Boys love B Block, that free period from 4:30 to the dinner bell at 6.  Campers are free to go anywhere on the supervised property but they are basically on their own.  That means they can go from one thing to the next on the whim of the moment.

The waterfront is a huge attraction on nice days like yesterday.  Lifeguards are assigned stations throughout the area, to include being in power boats to observe boys as they manage their own affairs aboard various craft.  Tubing is so popular that we conduct a lottery each day at 4:35.  It does not pay at all to be first in line, but campers who draw low numbers get their turns right away while the others go do other things until the approximate time of their ride approaches.  The system works beautifully.

Up on Pines Field, most accessible to all the cabins, one can find all sorts of action and inaction.  The photos in the associated album of this report tell the story.  “You lazy good for nothing Guides,”  (my standard greeting to the 15 year olds) was turned right back at me by Kieran, who asserted, “We just got back from hiking Mt. Piermont,” a most acceptable excuse for the boys relaxing in the prone position in one of the pics.

The feature of the day, however, was the opening of the new back nine on the Kingswood Cayman Golf Course.  Aptly (and amusingly) named as “The Rock Garden at Helm Hill,” this layout is a true test of one’s golf skills.  Designed by Shupe and Wiff, and built by the boys in the very first golf photo, Helm Hill played beautifully to my demonic intentions.  Ben S hit a tree and one of the power lines.  Joey got stuck right against a rock and had no good real play.  He also rattled one off the bathroom wall, startling the lads inside.  Poor little Brooks just missed a good target landing and could not recover.

Most significantly, Cole nearly took a shot without first placing his ball on one of the green mats, used for now as the grass is so tender.  (The entire course follows the huge ditches made by the new septic system effort.)  “That would have been a 3 stroke penalty, the steepest deduction in all of golf,” I hollered with glee.  We finally got through the round and this guy found himself in the most blissful mood of anyone on the grounds at that moment.