An Overnight Adventure: Cub Scout Campout at Brazos Bend State Park

Our first Cub Scout campout was last weekend. We Houstonians were lucky to have a cool front blow in on Friday, keeping temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s for the weekend with overnight lows in the mid-50s. It was perfect camping weather!  

I have said it before, but we have met the best people through Cub Scouts. Henry's den officially has eight kids but only five come to meetings and events. (I think the other three are still trying to decide if they want to do Scouts or not!) Fortunately, the five boys who show up are neat kids and after a weekend together, they are fast friends.  

Tiger Cubs at the opening flag ceremony

Will carried the flag!

After setting up our tents, we were treated to a Civil War demonstration by one of the dads in our pack. 

He had the kids line up, follow orders, and march! Apparently they did as well as the Union soldiers did 150 years ago. 

The park ranger was on hand to get a lesson in firing a rifle. 

After the Civil War demonstration, our den decided to take a hike around Creekfield Lake.  

So pretty.

We found one lone alligator,

that swam right up to the dock where we were standing!

The evening was spent grilling, enjoying a campfire with skits and songs, and s'mores before bed. After breakfast on Sunday morning, we went for another hike around 40-Acre Lake with the two Bear dens, which meant we were a large group of 1st and 3rd graders plus siblings and parents. Will's den leader went over all the requirements for the hiking belt loop first, 

and we also had a nature checklist to fill out.

Henry and his buddy took the buddy system seriously and held hands for most of the hike!

It was a beautiful sunny day so we knew the alligators would be out. 

Gator #1

Gator #2

Gator #3

Two turtles

Egret

Gator #4 (plus another little guy was nearby)

Gator #6 put on quite a show. We watched him for about five minutes while he ate a snake!

After the hike, we had a debriefing.

Group photo of our boys

We finished the day by cooking lunch back at the campsite, packing up and heading out around 2pm. It was a busy weekend but our first Cub Scout campout of the year was a tremendous success and we look forward to spending more time outdoors with this great group of boys and their families!