We met at Apex Crossing as usual on Friday evening.  We were 32 Scouts and we were joined by 13 Webelos from various Cub Scout Packs.  After the short 20 minute ride to the Durham County Wildlife Club, we took about an hour and a half to get camp set-up, relax and talk a bit before we headed up to the clubhouse at 7 PM for the safety briefing.  The safety briefing was conducted by Eagle Scouts Gary M. and Brian D. who are also members at the DCWC.  After the briefing the Scouts went back to camp for a campfire and the typical story telling and campfire antics.  Some of the adults used this time to do some Trap shooting under the lights.  Everyone was in their tents and down for the night at 11 PM.

Saturday morning the Scouts started getting up at 6:30 AM.  The official wake up time was 7 AM.  Everyone was making breakfast and the aroma in camp was delightful.  Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, hot chocolate were all in the air.  I have to tell on the older Scouts.  It took them from 7 AM until 8 AM to make hot chocolate and they were just starting making their chocolate chip pancakes at 8 AM.  They made us late for our 8 AM start time.  They were just having too much fun together and all participating in the cooking – just like the new Scouts.  Sometimes it’s just fun being a kid – heck it’s fun being a kid all the time.

We started shotgun shooting at 8:30 AM.  The Scouts who were working on qualifying for the shotgun shooting merit badge were shooting on two Skeet fields with instructors Bob De Contreras and Chris Meyer.  The other Scouts who wanted to shoot shotgun were shooting on a Trap field with instructor Ed Rabenda.  All three instructors are NRA certified instructors as is required by the BSA.  Five Scouts were able to complete their merit badge shooting qualification.  Shotgun shooting ended about 10:30 AM and the Scouts had free time and lunch until activities started again at 1 PM.

We had a rotating schedule of older Scouts to train and entertain the Webelos since they are not allowed by BSA rules to shoot shotgun or rifle.  They had some training on the equipment they need and/or would use when they become Boy Scouts.  They were taught about backpacks, tents, sleeping pads, and other equipment.  We brought the worms, other bait and fishing tackle for them to go fishing.  There were only one or two fish caught because the water was too cold.  The Webelos were also taken for a walk around the lake and treated to some of the local wild life.

Rifle shooting started at 1 PM on the rifle range.  We had four shooting stations set up with three for the Scouts who were working to qualify for the rifle shooting merit badge.  One station was set up for the other Scouts to shoot at a 5 inch diameter steel plate out at a distance of 100 yards.  That’s a long way out there.  All the Scouts who tried were able to hit the target.  Jack K. had the best score with 9 hits out of 10 shots and Brian D. was second place with 8 hits out of 10 shots.  7 Scouts completed their qualification for the rifle shooting merit badge.

At 3 PM we started archery shooting and the Webelos joined us.  The Scouts trying to complete qualification for the archery merit badge shot on two lanes at standard 32 inch targets.  10 Scouts completed their archery merit badge qualification.  The other Scouts and Webelos shot on 4 lanes at 3D animal targets.  These are hard rubber, life like “sculptures” of deer, wild bore, turkey, and other small animals.  The Scouts had a blast shooting at these targets.  I could tell from all the cheering and shouting coming from those lanes.  At 5 PM it was getting dark and it was time to start dinner preparations for the mom’s dinner. 

The Scouts had a great day so far and they were moving a little slow by now.  The adults were moving a lot slow by now.  The Scouts had a little trouble getting organized and dinner preparation didn’t start until about 5:45 PM.  Sorry moms!  Sorry for the delay, but I think the food was worth the wait?  When dinner was finally served, I saw two Patrols serving steak, another two serving crab cakes.  I saw nice salads at most tables and the older Scouts served their moms strawberry shortcake with whipped cream for desert.

Pat L. organized the indoor “campfire” program after dinner as part of his work on his communications merit badge.  He organized the usual skits and song and the older Scouts got carried away as usual – carried away having fun and making everybody laugh.  After the entertainment the moms left for home and the Scouts got busy with clean-up.  Yes, they made a big mess but it all got cleaned up and there was time to head back to camp for a real campfire and more stories and entertainment for the Webelos Scouts.  Tired campers all, we were down early for the night.

Everyone started getting up at 7 AM Sunday morning and the usual fare of cold breakfast or a quick individual serving of hot oatmeal was had by all.  Clean-up and pack-up went quickly.  To our surprise the inspection of the clubhouse and the areas outside showed that the Scouts did a great job cleaning up in the dark the night before.  Yea Scouts.  The SPL organized the policing of the campsite, drivers arrived for transportation back to Cary and we were on our way by 9 AM.

A big thanks to Chris Meyer and Scout Gary M. for organizing the shooting campout this year.  An event like this can’t happen with out a lot of adult participation.  Thanks to all the adult leaders and other parents who came to help.  I need to thank the Durham County Wildlife Club for graciously allowing the Scouts to use the club facilities and encouraging shooting sports by making it very economical for the Scouts to shoot.  Just to put that into perspective, the shooting fees would have been 4 to 6 times more expensive at other private or public facilities. 

A great time was had by all and now it’s time to look forward to the January “winter campout.”  Happy Thanksgiving and I’ll see you all for the luminary fund raiser.

Bob De Contreras
Scoutmaster
Troop 216