Sam Houston Area Council B.S.A. Troop 505
Chartered to St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church
Houston, Texas

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Stripes
Laguna Station July 2007

by Trevor L. (Historian)

Sunday: We left at 6 a.m. from the Scout House for the 6 hour drive to S. Padre Island. After unloading gear and choosing tents, we took a short tour of the camp with Aquatics director Blake Ramsey, and Camp directors Jim Welton and Marvilyn Miller. The dining hall, tents, latrines, pavilion and program areas were all very close together; we really liked that because we had to walk long distances to the facilities at other camps. Everyone passed their swim tests in the bay and we put our buddy tags on the surfboard. We set up chairs around our campsite and listened to music on Mr. Dismuke's stereo, absorbed the sun's rays, and played cards. The first meal, like all the rest of the meals during the week, was catered by a local restaurant. The saying, "The food tastes like Mom's, if Mom is a chef at an award-winning restaurant", proved to be true throughout the week. It was the best food we ever had at any of the week-long camps we've attended. We met the staff and were given a brief history of Laguna Station and were informed of the difference between a causeway and a bridge: causeways are free- standing, bridges have some sort of suspension. Lights Out was at 10:30 and Quiet Time was at 11 p.m.

Monday: Reveille was at 7 a.m. and the staff played wake up music by bands like the Beach Boys, Beatles, and the Ataris through the camp's Fender amplifier system. Gabriel S. went with the Fishing Adventure crew all week while the rest of us did the Island Adventure. In the morning we ocean-kayaked to South Bay, led by SPL Chris D. and Kristina M. The afternoon Sunfish sailing program was more exciting than we expected. The combination of freaky winds and strong currents that afternoon made sailing in the Bay very difficult. First, Jared D. and instructor Zach M. broke their boom and were towed back by the Coast Guard vessel. Then Chris and Kristina capsized and were flipped back over with help from staffer Sam. Meanwhile, a fishing boat cut the anchor line to the 20 foot sailboat and was secured by the other camp staffers before it drifted too far. That same fishing boat picked up Sam and brought him back to Trevor's Sunfish, that had been drifting apart from the other boat. Sam and Trevor sailed back to Chris and Kristina and the 20 foot sailboat towed everyone back to shore. This all happened because of Kristina's jinxed evil suntan lotion. When all the drama died down and the rescue was over, John H. joked, "Does this mean the rest of us don't get to go sailing today?" Trevor, Jared, and Mr. Lauten played on the camp's team that beat the staff in the volleyball tournament that night. Ice cream sundaes were served as late-night snacks.

Tuesday: Surf's up, dude! We all learned to surf this morning with the help of instructors Bo, Heidi, and Ryan. We used both the 8 foot and 10 foot soft top boards. The 3 foot waves were breaking just right. Cowabanga! We got to the afternoon Eco tour late because Mr. Lauten got us lost. Turns out we were at the back of the Pan Am Coastal Studies Lab instead of the front of the building. After a test and scavenger hunt, we went to the jetties and the bay to collect various sea creatures for the camp aquarium. We used nets to collect fish, sea squirts, urchins, hermit crabs, and flounder. The sideways stinging rain made the collection process difficult, but we finished our tasks. We watched the movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean", in the dining hall that night.

Wednesday: This was all day snorkeling and we all had fun collecting shells on the sea bottom. The drivers turned doughnuts on the beach parking expanse. Great fun!! We were treated to ice cream in town and we shopped for souvenirs. After dinner we played board games and Mr. Lauten organized a ping pong tournament.

Thursday: We surfed in the morning and went to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in the afternoon. We liked the hot tub the best. We ate at the Shrimp House for dinner and saw a late movie in town. We saw either "Harry Potter", "Rattatouille", "Die Hard" or "Transformers".

Friday: After breakfast we drove to Nuevo Progresso where we walked across the toll bridge into Mexico and did some shopping with the street vendors.We had fun learning the art of bartering to get the best prices. We returned in the afternoon for the hamburger and hot dog cookout. After the kite flying and sand castle building demonstrations, we competed in the H2O Wow! Olympics. Liam T., Trevor L., and Jared D.did well in the swim, run, kayak triathalon. Mr. Dismuke and Mr. Lauten competed in the kayak race. Jared D., Brendan D., and Liam competed in the surfboard paddle race. Mrs. Taylor sailed the Hobi Cat. The evening Pachanga and awards ceremony completed the week- long activities. Chris D., Kristina M., and Trevor were given awards for their Monday sailing misadvetures, Andrew C., Jared D., Brendan D., Chris D., John H., Anand M., Christina M., Liam T., and Trevor L. were given special "Fishing in the Rain" awards for their Eco tour work. Gabriel S. received the top fisherman award for the week. Chris D., Trevor L., and Kristina M., were top biologists. Gabriel S. organized a singing contest and Rick sang "Yellow Submarine", Troop 570 sang a Beach Boys song and Gabriel sang "The Anchor Holds". Trevor L. and Mr. Lauten were recognized for their early morning running. The staff made homemade root beer and we busted a candy-filled piñata.

Saturday: All of our gear was loaded into the trailer, the campsite was cleaned and we left an hour ahead of schedule, 8:00 a.m. for the drive back to Houston. For breakfast we made our own waffles in the professional wafflemakers.

Memories: Listening to music, Larry the Cable Guy, Dan Cook, Wanda Sykes,and Bill Cosby. Getting temporary tattoos. Staff members Patrick, Matt, Callie, and Fabian. "Awkward puppy". Riding the waves. Kristina falling over the concrete doughnut. Laguna station grace: "For sea, sand, and sunny skies, For food, friendships, and fair winds, For these things we are grateful O Lord. Amen". Mexican DVD's. Wind and rain most of the week. Sand, mud, and salty water.

Click on the thumbnails for full-size images (and click the Back button on your browser to return here)!

Somewhere over the rainbows Crew 505 surfer dudes.. and surfer chicks. Jared and Brenden D. paddle out for the surfboard relay race.
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Trevor catching a wave Cozy campsites right on the bay. Everyday uniforms being worn.
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Nuevo Progresso, Mexico trip
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Stripes
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