Dos Ninos at Dos Picos

Actually, there were about 10 boys all together. And a few girls. It was an "unofficial" Cub Scouts camping trip to Dos Picos campground in Ramona and the kids had a blast. I think the grown-ups did too. Campfires, fishing, hiking and playing...what more could a boy ask for?

After spending hours packing up the Explorer, Brian made the 20 minute drive to the campgrounds. Let's just say that Brian would have made a pretty good Cub Scout (..."always be prepared"). Camping is one of his absolute favorite things to do, so he was happy to arrange for the trip and is always looking for a good excuse to put his flashlight collection to use (you think I'm kidding...). Besides, Renee is a professional when it comes to camping- literally!

After settling in to camp, the boys set out with the telescope to do some star gazing. The park ranger even crashed their party and helped point out some of the constellations. Gotta love and activity where the kids lay still and concentrate!

Day two started with a pancake breakfast which Brian started cooking at the crack of dawn. Making pancakes for 16+ people is a big job! But he loves it...and it's part of the camping experience. And, by the way, it's a little known fact that camping and bacon go hand-in-hand. The bacon was such a hit that it was subsequently added to EVERY single meal thereafter.

Renee (Brian's sister), is a wildlife biologist and was kind enough to make the trip from Arizona to teach the boys about birds and help them to earn their birding patch.

After a short lesson on birds, bird habitats and bird identification, they ventured out hiking and birding. Here is some of what they found:

A hawk's next, probably a Red Shoulder Hawk.

An owl house.

Kudos to Renee for getting 12 kids to walk quietly, look and listen for bird sights and sounds and use the binoculars for their intended use! Well done! And I bet they actually learned a thing or two.

After lunch and some intense lightsaber duels, the boys once again set out for some fishing and playground fun. And while each boy had a chance to fish, only one fish was actually caught (and thrown back), although there were a few "near" misses.

When they weren't fishing, the kids were enjoying the outdoors and fantastic playgrounds on the premises (the more antiquated "wooden" structure became known as the "splinter" playground...

but then there was the newly constructed, plastic and metal playground which was better suited for climbing, sliding, etc). All in all, there were plenty of ways to expend their energy.

The second night was met with a campfire, hot dogs (with bacon, of course), monkey bread (compliments of Renee), campfire stories and just good old fashion camping fun. The twins especially enjoyed joining in some of the "camping" fun like exploring the campgrounds (or looking for dinosaur bones), greeting the "dinosaur" ducks, wandering in any and every direction, being mesmerized by the campfire...but especially playing in the tent.

Ella-Goldilocks-Wilcox tried out every bed and warm accessory (hats, scarves, jackets) and stayed in there for quite some time playing with flashlights in her new "house".

Chase figured out pretty quickly that the "door" was zipped closed and he was therefore "locked in" so he didn't spend as much time in the tent.

Most of his time was spent at the table eating all the junk food he never gets at home. I think the twins may have even had too much fun, as I was up most of the night with them (at home), trying to comfort them from their nightmares.

Maybe it was the spooky pair of eyes they felt watching them...which happened to be just the hungry raccoon waiting patiently for someone to leave the trash unattended. Either way, next time we will be tenting it!

Everyone packed up the next morning and headed home just in time to miss that evening's rain storm. Friends, family, fun, the great outdoors and a few new skills. What more can you ask for? Hasta la vista...