Post by: Jenny Kramer
Troop 1 had 9 scouts on our after-camp outing to the Willows Golf Park on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. The scouts broke into two groups and had a blast playing miniature golf. Only 4-8 golf balls were reported missing by the end of the night. Thanks to the leaders, we didn’t lose any scouts to the water traps!
Post by: Jenny Kramer
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A total of 22 scouts and five leaders attended Camp New Fork near Pinedale, Wyoming on July 20-26, 2014. In typical form, Troop 1 participated in all activities offered at this unique summer camp. Troop 1 arrived in the early afternoon on Sunday and set up their campsite at Crazy Horse, an accommodating location among the pine and aspen trees. Troop 1 scouts walked a minimum of 3-4 miles each day because their campsite was the furthest from the center of Camp New Fork where most activities took place. Although this walk was tiresome, scouts were grateful that their campsite provided ample firewood due to the recent pine-beetle infestations that had killed trees. In fact, Troop 1 began collecting pine slash to create a sizable pile that was used throughout the week for nightly campfires. Favorable rains earlier in the summer meant that there was little risk of forest fires. Given the large number of Troop 1 scouts, they recorded a total of 46 service hours, which Camp New Fork applied against their lease with the US Forest Service, who manages the national forest.
During their stay at Camp New Fork, weather varied from chilly evenings that rapidly changed to clear skies and warm mid-day temperatures. Scouts also experienced a number of late-afternoon and evening thunderstorms that quickly passed overhead, yet allowed them the opportunity to watch fantastic lightning in the distance. Sunny and warm weather during the day made it easy for scouts to enjoy the waterfront of Lake New Fork for canoeing and swimming. Many Troop 1 scouts took the plunge into the chilly, yet refreshing water during open-swim or while working on their waterfront merit badges. Troop 1 quickly fell into the familiar drill of assembling in a straight line to walk into the main camp area for camp-wide flag ceremonies at 9:30 am and 7:45 pm each day. They usually arrived first to flag ceremonies in full BSA class-A uniform. Their consistent participation left a lasting impression of organization and respect for camp activities and honoring the US flag. Troop 1 dined together each night in the mess hall. Meanwhile, breakfast and lunch supplies were picked up at the commissary and cooked within their camp. At their campsite, four patrols participated in food preparation, cooking, cleaning, and fire prevention duties. The food was plentiful and easy to prepare. The daily schedule for scouts consisted of morning merit badge classes between 10:00 and 12:00 followed by free time in the afternoon to attend any of the merit badge classes. This flexible format allowed scouts to register for 5 merit badges and easily meet all the requirements during the week. In addition the camp commissioner held daily meetings with scoutmasters and senior patrol leaders to coordinate events and help troops prepare for activities. One of the most memorable activities during the week was the overnight canoe trip across Lake New Fork, through an isthmus called “The Narrows,” before arriving at the Upper Lake. Troop 1 set departed for this canoe trip on Tuesday evening and arrived just before dark (2.5 hours paddling on the lake). The mosquitoes were very thick, so they quickly moved away from the lakefront to set up camp. A number of scouts needed to build and sleep in a shelter to meet the requirements for the wilderness survival merit badge. It was impressive how scouts prepared for this outing where all they carried was a change of clothes and their sleeping bags/pads. In the morning, Troop 1 paddled back to camp to pick up their breakfast and prepare for the morning flag ceremony, where 7 members of Troop 1 performed the role of Color Guard. Wednesday night was also the time for an Inter-Troop Campfire planned by Senior Patrol Leaders. In two short days, Senior Patrol leaders, met together to plan this campfire program that included songs, skits, and a US Flag retirement. Thursday was camp-wide hiking day. After investigating a few potential hikes during free time, Troop 1 chose to take the lakeside hike that lead to The Narrows. Overall scouts hiked 4 miles and returned to their campsite in the early afternoon to enjoy a refreshing swim in the lake. Friday was also a special day for Troop 1. They arranged a zip line event with the camp staff. The zip line began at the top of a 45-foot tower and traveled over 100 yards down to a grassy meadow. The first step off of the tower was quite a thrill! Troop 1 also participated in waterfront games on Friday. They entered a team in the John Colter relay, named after a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and other explorations into Yellowstone and Teton wilderness areas in the early 1800s. The relay included carrying an unlit wooden match across three legs of the race: namely, running, canoeing, and then swimming, before awarding the first team to light the match on the lakeshore. Although Troop 1 was not the fastest team, they earned second place because their match readily lit after the three relay events. Because Troop 1 participated in all camp programs and activities, service projects, and passed all campsite inspections they earned the distinction of a Camp New Fork “Honor Troop.” Congratulations to Troop 1 scouts on another memorable summer camp experience and thanks to all parents and leaders who helped prepare these great young men! Post by: Tom Monaco - Scoutmaster for Summer Camp |
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