Camp Out

by Sarah Dillard

  Violet froze for a moment, imagining all the Mouse Scouts being struck by lightning. Then she joined the other Scouts in gathering leaves, ferns, and grass. Violet looked at her bundle of plants. Was any of it poison ivy? She still had no idea what it looked like!

  There was a flash of lightning, and soon after, a loud crack of thunder sounded and the ground shook. Then it started to rain.

  “We’re going to drown!” Violet cried.

  “My eyelashes are losing their curl!” complained Hyacinth.

  “I wish my tail would,” Petunia cracked.

  “My cheese is getting soggy!” Cricket wailed.

  “THIS IS CHARACTER BUILDING!” Miss Poppy shouted. The Scouts could hardly hear her over the sound of the storm.

  “I don’t need any more character,” Tigerlily muttered.

  Violet looked around. Everyone was wet and bedraggled. Junebug was shivering. Even Tigerlily was sulking. Camping out was definitely the worst Mouse Scout activity ever.

  As suddenly as the storm started, it stopped. Slowly the Scouts uncovered themselves and stood up. Once again it was a beautiful sunny day. The only difference was that they were surrounded by puddles and little streams.

  “Pick up your backpacks,” Miss Poppy said, “and let’s head for drier land.”

  The Scouts began to wade across the stream. When they were nearly on the other side, Hyacinth slipped and fell. Junebug and Violet went to help her, but they slipped, too, and—splash!—in they both went! Finally the three girls managed to get up and make their way to dry land.

  “I’m drenched!” Hyacinth cried. “And my uniform is completely ruined!”

  “I’m catching a chill.” Junebug sniffed. She reached in her backpack and pulled out her orange safety blanket and wrapped it around herself.

  Violet was miserable! She had had it with camping. She had had it with character building. She didn’t even know if she wanted to be a Mouse Scout anymore. This was not the stuff of Mouse Scout memories—it was more the stuff of Mouse Scout nightmares!

  Weathering the Storm

  Weather conditions can change unexpectedly, especially in the wilderness. Be sure to pay attention to forecasts before heading out. If there is a chance of a storm, it might be a good idea to do something else for the day.

  If you do find yourself caught in bad weather, don’t panic. At the first sign of lightning or thunder, seek cover. Do not take shelter in trees or any other plant or structure that is in danger of being struck by lightning. Woodchuck or chipmunk holes are good choices, as long as they are not in low-lying areas or near streambeds, which could flood.

  If there is no shelter to be found, crouch down, making yourself as small as possible, while minimizing contact with the ground. Avoid open fields, low-lying areas, mountaintops, rocks, ponds, streams, and wetlands. Keep away from tall single trees.

  Once the storm starts, stay where you are until it has passed. Luckily, thunderstorms tend to be fast moving, but beware—they often recur.

  The Scouts trudged along behind Miss Poppy. Violet’s wet uniform was cold and uncomfortable, but the sun was shining and, before long, it was almost dry. Suddenly Miss Poppy came to a stop.

  “This is it!” Miss Poppy declared. “This is our campsite.”

  “This?” Hyacinth cried. “But there’s nothing here!”

  “That’s nature for you!” Petunia said with a snicker.

  Violet looked around. Hyacinth was right. They were standing in a small clearing. The ground was covered with pine needles, small pinecones, and a few roots. The trees around the clearing were tall, and the sunlight filtered down through their branches. It felt like true wilderness.

  “Now, let’s get to work, Scouts!” said Miss Poppy. “If you all read your Mouse Scout Handbook as instructed, you will know how to construct a simple shelter using twigs and leaves. Time is wasting. We have to get our campsite ready and forage for dinner before dark.”

  The Scouts got to work. First they swept the ground with pine needle brooms. Then they found moss for their beds. It was still damp from the storm, so they set it out in the sun.

  While the moss was drying they gathered twigs, leaves, and more pine needles to make their tents.

  They built frames with the twigs, then created walls and roofs using leaves, moss, and pinecones. By the time their tents were ready, the moss was dry and they could make their beds. Even Hyacinth had to admit that the moss was surprisingly comfortable…although she still covered hers with her satin sheet.

  Tigerlily sat and leaned back on the pinecone that she had set outside her tent.

  “Just like home,” she sighed. “Only better.”

  Violet turned to her own tent. The twigs were bending under the weight of the pinecone roof. One stiff breeze would probably knock the whole thing down. No, she thought, home is much better than this!

  Hyacinth surveyed the campsite. Then she turned to Petunia. “So, about those bathrooms?” she asked.

  Petunia pointed to the woods.

  “I was afraid of that,” Hyacinth said as she sauntered out of the clearing.

  “Watch out for poison ivy!” Petunia called after her.

  When the Scouts were done with their tents, Miss Poppy gave a sharp tweet of her whistle. “No time to rest on your laurels, Scouts. It’s time to find our supper. Nothing tastes better than a meal you have found and prepared in the wild. But you must be careful. Do not put anything in your mouth that you cannot identify. Certain mushrooms are POISONOUS. Some leaves are HIGHLY TOXIC. A few varieties of nuts are INDIGESTIBLE. There are berries that are INEDIBLE. Mistaken identification could lead to DIZZINESS, NAUSEA, VOMITING, or WORSE. Now, let’s go find some supper!”

  The Scouts wandered away from the campsite, unsure of where to begin.

  “I feel ill,” said Junebug.

  “I don’t dare eat any of this,” Violet said, looking around her. She saw some berries that might be blackberries, but what if they weren’t? And besides, there was a huge spiderweb on the bush, and the spider looked mean. She backed away.

  “Are pinecones edible?” Petunia asked.

  “I don’t think so,” said Hyacinth.

  “Even if they were,” said Junebug, “I’d never eat one. They house too many burrowing insects.”

  “This is going to be an awful dinner,” Violet said.

  “Don’t worry,” Cricket said. “We just have to wait until Miss Poppy is asleep, and then I’ll get out my backpack. I think I brought enough cheese for everyone!”

  At the thought of cheese for dinner, the Scouts decided they were done foraging and headed back to camp. But just as they got to the clearing, they saw the squirrel rummaging through their backpacks. When he opened Cricket’s bag, he squealed with delight, grabbed it, and rushed up the nearest tree.

  “Hey!” Cricket shouted. But the squirrel was already up at the top of the tree. Cricket knew she would never catch him.

  “My cheese!” she cried. “It’s all gone!”

  “NO!” shouted the rest of the Scouts.

  “That’s it,” Tigerlily moaned. “We’re going to starve!”

  Building a Shelter

  Camping outdoors is something every Mouse Scout should experience. Imagine falling asleep to the sound of the breeze blowing through leaves while in a soft moss bed in a shelter built with your own hands.

  To build your shelter, you will need to gather some long sticks. It takes at least three sturdy sticks to build a frame for a tepee, five light to medium sticks for a tent, and several heavy sticks if you plan to build a cabin. Once you have your sticks, build the frame of your choice, referring to the diagrams on this page. Often, the quality of sticks you find will determine the style of shelter you can build.

  When you have built your frame, gather pine boughs or leaves to create the walls. Grasses and vines work well for lashing the walls to the frame. You may even weave the leaves and boughs through the frame as if you are making a basket.

  Pineco
nes can be used for roofing and siding. You can use them whole or broken apart like shingles.

  Moss makes a soft and sweet-smelling bed. To be sure that it is dry, lay it in the sun while building your shelter.

  The hungry Scouts had little to show for their foraging. They each put what they had found in a pile. After Miss Poppy went through and eliminated the suspicious items, all that was left were three dried acorns, two clovers, and six pine needles.

  Miss Poppy put her hands on her hips. “It’s not much to work with,” she said. “But we will do what we can.”

  She then supervised the Scouts while they built a campfire. “But I will light it,” Miss Poppy said. “Acorn Scouts are too young to use matches.”

  Violet and Tigerlily made a grill by weaving some branches into a grid, and then soaked it in rainwater so the branches wouldn’t burn.

  Miss Poppy set the grill on four rocks placed by the fire so it would sit high above the flames.

  Hyacinth and Petunia roasted the acorns on the grill, while Junebug and Cricket made a salad with the cloverleaf.

  Miss Poppy showed the Scouts how to make pine needle tea by heating the pine needles and water in hollowed-out acorn shells. Finally their feast was done.

  Junebug sniffed at the acorns suspiciously, then took a small nibble. “Yuck!” she said, spitting it out.

  “It can’t be that bad,” Cricket said as she took a bite. She coughed. “On second thought, maybe it can.”

  Violet poured the tea into the cup from her acorn mess kit, but the cup was cracked, and the hot water leaked all over her lap. She thought about the emergency sunflower seeds and raisins she had packed. They were supposed to be for emergencies, and if this wasn’t an emergency, she didn’t know what was. She put them out with the other food.

  “Thanks, Violet,” Petunia said, “but I wish we had some cheese.”

  “I’m sorry,” Cricket cried. “I tried to catch that squirrel.”

  “It’s not your fault, Cricket,” Hyacinth said. “But some cheese would be nice. I’d love some Camembert or chèvre right about now.”

  “Mmmm. Nothing is better than cheddar,” said Tigerlily.

  “But it wouldn’t be a party without Havarti,” said Violet.

  “I can’t tell a lie. I like Brie,” Petunia said, joining in.

  “It’s pronounced bree,” said Junebug.

  “Oh!” Petunia said, blushing.

  “Well, I think mozzarella is pretty swella,” Miss Poppy said with a chortle.

  The Scouts all turned to look at their leader. Miss Poppy had never said anything funny in her whole life.

  “I don’t have any cheese,” Miss Poppy said with a sly grin, “but I do happen to have some marshmallows!” She pulled a bag of squashed marshmallows from her backpack, and the Scouts scurried to find sticks to toast them on.

  “Ahem. Now, then,” Miss Poppy said, “it is time to sing. Let’s start with the Acorn Scout song!”

  We are Acorns, tiny and small,

  but we’ll grow up to be mighty and tall.

  We’re quick with a plan,

  and we help when we can.

  We love our friends and are kind to all.

  “Oh, that was so lovely,” Miss Poppy said. “That song always brings a tear to my eye.” Then she led them in singing the Mouse Scouts Friendship song.

  Mouse Scouts, Mouse Scouts,

  smart and clever.

  Strong as Roquefort,

  sharp as cheddar.

  We work hard

  to make the world better.

  Mouse Scouts, Mouse Scouts,

  friends forever!

  “Well, Scouts, it’s been a long day for this troop leader. We have to be up bright and early tomorrow, so I’m going to retire to my tent. You may all stay up a little longer and sing some more songs. I was young once. I know how it is.”

  Miss Poppy had a faraway look in her eyes for a moment, but then her spine stiffened, and her eyes got beady again.

  “But two more songs only, and then it’s time for bed. And that fire had better be put out properly or it’s back to Buttercups for all of you!”

  Campfire Cookery

  Everything tastes better when you eat outdoors, and supper cooked over a campfire is doubly delicious. Whether you bring food from home or forage for your ingredients, you are sure to have a memorable meal. Remember that foraging for wild foods should only be done under the supervision of your troop leader.

  Here are a few recipes to try the next time you go camping!

  Campfire Grilled Cheese

  (makes 6 sandwiches)

  INGREDIENTS:

  1 slice of bread, cut into 12 squares (for convenience, cut the bread into squares before your trip)

  6 small pieces of cheese, whatever kind is available

  DIRECTIONS:

  1. Find a long stick—one that is shaped like a fork—to hold your sandwich.

  2. Prepare the sandwich by placing a piece of cheese between two squares of bread.

  3. Place your sandwich across the “tines” of your stick.

  4. Hold the stick over the campfire close enough to toast the bread and melt the cheese, but not so close as to burn the bread. Be careful not to move the stick too much, or you may drop your sandwich!

  Roasted Acorns

  (1 acorn feeds one hungry mouse)

  Acorns, the symbol of the Acorn Scouts, are plentiful in any forest where oak trees grow. Look for intact, unblemished acorns.

  DIRECTIONS:

  1. Crack your acorn to remove the hard shell. If you wish to use the shell as a bowl or cup, use a paper clip to scoop out the acorn pieces.

  2. Place the acorn on a grill, or hold it on a stick over a flame. Turn the acorn often so that it is toasted but does not burn.

  Pine Needle Tea

  Pine needles are a good source of vitamins A and C. Not only is the tea delicious, it is also a good decongestant and, when cooled, can be used as an antiseptic wash. Any kind of pine needle will work, but white pine and balsam are especially delicious.

  DIRECTIONS:

  Take one pine needle and break it into very small pieces. Place the needle bits in your acorn cup and fill with water. Using a paper clip as a handle, hold your bowl over the fire to warm the water.

  The Scouts sat quietly in the glow of the campfire. Violet felt warmer and happier than she had all day. From the smiles on her fellow Scouts’ faces, she was pretty sure that everyone was feeling the same way.

  After a while, Petunia whispered, “Does anyone want to hear a scary story?”

  “Yes!” said Tigerlily.

  “Not particularly,” said Junebug.

  “As long as it isn’t about cheese,” said Cricket. “I’m so hungry, I can hardly think straight.”

  Violet’s tail twitched. Cricket had had more marshmallows than anyone, but she wasn’t going to say anything.

  Petunia leaned toward the fire, and her face took on an eerie glow. She began the story in a low voice, just above a whisper.

  “One summer night, many years ago, a troop of Mouse Scouts went camping. And this is a true story. I know it because my mother’s neighbor had a friend when she was little whose cousin was a Mouse Scout, and she knew a mouse whose sister knew someone who was on that camping trip!”

  “So what happened?” Hyacinth said through a yawn.

  “Well!” said Petunia. “The Scouts had finished their supper and were sitting around the campfire singing songs and telling stories just like we’re doing right now. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an owl swept down on the Scouts. And this wasn’t just any owl either. It was a giant snowy ghost owl!”

  “How could they be certain it was a ghost owl?” asked Junebug.

  “I don’t know, they just did,” said Petunia. “And also, it didn’t sound like a regular owl. It sounded all low and rumbly, like this…” Petunia took a deep breath and in the lowest, most rumbly voice she could manage said, “Whooo will be my supper? Whooo will be my supper?�
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  “Anyway, all of the Mouse Scouts were scared and ran into their tents…except for the smallest one. Her name was Peanut. When the Mouse Scouts got up the next morning, Peanut was gone, and they never saw her again!”

  “That story’s not even true,” said Hyacinth.

  “Precisely. There is no such thing as a giant snowy ghost owl,” said Junebug. “Even if there were ghost owls, it would not be a snowy owl. They inhabit Arctic regions and are rarely seen at this latitude.”

  “But I told you, my mother’s neighbor—” Petunia started.