During the Martin Luther King weekend, the troop
went on its annual winter outing at R-C. During this outing we
teach the scouts Junior Leadership Training. This involves
learning decision making, teamwork, trust and integrity.
Exercises were used to reinforce the values learned.
We stayed in somewhat luxury accommodations at
the VanNess Lodge. We had running hot/cold water, flush
toilets, full kitchen, electricity, fireplace and comfy beds.
The lodge has a kitchen, great room, two bathrooms and 6
bedrooms which sleep up to 50 people.
During this outing the troop held a crossover
ceremony for the Spartan patrol from pack 428. The ceremony was
held in the evening at the amphitheater. A large fire was lit
by the great spirits to provide light and warmth. Each new scout
was presented with their crossover arrow and welcomed to the
troop.
The scouts had plenty of time during the day to
explore the scout camp and nearby creek. Many scouts came back
to the lodge with wet shoes, socks and pant legs. Two members of
the Venturing Crew decided to go for a swim in the frigid waters
of the creek. Fortunately it wasn’t cold enough to cause
hypothermia, but they were very cold once they returned to the
lodge.
Each scout patrol participated in a dutch oven
cook-off. Each patrol had to prepare a main disk and a desert.
Some patrols were very creative and unique while others stuck
with the tried and true basics. The cook-off was a way to teach
the boys that there is more to camp cooking than ramen and
hotdogs.
A 10 minute photo montage was shown Saturday
evening after the crossover ceremony. The presentation
highlighted the troop’s activities throughout 2008. It included
a video of some scouts doing a squirrley squirrel. This is a
dance the scouts have to do to get items returned to them if
left at an outing.
