Cub Camp

no more archery for Joyful

Last week I made the tactical mistake of volunteering for cub scout camp.  Monday was volunteer training, and I volunteered to 'help' out with science only to be handed a printed out 'experiment' (dancing spaghetti) to try with the boys.  This was supposed to fill 3 days of science classes for 50 boys?  Being the type-A person I am, this was completely unacceptable and I planned 3 days of fun curriculum that actually taught SCIENCE.  (I know, the boys only come to camp to shoot BB's, so I'm silly to care so much).

I know I'm not supposed to brag, but science class totally rocked.  Even the Tiger cubs learned the steps to the scientific method, and I was scolded by scouts when I was carrying my metal umbrella in the thunderstorm Wednesday.  THEY PAID ATTENTION AND LEARNED STUFF!   By the end of Thursday I had 3 helpers who wanted to join the cool science class, and on Friday more than one cub was mad at me that we didn't have science class.  You know what?  I'm a good teacher!

On the other hand, I am not good at things requiring coordination.  See the bruise on my arm?  This was from my attempt to shoot at the archery range.   And, while I was not the only leader to end up with a bruise, mine was the most colorful and biggest.  At least I win at klutz?

Day 4 Oberndorf bei Salzburg

advent celebration?  Should have written all these down! 

celebration at the river's bend

Our awesome hostess

Memorial chapel
The original was destroyed in a flood

leaving Deutschland

Our detour into Hallein prompted us to go on another 'unscheduled' adventure to Oberndorf, the town where "Silent Night" was composed and first sung.   It is a town located at the bend of the river Salzach which forms the border between Germany and Austria.  The chapel was at the very farthest curve of the bend, in a place prone to floods and fires and harsh weather.  The entire area is called the 'unterberg', which means under the mountains.  Maybe in the shadow of the mountains?  In any case, it is a beautiful place to visit and live, but the winters are snow filled and for the farmers of the area the climate is not always favorable.  We visited a tiny little museum where the proctor took our family around, explained every exhibit and told us about the traditions of the area.  Most of the festivals are based on asking for a good harvest, giving thanks for the harvest, or scaring away the bad spirits which come in the long, dark, cold, winters.  I'm not sure the kids understand what it means to depend on the weather, the seasons and to never know what the future might bring.  Not that we know what the future brings, but our comfort is practically assured.    Of note also was the warm reception our children received at the museum.  We are used to stares and questions if these are all our children, instead she complimented us on taking the kids around to learn the history of the places we visit.  It was such a nice change!

The rest of the day we recovered from our travels at the Watzman Therme, a series of pools filled with naturally heated spring water (salty, also!)  I thought the water wasn't nearly warm enough and stayed in the tepidarium to get warm.  I guess feeling cold all the time is just my default state.

Day 3 Salzburg

The last water-powered marble mill in Germany

Really, they're thrilled

No is not afraid of dinosoars.  

Hedgie!

street food

I love Salzburg, but do NOT love the traffic.   We started our day at the Kugelmühle near Berchtesgaden.  They still grind marbles the old-fashioned way, with water power.  I thought it was cool and we bought marbles for everyone.  


Next stop:  Mirabell gardens to see the sound of music gazebo.  Again, I seemed to be the only one impressed.  

In Hallein, Austria, Franz Gruber's grave

Then:  Salzburg, lunch at the market square, walking tour of the city and kids complaining and wanting to know when were were going to the Haus der Natur.  So, we gave up on culture and went to play.  After an exhausting day of scientific exploration and exhibits we got stuck in traffic.  Our attempt to detour led us WAY out of our way in Hallein, which happens to be the place Franz Gruber is buried.  We saw his old organ and the place he is buried while we waited for the gasthaus to open.  Our day ended in one of our more unique detours through the mountains.  Even our new GPS wants us to use back roads!

Day 2 Königsee

Even the water in the streams looks a different color than the streams I'm used to seeing.  Because it's glacial?  We hiked up to the Eiskappelle (Ice chapel) which is essentially a glacier that has a stream running under it.  This makes a tunnel, and the shape of the hills above it cause the snow to fall in a slant on the 'roof'.  The hike starts out easy, is killer in the middle and is easy again at the end.  Either that or I am a wimp.

Det 1 retreat day 1

We hiked over to the mittelstation of the Jennerbahn and took the lift up to the top station.  We had near perfect hiking weather under grey skies, but once at the top the rain began to fall and the kids began to grump.  So down again we went, and hiked back to the Hinterbrand so we could drive down to the Obersalzburg documentation center.   And I'll just add here that I've never seen such clearly marked well-maintained trails as we hiked above Berchtesgaden.  

After WWII any properties not maintained by the occupation forces were destroyed by the government.  It was done in an attempt to prevent groups from having a place of pilgrimage or memorial.  However, it had the unintended effect of looking as if the government wished to wipe away all memory of that point in time.  So, when the US government returned the General Walker (formerly the Platterhof) hotel to German hands it first was mostly demolished, and then turned into a parking lot for the new documentation center.  The center gives the history of the Nazi movement in excruciating detail and allows the visitor to tour the underground bunkers constructed to save the party leadership from allied air strikes. 

One of the few remaining structures is the former atrium of the General Walker (itself formerly the Platterhof), now converted to a restaurant.  We had lunch there and enjoyed the lovely views out the windows.  It’s the perfect place for lunch—both protected from the weather and still lets you see everything.

After lunch we toured the Documentation center and the bunker tunnels.  The kids found most of the center too boring for their tastes, but in the bunkers were more ‘scope for imagination’.  I can’t imagine being so desperate as to hide out in those bunkers for any length of time.  It’s not like help was coming to  save them.    Also, the history of how easily Hitler came to power—and manipulated the people into thinking they were doing the right thing is quite sobering.  It makes you realize that given the right circumstances such a thing could happen even today.  

Fav'rit things

Old city centers and

These smiling faces

Learning new cultures

And seeing new places

Seeing their smiles as we learn new cool things

These are a few of my favorite things!

Flower full gardens and unicorn fountains

Old fashioned mills under grey skies and mountains

Stille nacht chapel and boxes that sing

These are a few of my favorite things!

When the clouds stay, more of rain delays, when I’m tired and sad, I’ll simply remember these favorite things and wish I was in Berchestgadener land.