Waiting Game

The last night at the Jamboree was spent beneath the shade canopy under the stars.  It began to rain about 3:00 a.m. The trucks arrived by about 6:00 a.m. and the groups loaded everything in the rain.  Despite the wet and the mud and confusion, they departed safely to Kings Dominion Amusement Park for the day. 

The scouts went on ride after ride after ride and enjoyed every minute.  It was a fun day.   I went on two roller coasters and was done!  I survived three weeks of boys scouts and the roller coasters were what finally did me in.  

The next morning all twelve buses departed to different destinations and airports.  In the afternoon, a line of thunderstorms hit the eastern coast and held up the groups needing to depart by 4:00 p.m.  We traveled with Troop 2024 and Troop 2016.  Our flight was delayed and did not depart until about 11:00 p.m.  The flight took about five hours so by the time we arrived home we had waited about twelve hours. The boys were so very, very, well behaved.  They visited the gift shops, ate, wandered around, checked the departure chart, etc etc.  I admit to falling asleep sitting amongst the crowd.  (Was I really snoring?)  At the last minute we had to make a trek to a different gate and when we finally boarded, boy scouts filled the entire back half of the plane.

We were lucky and very glad  to actually get home.  (Troop 2008 and 2022 were sent to a hotel and will arrive home at 10:00 p.m. tonight--a day late.)

Both of the groups with us gathered together with their leaders and had a final good bye moment before going to the waiting families.  They no doubt had mixed emotions and it showed as they seemed a bit hesitant and unsure while they greeted their parents. 

All day long it had been amazing to watch the boys as a group arrive, move through the airport, wait and make adjustments without skipping a beat or causing trouble.  My what changes have taken place in the last three weeks.  They all stand a little taller and their confidence levels have increased. 

They have matured tremendously and that is what the Jamboree experience is all about!!

Ethan's shirt was buttoned wrong. oops!

Troop 2024

The stores closed on us.