New Scout Campout Summary
March 14-15, 2009

WOW what a weekend.  The new scout campout was a great success.  The new scouts arrived ready and eager to begin their scouting experience.  We had 4 new scouts attend this weekend and led by our troop guides completed Scout, 90% of Tenderfoot and some 2^nd Class rank requirements.  Given the close proximity of Harris Lake County Park this campout was combined with the Pioneering Merit Badge.  We had 14 Scouts participate in the merit badge.  The new Scouts joined the merit badge crew in the first aid, leave no trace and camp safety discussions.  After the discussion the scouts were separated into the groups and the new scouts went on to begin their training.  

In addition to rank advancements, the new scouts earned their fireman chit (fire building) and toten chit which gives them the privilege and responsibility of caring a knife and using and ax and saw.  They learned how to fuse and whip rope and how to set up an ax yard and tie knots.  Meanwhile the Pioneering MB crew was hard at work learning types of rope, knots and lashings.  They built tripods and used block and tackle to raise a 25 pound weight.  

The groups broke for lunch.  Some scouts used this opportunity to cook meals needed for rank advancement.  Following a long clean up the boys divided back into their groups and work began anew.  A structure started taking shape as the pioneers worked diligently on a 10’ climbing platform.  Soon the sides were lashed and cross beams were put in place.  Before we knew it the platform was built.  Everyone was called over to take a look at their creation.  Several boys were able to climb on and test the lashing abilities.  After posing for a picture the platform was dismantled.  One scout was overheard saying, “ It took 4 hours to build and 1 minute to come down!” 

The afternoon ended with a late dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by the leaders.  Instead of cooking the boys spent time talking and reminiscing about the days events.  They laughed and joked and told stories.  Of course the nights main event was the game of Man Hunt.  For parents new to the troop, man hunt is a version of capture the flag played at night in the woods.  The scouts love this game and the featured player this weekend was Ranger Rick.  Although a fire was lit most of the day and all night we did not have a campfire program.  Some of the scouts stayed a little longer by the fire to replay each move of man hunt and tell how the almost made to base but all were in tents and lights out by 10:30 PM.  

Following an uneventful night the boys were up at 7:15 AM on Sunday and ready to have breakfast and begin breaking down camp.  The tents came down, gear put away and cars packed.  The new scouts learned how to pack up there tents and clean up their sites.  By 10:00 AM we were headed out of camp and arrived at Apex Crossing at 10:30 AM. 

Without the leadership of several older scouts this weekend would not have been such a great success.  I want to thank Andrew H. and Matt C. for their work with the new scouts and other scouts who need rank advancement.  Thanks to David H., Jonathan L., Michael B. and Alex G. for their work with the Pioneering MB.  It is a great sight to see scouts teaching scouts. 

Several leaders also made this weekend come off like clock work.  Tom  Coleman organized and secured the supplies needed to accomplish the pioneering MB.  Rick Myers and Emerson Sox organized and oversaw the new scout program. Tom Harmon and John Hibbard for their help and support in every aspect of the trip.

Please welcome to the troop our new scouts Aravind S., Christopher H. and Lincoln W.  

No time to rest, the Camporee is coming up this weekend!