Camping at Gibson Ranch this weekend

We'll be leaving on our backpack style outing to Gibson Ranch this Saturday.  We'll hit the trail around 8:00 and hike to Gibson.  We're going to play with nature and cook some great meals.  And the moon should be about right for a rousing round of capture the flag at night.  Gonna be fun!

Summer Camp

For the last 8 years or so we have camped at Camp Fleischmann for our long term summer camping.  Should we be visiting other camps periodically?  I worry that the boys may be missing out on different experiences.  Each camp offers their own brand of lunacy along with different merit badges and opportunities.  I love Camp Fleischmann and would be very happy to go back there each and every year, but I have very fond memories of camping at Camp Winton as a boy.  Your thoughts?

Leadership can and does happen

At the recently completed Scout Expo our SPL was unable to attend due an illness.  Our ASPL was also absent so I appointed Trevor to be our SPL for this event.  Trevor recently earned his Life rank and he did a fantastic job.  He had never even help a Patrol Leader position before.  This is what I was hoping for.

Also, Greg took charge of the kitchen as head cook for the outing.  He divided the kitchen in two since we had basically two patrols going.  Greg was wonderful in his duties as head cook.  We had some excellent food over the weekend.

Both of these young men were singled out for attention at our committee meeting last night, and deservedly so.  Congratulations to both of you for an outstanding job!  Our troop is in good hands as it heads into the future.

Can you cook eggs?

At last nights meeting we discussed how to set up a kitchen area and what will take place when we go camping.  I put on a little demonstration of how to cook eggs.  It may have gone a little long as I lost the boys toward the end of it.

We also welcomed two new boys to our fold last night.  Please join me in welcoming our latest scouts and helping them on their way to Eagle.

We also passed out the gear list for Scout Expo this weekend.  Make sure to read it as some of the items on it have changed.  Don't let its familiar look fool you.

How did/are you celebrating?

February 8th, 2010.  Happy birthday to the Boy Scouts of America.  It was incorporated on this day 100 years ago.  Our Troop, as I am sure is the case with most Troops typically celebrate with Courts of Honor and don't do anything special to commemorate this date.  Cub Scouts have always had their Blue & Gold banquet.  So this year I thought it was appropriate to hold a Tan & Green pot luck.  Our current boys all prepared a main course of either Chili or Spaghetti.  A strange combo yes (at least to me), but that's what was decided on.  We also greeted our newest scouts that crossed over the previous Saturday.  Nine new scouts.  Welcome to all of you.

All of the food was delicious.  Thanks to all of the boys for their efforts in preparing their dishes and to the families for bring side dishes and desserts.  Their was a home/hand made yellow cake with actual butter cream chocolate frosting that one of our families made.  Man those store bought ... things ... just can't compare.

April 4 to 5 campout

We had our second pre-camporee outing this past weekend. While the camping was fun, the progress of the boys toward even wanting to compete was disappointing. We may have a less than stellar camporee again this year.

We were joined on our outing by Pack 22's Webelos Den 10. Four of their members came and camped with us. They worked on their Outdoorsman and Citizenship Activity Badges. I believe they even earned a belt loop. They helped with preparing meals and cleaning up afterward. They learned how to work a compass and tie some lashings. I think they all had a good time.

We also had our latest PLC while at camp. It was decided that we need to follow the themes more closely if only for the games and activities listed for each meeting during the month. It was felt that this would get us out of the doldrums our meetings seem to be turning into.

Camporee is next. Wish us well.

March Camping at Gibson Ranch

This outing was different. We met at the VFW post, which is pretty normal. But this time we hiked to Gibson Ranch with our gear. It's only about a 2 mile hike, and as flat as can be. Nothing could be easier, other than not hiking at all. This was a new experience for many of our boys. Some liked it, others didn't. Those that didn't had better get used to it however. This is how we are going to be doing things from here out, if practical.

While we were hiking, there was a little wind. Nothing too bad. When we got to the campsite it was really blowing. It seemed as though it was being funneled through the trees leading right to where we were setting up. The boys had an experience setting up tents in a good wind. Quite a few laughs to be heard. Along with some screams when a tent would go rolling away, or various bags would take flight. I think they had fun with it, which what were supposed to be doing anyway isn't it?

After lunch, they worked on gateways. Each patrol set up similar ones, but the Dragonslayers took it a step further. The troop agreed to use the Dragonslayers version for Camporee. I think it will be a very good gateway. Lets hope the judges agree!

We then worked on campass reading and pacing. We need to keep working on it!

The evening was pleasant. The boys played capture the flag while the adults gathered around the fire and talked. Some smores followed and then bed. It rained on us in the middle of the night, but only for about 20 minutes, and not enough to make you wish you had stayed home.

The next morning during breakfast we learned a few things about how our set up works (or doesn't). The boys will need to come up with a plan to fix these issues for our next camping adventure.

Then we hiked back. I had a really good time. I think the boys had a really good time as well. I look forward to our next trek. Join us, won't you?

Jan. 19 meeting

This evening the hobby of choice was cooking. A 'real' chef wasn't to be found by the boys, so they asked yours truely to demonstrate. I have a hobby of baking bread. I showed the boys how to make pancakes and demonstrated making yeast bread. I had the boys perform some kneading to get an idea of how to do it properly. Hopefully they will take these new skills home and surprise their families.