8 Setting Up Camp

Eight, setting up camp ON THE WAY BACKTO THEIR bunk, Harris explained to Zeke what a campout was. "Why would we sleep outside when we have a perfectly fine bunk bed in the cabin?" Zeke asked.

"Because it's fun!" Harris replied. Zeke shrugged. "I guess it's just one more Earth thing I really don't understand."

The next morning, the campers gathered at the flagpole. They each had a backpack full of gear. "Okay, campers. Remember, no cell phones or other devices," Patrick announced. "Leave them in your bunks. We are going into the great outdoors, back to a time before technology. Follow me!"

A line of campers followed Patrick onto a path that led deep into the woods. After hiking for about an hour, they came to a clearing. In the center was a fire pit made of stones. Okay, we made it! Wasn't that fun? Now we have to set up your tents in a circle around the fire pit," said Patrick. Harris and Zeke pulled out their tent, placed it onto the ground, then crawled inside with the tent poles to set it up.

"I think that one goes over there, Zeke," said Harris, shoving a pole into the center of the tent. Zeke," stuck one end of a tent pole into the ground, then shoved the other end into a small pocket in the canvas flaps. But the pole popped out and poked Harris right in the butt. Then the whole tent collapsed on top of them. Both boys cracked up.

"Even though I've never done this before, I don't think we're doing it right," said Zeke. Harris stuck his head out to see how the other campers were doing. Some were almost finished. Others, including Roger and Paul, were also struggling.