Cougar Rock, Part III

Cougar Rock, Part II

July Cub Scout Campout-Cougar Rock Campground, Mt. Rainier National Park

Camp Kilworth, Part V

The weekend's take: (From top left) Camping, Orienteering, Cooking, and Hiking.



Saturday Night Unwind.


Home Sweet Home


Last Campfire


A good experience for Heir No. One, but I still felt bad. Camp Kilworth is on 25 acres at Dash Point in Federal Way, overlooking the water. When the land was donated way back when, it was right directly in between Seattle and Tacoma, in the middle of nowhere. Now it is prime high end residential real estate. There has been much drama including a court case, allegations of a deal with the family having a reverter interest, millions of dollars in value, and rumors of a deal with the City to have them take the campground over. The net result is a camp with facilities in really sad shape. Many of the campsites are overgrown, half of the trails were closed decause they were unsafe, the stockade style lodge at the overlook is condemned, the obstacle course is falling apart, the bathrooms were disgusting, and we couldn't go down to the tidal flats because the trail was closed. I understand that the local scout counsel doesn't want to put any money into facilities that they may not be keeping, but in the meantime, the kids are the ones who are losing. I hope the counsel either decides to keep it or ditch it, and focus on the other camps.

Camp Kilworth, Part IV

Getting the "chips" he earned for his brag vest over the weekend.



All the pack that showed up.


Helping to retire the colors. (Heir No. One is carrying the den flag)


Taking the colors out of the firebowl.

Camp Kilworth, Part III

Campfire Olmlettes. The boys enjoyed making them, just not eating them. We had enough adults that nothing was wasted.


Heir No. One whittling. He was the only Bear Scout there for the entire campout, and the other boys, who were all Webelos, would not let him whittle with them, since he hasn't earned his Whittling Chip yet. He is well on his way, however.


The view from the top of the firebowl. At one time Saturday afternoon, there were four sailboats out at the same time. I watched them for about 20 minutes. They were all tacking at the same time, and I was feeling nostalgic for sailing on Lake Huron with Alex's 22ft. Tanzer.


Before the Saturday Night Ceremonies, "making sure the fire was ok".

Camp Kilworth, part II

Hiking to the Obstacle Course



Rope Swing


Over the Wall


Running the Tires

BSA Camp Kilworth, Part I

Looking out the tent door Saturday Morning.


Heir No. 1 on the podium at the firebowl


The boys who showed up.


On the hike. (Stopped at the Ft. Phillips stockade building on the overlook, which is condemned.)