White House Girl Scouts Camping Trip Wiped Out by Severe Thunderstorms in DC

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

On Wednesday evening, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed a troop of Girl Scouts on the White House lawn to pitch their tents for a camping event.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done a campout on the South Lawn of the White House,” Michelle Obama said welcoming the children to the White House. “You are making history. This is something you can tell your kids and your grandkids.”

It wasn’t long before she moved indoors, admitting that she didn’t even know how to put up a tent.

“I want to get going. But you guys have got to be helpful,” she said. “I don’t know anything. I don’t know how to tie a knot. I don’t know how to pitch a tent.”

President Obama also made a surprise arrival on the lawn with the First Lady to chat with the campers.

“What are you guys doing in my yard?” he joked, before sitting around a fake “campfire” made up of electric lanterns to sing some songs with the troop.

He also left, making the excuse that he had to work. “I’m not allowed to have fun,” he said as he prepared to leave. The group quickly gathered around for a group hug.

“You guys better clean up this mess — when I wake up in the morning,” he joked. “I’m teasing. You guys will still be here.”

But the historic moment was soon wiped out by a massive thunderstorm that hit Washington, D.C. with heavy lighting, strong winds and flash flooding.

The girls were quickly moved indoors to a White House office conference room to complete the evening, according to the Associated Press.

Prior to the storm, the First Lady’s Twitter account sent out the following message:

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