does this group know how to bring the fun with them wherever they are.  How do they bring fun, you ask?  Picture this troop bringing their own party to the Opening Camp Fire by walking in with music blaring (yes, they brought their own wireless speaker), having flamingos (lots and lots of flamingos) and a ton of beach balls to share with all the other campers, if that’s not enough fun for you, they were also on the stage dancing for everyone.  Can you guess what troop also brought tons of fun through their spirit days?  If you guessed Troop 340 once again, you are the winner!!  This year’s spirit day themes were Christmas in July Day which included an appearance from Santa, a walking talking Christmas tree and many elves dressed to bring their Christmas spirit (a few of Santa’s elves even brought the troop brand new hammocks that they got to use while watching the Polar Express); Troop Spirit/Tropical Day which included…yes lots and lots of flamingos on clothing and otherwise as well as bright fruity and flowered clothing (you don’t ever have to worry about losing anyone in this troop); Red, White and Blue Day which they were able to live their theme while having the opening and closing flag duties at camp; Easter Day which included the Easter Bunny making an appearance and he as well of all of his bunny apprentices hid over 500 Easter eggs for the entire camp to join in with their fun; and Pajama Day because why not wake up and go?  To round out their fun time at camp, they enjoyed a massive water balloon fight, having pizza offsite and going to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, some of the troop even had the opportunity to go White Water Rafting and they hosted a Staff Party with over 30 people dropping in throughout the night to enjoy homemade cookies and ice cream, whew I don’t know when the troop slept with everything that they did.  I hope you aren’t thinking that this troop only had fun at camp because that is not the case they also worked hard to earn merit badges so that they can move forward within their ranks; for example, a few of the scouts participated and successfully completed the mile swim right after 6 a.m. in the lake and the rest of the troop were there to cheer them on and brought them breakfast, some participated in welding, some in shooting, some in pottery and so on.  Additionally, the troop also got to celebrate (virtually) with their fellow scout who successfully completed his Eagle Board Review while they were away, but nonetheless they are super proud of his accomplishment.  I bet you can’t figure out which troop won the spirit award.   Troop 340, shocking I know.  Not only has this troop now won the spirit award for two years running at Summer Camp, their award was personally made for them because this camp didn’t have an award to give, but I have a feeling that may change at this camp in the years to come due to this troop.  Oh, last fun fact, the troop also ended up in the same camping site that the previous scouts of Troop 340 stayed at in 2018 (of course they hung the Troop 340 plaques side by side but the new one has a cool flamingo duck attached to it).