We are finally striking out to camp at a regular camp site. As a troop, our past trips have been to a Girl Scout camp that I refer to as "Camp Hilton." Camp Hilton has nice heated cabins with bunks and mattresses. When I took my younger daughter there a few weeks ago, one of the other leaders complained about having to walk to another cabin to use the bathroom. The "distant" bathroom had showers, sinks, and running water toilets. I kept my mouth firmly shut, not wanting to dissuade said leader from attending our next grand adventure, which is in May, and likely has outhouses and *maybe* a spigot with running water. Ssssshhhh, don't tell.

Originally, we were to tent camp, but I got so many "hints" that a cabin was preferred that I booked cabins for everyone. I plan to take my tent, and I am arranging to bring quite a few others. I expect that most if not all of the girls who wanted cabins will end up in the tents, but I may just be naive. If nothing else, the girls will get a lesson in how to pitch tents. If it rains, however, I'll be knocking sheepishly on the cabin door.

Camp Hilton also had a mess hall and cooks, meaning the most my girls have experienced is a voluntary hot dog roast topped off with S'mores. I'm not so much concerned about teaching them to eat food that doesn't come with fries as I am fretting about having supplies. Thirty people have signed up for this grand adventure. As such, I'm calculating we need at least six camp pots for starters. I'm not even going to think about fry pans until the next camping trip, and I'm just going to plan on everything being cookable in a pot. So far, I have chili, friendship soup, and omelets (done in heavy duty ziplocks in boiling water) on my idea list.

I also made an executive decision to outfit the whole troop with dunk bags and dishes, on top of the group camping supplies. We have made various versions over the years, but quite a few of them were made with dishrags, which I don't find to be functional. There is also the question of whether they can find those bags. I decided to outfit both of my daughters troops with 20 sets of dishes. How on earth and I going to do that and buy group supplies for two troops? Thrift stores and dollar stores are the answer.

The dollar store had cups, bowls, and plates in 3- and 4- packs. Nice enough to keep but cheap enough to toss or lose without being too upset. I also found basic dishrags, towels, pot holders, and cooking and serving utensils there as well and my tidy little piles are growing quite satisfactorily.

On the thrift store front, I've actually got my dad on the job finding sturdy silverware, as well as old rakes, buckets, and shovels for fire safety. He's doing a great job poking around and finding items for us. We've got two months before we go and at the rate he's going to have found us everything short of a portable sink. Thanks Dad!

Stayed tuned as the camping adventure unfolds. Next week: Geocaching.