Dates: Camp Strake, Deer Lake – September 24-26, 2010

Deadline: Signup Due no later than Monday, August 24th

Requirements: Attendees must be at least 12 years old and weigh 100lbs!!!

What: The Troop will be attending the Deer Lake Canoe Clinic (DLCC) at Camp Strake. There will be opportunities for scouts to earn the canoeing merit badge, and there will be opportunities for adults to attend the SHAC Adult Flat Water Training Program ("yellow card"). There will also be a required swim test Friday night at the Conroe Swim Center (see attached hand out for details)

Checkin: 5:30pm, Friday, September 24, Conroe Swim Center for Swim Test, 1205 Callahan Ave, Conroe, Tx 77301

Main Event: Friday-Sunday, September 24-26, Camp Strake, Conroe, Texas  (travel to Camp Strake after completing swim test)

Additional Info: Meals provided, no cooking required.

Cost: approximately $60

Bring: swimsuit, towels, raingear, extra clothes, tent, sleeping gear, & if you have one - a personal flotation device (life jacket).

Depart/Return: Meet at Conroe Swim Center 5PM Friday night (1205 Callahan Ave, Conroe, TX 77301). Drivers will be needed to transfer scouts from swim center to Camp Strake after the swim test. We will return to church between 4-5pm Sunday afternoon. Please pick up ON-TIME!

Call for Adults: We need assistant scout masters, adult drivers, and overnight chaperones (all with YPT and Virtus training). We only have 5 slots for "yellow card" training, but more may become available.

Troop 204 has had some time to rest from their adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  You can relive some of those memories with this youtube video courtesy of Kevin Howe.  It contains highlights of the 2010 summer camp at Claytor Lake Aquatic Base.

Back on the Magic School Bus.  If only it were that easy.  Sounds like everyone had a great time.  I know they will miss the snack bar.

I've posted some of the last pictures from camp here.

Know any good sing-a-longs? That's probably what they're singing right now.  Either that or they're sacked out.  At 8:15 AM the bus was loaded and ready to rock and roll!  I prefer to sleep a little later on Saturdays.

Sometimes being there in person is faster than anything we do - electronic or snailmail.  Here are some pictures I just received regarding the last day at Claytor Lake.

It's the last night at camp.  The scouts are likely circling around the last campfire and preparing for their skits.

The last two years had 204 doing the "If I were not a Boy Scout" skit.  It was so successful at Camp Alexander that the intention was to repeat it at Sid Richardson.  I wonder what skit 204 plans to do tonight.

Thanks to Kevin Howe who just sent us the last pictures and video from Claytor Lake.

It's the last full day of camp.  Time to cram in all the fun you can before hitting the road.

Everyone is getting into water activities - even at Camp Ottari.  I'm not sure that hand paddling is the most efficient way to get from point A to B, but it sure looks fun!  See more pictures at Ottari here.  The Camp Ottari reporters have fixed their wireless connectivity issues and transmitted some more pictures on activities from Wednesday to this morning.

The Claytor Lake group continues to forge ahead by sending us pictures and videos.  Al looks like he caught a fish that could feed the entire high adventure group.

Our reporter on the scene - Kevin Howe - has relayed the following story from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

The rain has stopped and the water looks great.  You find more pictures on Claytor Lake here.

It's gone quiet in terms of news.  That usually means they're having a good time and finding it hard to get back to us.  Either that or the Camp Ottari team is sandbagging and waiting to send us a barrage of photos and stories.

It usually takes until Wednesday night to Thursday for a group of boys on such an adventure to bond and become a community.  Friendships are made through the shared experience at camp.

Meanwhile, it's getting hot and muggy back here in the Woodlands.  You don't need a weather report to know what's going on.

The race is on!   Claytor Lake scouts have thrown down the gauntlet by sending video clips of their group.  Both the latest pictures and video clips are in the gallery.

On the other hand, the Camp Ottari group has been working hard to relay stories.   In particular, Brian Ledeboer has been great at tagging pictures with interesting commentary.  Once we can figure out a way to put a spin on the commentary, you'll know about it.

So how did this "competition" come about?  Wireless connectivity is not exactly top priority at any remote location.  Our troop leaders have been creative and have found ways to upload batches of files to email servers that specialize in large file delivery.  Call them the UPS of the Internet.

The water is looking mighty nice now that is the humidity has picked up in Houston.

Claytor Lake Aquatic Base is your location for adventure!  Sunday began with a welcome dinner, followed by first 1/2 of 5-hour mandatory Boater Safety Certification class Sunday night.  Is that intense or what?  Monday was a full day of outdoor water activities including snorkeling, sailing, motor boating, scuba, fishing, rowing, etc.  I'm tired already.