Impromptus today is full of the Apocalypse — because the news is. But there’s some light stuff too, like the blowing up of a building. This was a very ugly building in Britain, and it was blown up by the authorities — not by Guy Fawkes or someone like that. There’s a nice video of the demolition.

And this got me to thinking about a trip I once made — to explosives camp, in Rolla, Mo. This was one of the most unusual trips I have ever made. I thought I would share the resulting piece with you: “Blowing Up Barbie: The joy of explosives camp.”

It begins like this:

There are many summer camps, something for everyone. But there’s no other camp quite like this: an explosives camp. A hands-on explosives camp. Such a thing would seem impossible in modern America. These days, kids ride their trikes in protective gear. So, the very idea of explosives camp is thrilling.
Not to all, of course. Before I left the Upper West Side of Manhattan, I told a dear friend and neighbor where I was going. She could not get the look of horror off her face.

One evening, the kids sat at their tables, making their shells. I said to a counselor, “It almost looks like arts ’n’ crafts.” “Yes,” she said, “but with an edge.”