Troop 50 gathered at its outdoor meeting location at the Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest on Aug. 23 for its first Monday night meeting of the 2021-22 Scouting year. Updates on how troop members spent the summer in various Scouting activities were the highlight of the evening.
The majority of the troop attended summer camp at Camp Sequoyah in Delta, Alabama. Among the troop’s frequent summer camping destinations, the camp is a program of Birmingham-based Greater Alabama Council. Summer camp experiences are vital to Scout’s efforts to advance in rank, acquire overnight camping experience, and bond as a troop.
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| Acting Senior Patrol Leader Beck shows off some of the awards the troop earned at Camp Sequoyah. |
Acting Senior Patrol Leader Beck led the troop’s summer camp contingent and summarized the weeklong experience for the troop. Among the troop’s accolades at camp was the first-place Campsite Inspection Award and the Commissioner’s Spirit Award. The troop also placed second in the camp’s water carnival. The Friday afternoon camp-wide waterfront competition pits troops against one another through events that include the Water Spaniel Special, Swim by Weight, In and Out Canoe Race, Life 36 Jacket Relay, Pool Noodle Race, Canoe Tug of War, and Scoutmaster Belly-Flop.
Individually, Scouts made progress toward earning merit badges, which will also factor into their upcoming advancement in rank. In addition to Eagle-required merit badges, activities like rappelling, shotgun shooting, and archery were among the most popular for Troop 50 Scouts.
The troop will celebrate those at its upcoming court of honor program. Visit the troop’s online photo album for photos from Camp Sequoyah.
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| Jake (far left) describes some of the packing strategies the Northern Tier crew relied on on leading up to their departure during the presentation he, Rhett and Assistant Scoutmaster Christian Dagg made during the Aug. 23 troop meeting. |
Assistant Scoutmasters Christian Dagg and Matt Podemski and Scouts Jake and Rhett summarized their trip to the Charles L. Sommers High Adventure Canoe Base — the flagship base for Northern Tier based in Ely, Minnesota.
The troop spent three days on the road, covering more than 2,700 miles and sightseeing along the way. Road stops included the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Cedar Rock home in Carlton, Minnesota.
The crew spent seven days and six nights canoeing Northern Tier — covering 60 miles of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, by canoe. The trip was more than a physical exercise of endurance and perseverance. It required Scouts to forecast personal equipment needs and pack as a team to meet the challenges ahead. The group recounted early mornings hitting the water — and calling it a day and seeking the refuge of their tents by 8 p.m. before infamous Northern Tier mosquitos appeared.
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| The troop's eight newest members of the Order of the Arrow, following the Chattahoochee Lodge Ordeal weekend Aug. 6-8. |
In August, eight Troop 50 Scouts were inducted into the Order of the Arrow after participating in the Aug. 6-8 Chattahoochee Lodge Ordeal weekend. Read more about their experience and the Order of the Arrow organization on the troop blog.