Cub Scout Pack 999 had a blast at Cloudland Canyon Park.  Despite the 30 degree overnight temps, we had a great time camping and visiting the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.  (Pictures posted below)

Day 1:  We arrived at camp at 17:15 hrs.  After schlepping our gear a 1/4 mile (maybe it was less) to the campsite from the car, we set up camp.  With no provisions for Friday dinner, we sent dad out to gather food from a nearby town.  A few other families had arrived and had little light to set up their tents, a few even did so by lantern and flashlight.
Once all were settled and had food in their bellies, the campfire fun ensued.  Visitors from other “more modern” campsites came for a scout powwow and marshmallow roasting.  Once we were all sugared-up, we ventured away from the fire to our very cold tents.  With Hand Warmers working, we bundled up for what we knew was going to be a very cold night in the woods.

Day 2:  Apparently the kids all slept wonderfully.  The adults on the other hand, didn’t sleep at all.  Perhaps it was the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, or the worrying that our little ones might get too cold.  Maybe… just maybe, it was the shotgun explosions echoing throughout the canyon at 3:00 in the morning.  Or perhaps it was the fact that the temperature truly dipped below freezing.  Yep, it was a very cold night, and an even colder morning.  Because we had a specific time to be at the Chattanooga Aquarium, we didn’t make a morning fire.  I could say something about best laid plans and yadda yadda, but I won’t… After we had some hot cocoa and breakfast, we made a mad dash to our warm vehicles with every intention of being on time to meet our other pack members at the entrance of the aquarium.  We were such a large group, we found ourselves assembling into smaller groups as we snaked through the exhibits of the river building.  We got to handle tarantula exoskeletons, marvel at blue frogs, laugh at sea otters, and study the may different types of turtles… and that was just building #1.  After a mediocre meal at Friday’s, we tackled the building #2.  We began with touching and feeding the rays, needless-to-say a few of us got a bit wet.  Then we were off to mingle with some butterflies.  This room always fascinates the boys.  We must have spent an hour in there, trying to get butterflies to land on our fingers.  After a brief visit with the penguins we wandered though in my humble opinion, the best laid-out Ocean Aquarium in the world.
So what do a bunch of scouts and their parent chaperons do when they are done at the Chattanooga Aquarium?  Glad you asked.  We walked across the street to Ben & Jerry’s to taste test Schweddy Balls… and eat some ice cream.

When we got back to camp we had a few minutes to relax before we gathered again for a hike.  We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day: cool weather, crystal clear blue skies, and bunch of energetic cub scouts.  And what a hike it was.  Stairs, stairs, and more stairs… at least we were rewarded with two beautiful waterfalls to gaze at while we rested our wary feet.  Unfortunately the real work was ahead of us as we had to climb back up the same steps we had just hiked down.

The kids were troopers and all made it back to camp alive… just in time for the pack dinner and campfire event at Pioneer site 2.  We ate hamburger soup and cornbread, a few even ate hot dogs and grilled chicken.  Dessert was served while each den performed a skit and/or song.  Our Cub Master read some great stories sprinkled in between skits.  Fun was had by all.  Our group from Pioneer site 3, walked back through the woods to a warm campfire to top off the evening before snuggling in for another cold night.

Day 3:  After a much better night’s sleep, we were fortunate to have time for a morning fire, and a hot cooked breakfast.  The kids all sat around the fire eating breakfast while the adults began to pack thing up.  We had enough time to get warm, eat, and deconstruct camp before we were off on another hike.  This morning’s hike was a short level hike along part of the canyon rim.  It was another beautiful day.  We were sad to say goodbye to Cloudland Canyon and vowed to return again soon.

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