Storytelling at Longhorn Council 100th Anniversary Campore

This weekend I had the honor of telling stories for the cubs and weblos scouts at the Longhorn Council Campore which was held at Texas Motor Speed Way near Fort Worth Texas. I want to thank Scot Lindgren for setting me up and John Parks for accommodating me in this 100th anniversary cellebration of the Boy Scouts. I also want to offer special thanks to Troop 336 and their scoutmaster Steve Grady for sharing their food and camp with me. Though I have not been physically active with the troop over ten years they continue to keep me as a n active member and as the troop storyteller. I try to make a few camp outs a year and I have not missed any of the troops Webloee's that they have every October. I also want to thank the adults who were there this weekend and their kind attentions and friendship. All of you guys and gals are awesome, thank you.
We had WIND. ALLLL WEEKEND!!!!
If there had been no wind or a light wind it would had been a perfect weekend for this celebration. And yet some how it was fitting. The boy scouts continue to maintain a steady path against many difficult struggles and why should they not during there 100th anniversary celebration be faced with a horrendous wind. And yet, the celebration went on.
Father's and mothers and scoutmasters and volunteers hunkered down with their boys and fought their way through the wind and still had a great time. The Marines had parked this huge truck over by where I was set up and it was an absolute blast watching those kids go crazy all over and in that monster. I think they ought to park one in every school and get rid of the playground. It was just awesome. Thanks Marines!!
Fortunately I had brought my sound system and wireless. Without it I would had been pretty much worthless. I was impressed with the kids and adults staying and listening to my stories. It was tough in particularly where I was set up was like a wind tunnel in itself and the wind just howled though there mercilessly. Yet the boys came and stayed and listened. The first group I managed to snag was about a 100 strong but the rest of the day it was 5 or 10 at a time.
Unfortuneately I was unable to do any boy scouts because where I was set up was primarily in the cub scout area so maybe next time I will get a set up for the boy scouts. I met a lot of nice people and had some interesting talks with others. I met one scoutmaster who sat and traded stories with me for a while. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one who beleived in the importance of storytelling.
The wind got colder as the day went, not warmer as I had hoped. I had to slip into the OA tent a couple times to warm up. That wind was wearing me down. Around 3:30pm ( after being out there since 9am) I finally gave it up collected my gear and took a short nap in my warm windless truck before going to eat supper with my troop. I stayed with them till around 7pm and though I really wanted to stay and talk some more because I was having a great time I decided that I better get before the big show started at the camp grounds. I really hated going. But I was exahusted and knew that I needed to go but all the others, the socutmasters, mom and dads, they all stayed even though they knew that when the wind stopped it was going to get really really cold that night.
The reason I am telling you all this is pretty basic. The system still works, it is not broke. There are a lot of great people out there still trying. Despite a bogus economy and other challenges that we face in our personal and daily activities there are folk out there helping, caring and giving and not giving up. I was only one of hundreds of volunteers out there this weekend. Every scoutmaster and adult involved out there this weekend were in truth volunteers. They gave up their weekend, they gave up there money, they gave out concern and love. They took care of their and other people kids and did it with passion. A passion for giving kids a good time. They did it because they knew that it mattered and IT DOES. Thank you all. Thank you for believing.