By It has been quite the whirlwind since returning from our 3 weeks of rest and relaxation in the state we still consider home, Colorado. Riley and I had less than 2 weeks before we embarked on our next summer adventure: Camp Emerald Bay on Santa Catalina Island in California.
When Riley was invited to join his former boy scout troop from Vail on their trip to Camp Emerald Bay, we jumped at the opportunity. Not only was Riley able to spend time with his friends, but this was a chance to earn merit badges in a fun and beautiful place.
Camp Emerald Bay is a picturesque paradise nestled on Catalina Island. Located off the coast of Southern California, a short ferry ride (about 1 to 1.5 hours) takes you from the bustling streets of Los Angeles to the island that is surrounded by deep turquoise waters, rolling hills, and lush eucalyptus trees. This unique setting provided adventure, exploration, and of course, personal growth for both campers and their adult leaders.
Since Riley was traveling without a troop, we figured it would be best for me to accompany him to camp. I had never been to Catalina Island, and since we’ve felt a bit lost after joining a bigger troop in Texas, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get myself more versed in scouting to help Riley become successful.
So after a 3-hour flight from San Antonio to L.A.X. and a stressful arrival brought on by our hotel shuttle being unavailable (that’s another story), we found ourselves meeting up with old friends at the Port of Los Angeles carrying all of our camping gear along with hundreds of other scouts.
There were definitely ups and downs on this trip, including a literal up and down of a bumpy ride to the island! We were unprepared for seasickness, and my poor little guy ran through the cabin blowing chunks of his breakfast in front of kids he just met. My tip: take Dramamine and a sweatshirt to sit outside on the top of the ferry! There’s less movement up there and fresh air.
When we arrived at camp, very enthusiastic camp counselors greeted us, setting the tone for an exciting week ahead. There were some frustrations upon arrival, and I blame their management for the lack of communication and overall being slightly understaffed.
A few examples: our swim tests were scheduled at the same time as the first meeting for adult leaders, which led to us missing out on important information. Our camp “ranger” who was supposed to guide us and be our communication source was often M.I.A. After being frustrated with this young girl, we discovered she was assigned to several troops and struggled to meet the demand of being pulled in several directions.
And lastly, the rusty cots!! I love camping, but these cots were the worst I have ever slept on. Loud, squeaky, and rusty. Riley joked that it looked like these cots were from WWII and I joked that I was glad we were up to date on our tetanus shots. It was so bad that the evening we slept on the beach with only our sleeping bags was the best sleep I had that week! The lack of sleep made me very sick, and I missed all the hiking and biking adventures I had planned for the week.
But despite my complaints, my kid had the BEST time! He completed Stand Up Paddleboard, War Canoe, Astronomy, Environmental Science, Snorkeling, First Aid, and Swimming. If you know anything about scouts, he completed 3 merit badges toward Eagle and did some fun ones too! He made so many friends outside of his troop, made friends with many of the counselors, and even got a girl’s phone number (who also happens to be from Texas) lol. He had a great time; he cried on the ferry ride back.
And as for me, even though I spent the week on a bed of rust with the worst cold ever, I definitely came out of my comfort zone. Fun fact, I am terrified of the ocean. But at this camp, I jumped in the cold ocean and passed my swim test; I got on a paddleboard with stingrays and jellyfish under me, and I paddled to the other side of the island in a canoe AND stuck with it after witnessing one canoe capsize in the waves. I even stopped screaming when I saw spiders in my tent. It was a learning experience, but I told my husband that was enough for me, and he’s definitely going to the next camp!
thevaliantlife.com 