September campout has Scouts climbing the walls…literally

When the troop heads to North Alabama, it’s usually to conquer the rocky trails and mountainous paths of the Pinhoti Trail. The troop headed north the weekend of Sept. 10-11 to take on a different challenge.

Will goes splat!

After a quick trip to Oak Mountain State Park to set up dining flies, the troop headed to High Point Climbing and Fitness. The facility offers rock walls of varying skill levels. After strapping into safety harnesses and donning their special rock-climbing shoes (think bowling shoes but for climbing), some Scouts headed straight to the higher-difficulty options. Others (including many of the leaders) tested their skills in the kids’ area. As confidence levels increased, everyone took to medium- and high-difficulty options. Of course, friendly competitions and time trials ensued, which pitted Scout against Scout, and on occasion, Scout against adult leader. And, everyone agreed that the sensation of free falling was something that took a while to get used to.

Amazing Spidermen Jackson (left) and Jacob (right)

Parker, the troop's newest Scout, masters tent-pitching.

The troop returned to their Oak Mountain State Park campsite late in the afternoon to resume setting up camp—including setting up tents and stowing gear. Scouts and leaders convened around a Mexican fajita dinner. After eating and relaxing, Scouts and leaders took their sore muscles to bed.

On Sunday, Scouts awoke to ham, egg and cheese bagels, followed by a quick takedown of tents and other campsite gear. That provided the troop time for a 1.4-mile hike on the park’s North Trailhead. The group took a mid-hike pause for its traditional Sunday morning Scouts’ Own devotional service. As the troop’s chaplain, Assistant Scoutmaster Michael Tullier led the group in a discussion of how physical challenges like rock wall climbing and mountain trail hikes can remind us of the uphill challenges we face in our personal and spiritual journeys. The group pondered how verses like 2 Corinthians 4:17 and 12:9-10, James 1:2-3 and Romans 5:3-4 relate to the troubles and trials in our lives, as well as the important role of grace and perseverance.

In its post-campout Patrol Leaders Council meeting the following Monday, the troop’s youth leadership agreed the rock-wall climbing activity was great that the troop should do again in the future. From setting up camp Saturday morning to duty assignments throughout the weekend and packing up on Sunday, Scouts worked together and seamlessly. Scouts enjoyed eating together as a troop (and having Assistant Scoutmaster Michael Tullier manning the kitchen. They even enjoyed Sunday’s impromptu hiking excursion.

The troop’s next monthly outing with be the Saugahatchee District Camporee, which has been rescheduled to Oct. 7-9 (the troop was originally scheduled to camp the weekend of Oct. 21). The campout will take place at Auburn's Chewacla State Park.

For more pictures from the campout, visit the troop’s online photo album.

Scoutcraft skills key to camporee success

The weekend of March 31 to April 2, Troop 50 Scouts and leaders joined five other Saugahatchee District troops at Chewacla State Park for the district's annual Frank Horky Spring Camporee.

As in year’s past, the spring camporee events are centered around the experiences of Scouting’s founder, Robert Baden-Powell, during the Siege of Mafeking during the Second Boer War. Baden-Powell, a British colonel, was charged with defending the South African town during the 217 days the siege extended from 1899 to 1900. Because of the shortage of manpower in the town, boys below the official fighting age volunteered to support the troops, carry messages and help in the hospital. This freed up men for military duties, and kept the boys occupied.

The Mafeking Cadet Corps are sometimes considered as forerunners of the modern Scouting movement, which Baden-Powell founded in England in 1907 before it migrated to the United States in 1910. They were given khaki uniforms and a wide-brimmed hat, and the townspeople often commented on their smartness. Returning home from the war in 1903, Baden-Powell found that he had become a national hero. He also found that the small handbook he had written for soldiers, Aids to Scouting, was being used by boys throughout England to learn observation, woodcraft and outdoor skills.

Camporee events mimicked many of the observation, navigation, outdoor survival skills Baden-Powell imparted to his soldiers and cadets, and to those who benefited from his Aids to Scouting handbook. In line with the Siege of the Mafeking experience, and to heighten the level of complexity, events began in the darkness of Friday night at 9 p.m. and concluded at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Twelve different patrols from six troops competed in 13 different camporee competitions. Those that Troop 50 patrols placed in included:

• Overall: 3rd place, Leadership Corps
• Electric Fence: work as a team to move the entire group over an electrified fence — 2nd place, Leadership Corps
• Enemy Spies: maneuver around the searchlight beams of an enemy camp  — 2nd place, Armored Armadillos Patrol
• Man Down!: provide first aid and transport a member of your patrol wounded by enemy sniper fire — 1st place, Leadership Corps; 2nd place, Patriots Patrol
• Map Sketch: recall from memory and sketch out the elements of an enemy encampment — 3rd place, Armored Armadillos Patrol
• Navigators' Nightmare: using your compass, follow the course provided — 1st place, Armored Armadillos Patrol; 2nd place: Patriots Patrol
• Observation Post: recall from memory a collection of items viewed for only 90 seconds — 3rd place, Armored Armadillos Patrol
• River Crossing: estimate the width of a river crossing without conventional measuring instruments — 3rd place, Leadership Corps
• Signal for Help: send and receive a message by Morse code — 3rd place, Leadership Corps
• Starlight, Star Bright: without using a compass, find a given direction — 1st place (tie), Leadership Corps
• Tower of Power: build a tripod to test your speed and strength — 2nd place, Leadership Corps

The troop readies to hit the trails in search of litter.

Between a late night of competitions and an afternoon of
mountain biking, Scouts like Trey were tuckered out!

After sleeping in a little later on Saturday morning and preparing breakfast, the troop participated in a camporee-wide service project benefiting Chewacla State Park. Each troop was assigned a portion of the park's walking trails and popular gathering areas to pick up litter. Scouts then returned to the campsite to prepare lunch before participating in one of several afternoon activities. Scouts divided themselves between field sports, geocaching (led by Scoutmaster Andrew Baird), hiking, and mountain biking (led by Assistant Scoutmaster Clyde Wikle).

Saturday evening's camporee-wide campfire provided
opportunities for fellowship, entertainment and
awards presentations.

After resting some, Scouts then went about preparing dinner before Saturday evening's camporee-wide campfire and awards ceremony. The troop's two patrols, as well as the Leadership Corps, performed skits for the troops in attendance.

Scouts awoke Sunday morning to prepare breakfast, attend the closing flag ceremony and participate in a camporee-wide devotional service led by the troop's chartered organization representative, Michael Tullier.

At the Patrol Leaders Council meeting on Monday, the troop's youth leadership praised the camporee competitions and the patrols' performance, as well as the variety of Saturday afternoon activities; the Saturday campfire featuring performances by other troops; the leadership provided by the troop's patrol leaders; the food prepared by the patrols; campout setup on Friday and take down on Sunday; and campsite noise levels. The PLC noted that a central location for event schedules and other event information would help reduce questions and keep Scouts informed throughout the event.

For more photos from the spring camporee, visit the troop's online photo album.

Twas a dark and stormy night...

      The stormy weather threatened but ultimately held back at the Frank Horky Spring Camporee this past weekend. The Camporee is an annual event for the Saugahatchee District, which has been held at Chewacla State Park for the last several years. Camporee events included patrol competitions, a service project, and an emergency drill that served to satisfy several requirements for the Emergency Preparedness merit badge. Troop 50 camped with a total of nineteen Scouts and six adult leaders, including two Webelos who are preparing to join the troop in April.

The Troop 50 campsite at the CCC Campground at Chewacla.

   
      The patrol competitions took place on Friday evening and pitted seven patrols from four different troops against each other in a test of Scout skills and teamwork exercises called the Mafeking Exercise. The program is based on the story of the Siege of Mafeking during the Boer War in Africa. The British Army commander of Mafeking was Robert Baden-Powell who would later found the Scouting movement. The competition involved seven events which took place in the dark, starting at 10:00 pm and ending after midnight. Some of the events required the Scouts to use their scout skills to complete a task. The "Man Down!" event had the patrols treat an injured victim then build a stretcher to transport him a certain distance. The "Abandoned Fort" involved measuring the height and width of a water tower at the campground and "River Crossing" had the Scouts measure the distance across a stream that they could not cross. Other events challenged Scouts to work as a team. The "Electric Fence" event required each patrol to get all members of the patrol over a simulated electrified line using only a 2x6 piece of wood for assistance. "Enemy Spies" challenged the patrols to cross an open field, crisscrossed by searchlights, without being spotted. Other events included "Signal for Help," which required Scouts to send a message in Morse Code, and a memory test called "Observation Post." The Outdoorsmen and the Carnivorous Pandas of Troop 50 worked their way through each event despite the misting rain that fell during the evening.

      On Saturday, the threat of rain passed completely and the Scouts took to the woods for a service project in the morning. All of the troops worked their way down the banks of Town Creek to Chewacla Creek and up towards the connection with Moores Mill Creek picking up trash along the way. In the afternoon, Scouts participated in a simulated emergency, complete with moulaged victims. The drill met several requirements for the Eagle-required Emergency Preparedness merit badge.

      The evening's awards campfire was much anticipated but the campfire itself refused to cooperate, possibly due to wet wood from the rain of the previous few days. The awards for each event were handed out nevertheless. The Outdoorsmen received a third place ribbon for the "Observation Post" and the Carnivorous Pandas received four ribbons. Their take included third place in the "River Crossing" event and three, second place ribbons for "Electric Fence," "Signal for Help," and "Man Down." Despite the hard work of our patrols, the overall winner for the camporee was a patrol from Troop 371.

The Outdoorsmen display their ribbon on Sunday morning. (L to R) Jason, Ethan, Nicky, Patrol Leader Josh, and Clay. Absent from the photo are Liam, Rusty, and Assistant Patrol Leader Creighton. 

The Carnivorous Pandas show off their awards. (L to R) Assistant Patrol Leader Everett, Aiden, Patrol Leader Louie, Joey, and Troop Guide Michael. Absent from the photo are Kyle, Joe, and Webelos Scouts Trey and Carl. 

      At the PLC on Monday evening, the troop's youth leadership was happy overall with the campout and noted that both patrols were recognized for their teamwork in the challenging events. They welcomed the fact that an emergency drill was part of the program on Saturday. The requirements for Emergency Preparedness merit badge are some of the most difficult to complete outside of an event such as this. The PLC also noted that there were areas in which we could still improve. There was damage to a tent and a dining fly pole that must be avoided in the future. Although cooking skills and menu planning have improved, there is still work to be done in training younger scouts in the proper procedures needed for cooking and cleaning. The PLC also made plans for the upcoming meetings and the annual planning conference campout in May.

      The few photos that made it past the rain are found in the online photo gallery.

Spring camporee challenges Scouts' pioneering, team-building skills

Troop 50 returned to Chewacla State Park's Civilian Conservation Corps Campsite for the Saugahatchee District's annual Frank Horky Spring Camporee. The troop joined five other troops and more than 120 Scouts and leaders from both the Saugahatchee and Muskogee Districts.

Because the threat of rain kept most troops at home Friday night, Troop 50 spent a quiet evening in camp before getting up Saturday to welcome the arrival of its newest Boy Scouts, who recently joined from area Cub Scout packs, as well as to ready for the competitive events of the day.

Troop 50 Scouts recover one of the
"injured" during the emergency
preparedness drill.

Some Scouts participated in the morning's emergency preparedness drill, which included a mock troop mobilization and first aid exercise.

After lunch, the troop's two patrols competed in a variety of events testing Scouts' team-work skills while vying for the coveted Spring Camporee kudu horn.

Creighton tosses the tomahawk.

In addition to the Tomahawk Toss, which Troop 50 ran, other events included:

John competes in the Bow Saw Relay

Bow Saw Relay, where Scouts used a bow saw correctly to cut a given number of wood medallions in the shortest amount of time.

Robert leads the knot-tying portion of the Log Lift.

Log Lift, where Scouts created a rope-and-pulley system to lift a log off the ground a certain height and hold for a given amount of time.

The Turn Up Patrol attempts to help Louie "walk" the A-Frame.

A-Frame Walk, where Scouts used a lashed-together “A-Frame” and a system of ropes to "walk" a given distance in the shortest amount of time.

The Turn Ups safely deliver the hot isotope to the safe zone.

Hot Isotope, requiring Scouts to move an item from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time using ropes, bungee cords, and coordinated teamwork.

The patrol discusses strategy before beginning the Portage Race.

Portage Race, through which Scouts toted a canoe and other given equipment through a pre-established course in the shortest amount of time.

Senior Patrol Leader William helps ready a lashed-together tripod
before the start of the campsite inspection.

Campsite Inspection, where organization, cleanliness, and camping best-practices were evaluated and scored.

Dutch Oven Cookoff, where Scouts' cast-iron culinary skills were put to the (taste) test.

Animal Tracking, where Scouts tried to identify as many animal tracks as possible.

While some of the troop departed to participate in the Pack 29 Arrow of Light Crossover Ceremony, others remained at the camporee to attend the awards campfire. The troop was recognized for a third-place finish in the Campsite Inspection, and the Turn Up Patrol placed first in the Bow Saw Relay and second in the Hot Isotope event.

The troop reassembled after the campfire and crossover ceremony, settled in for the evening, and then the rain set in! Scouts and leaders awoke Sunday morning after several hours of rain, which continued through the time the troop departed camp. While rain marked the end to the second campout in a row, Scouts and leaders noted during the Patrol Leaders Council the following Monday evening that challenges such as those help the troop better prepare for future events. The PLC members also praised how everyone worked together as a team in the events, especially in welcoming our newest Scouts. To better prepare the newer Scouts and sharpen skills for seasoned Scouts, the next several troop meetings will focus on camping equipment, menu planning and food preparation, and other camping-related Scout skills.

Find more photos and video from the Spring Camporee in the troop's online photo album.

Ready? Survive! -- 2013 Fall Combine

"Ready? Survive!" was the theme of this year's Saugahatchee District Fall Combine, which combined the district's traditional fall camporee with its fall Webeloree, giving Boy Scout troops the opportunity to show off their skills while also helping Webelos Scouts as soon-to-be-Boy Scouts see what Boy Scouting and Scouting camping is all about. Around 50 area Webelos Scouts attended Saturday's activities, which included first aid instruction in the morning that helped Webelos earn the Readyman Activity Badge, and wilderness survival demonstrations in the afternoon.

Troop 50's first aid instruction focused on treatments for a variety of afflictions Scouts may encounter in the outdoors. These included insect and snake bites, as well as burns. Scouts used posters to lead discussion and special-effects makeup to create lifelike scenarios as they taught the Webelos Scouts.

Saturday afternoon, Webelos Scouts returned, this time for wilderness survival-themed displays and demonstrations. Troop 50 provided Webelos the opportunity to make their own paracord survival bracelet with many different colors to choose from.

As part of the evening's campfire, the troop concluded the gathering with a flag retirement ceremony, which included several American flags and an Alabama state flag. The troop served as narrator and honor guard while giving Webelos in attendance the opportunity to be part of the retirement ceremony.

• Check out more photos from the event in the troop's online photo album.

Troop makes strong inaugural showing at district camporee

The 2013 Saugahatchee District Frank Horky Spring Camporee was Troop 50's first showing at a district event, and the troop didn't disappoint! The camporee, held March 15-17 at Chewacala State Park, featured Scout-skill night games Friday evening, a Saturday camporee-wide service project, and a Saturday-evening awards campfire.

Friday's activities kicked off around 9 p.m. and put Scouts' ability to master various Scout skills in the dark of night to the ultimate test. The events were based on the Siege of Mafeking of the Second Boer War of 1899-1900, which was a pivitol experience for Lord Robert Baden-Powell (then Col. Baden-Powell) and inspiration for shaping what later became the Boy Scouting movement he founded. Camporee events tested patrols' ability to work as a team and troubleshoot during a variety of events that included dexterity, knot-tying, map sketching, memory, first aid, by-sight measuring, stealthiness and covertness, fire building, and star-based navigation. Events ended around 1 a.m. Saturday, and no one complained about it being bedtime!

Vincent working on a
portion of the park's
mountain bike trail.

After a leisurely start (which included the now-infamous bacon-wrapped Zebra cakes of the Average Joes Patrol) and opening flag ceremony Saturday morning, Scouts from all troops attending joined together for a few hours of service to the state park. Scouts and leaders worked with park volunteers to shore up, fortify and rebuild sections of the state park's mountain bike trail. In total, the camporee resulted in nearly 150 service hours by district Scouts.

Saturday's campfire brought a number of surprises for the troop, the most pleasant of those being the number of awards from Friday night's competitions garnered by the Anonymous Patrol. Their accolades included two first-place finishes in the compass course ("Navigator's Nightmare") competition and locating the North Star without a compass ("Star Light, Star Bright") as well as a third-place finish for drawing a map from memory ("Map Sketch"). Later, we found out the Average Joes Patrol had several fourth, fifth and sixth place finishes in many of the events and among the 11 individual patrols competing in the events.

Anonymous Patrol members proudly displaying the
various competition awards they earned.

The troop took a moment to observe the day of worship Sunday morning with a Scouts' Own service before departing.

At its Patrol Leaders' Council meeting the following Monday, youth leaders praised the troop for its strong competitive showing, its overall ability to work as a team, and its success in how the patrols really formed and worked together as individual units during the weekend.

View more photos of the troop's camporee experience online in the online photo gallery.

Bacon-wrapped WHAT?!?!?!

The Average Joes have created an anything-but-average camp out delicacy. Move over bacon-wrapped filets, the Average Joes Patrol has developed the Bacon-wrapped Zebra Cake: A Little Debbie Zebra Cake wrapped in thick-sliced bacon. The patrol has dubbed their creation the "new chicken and waffles"! So, when you see it on the next episode of The Rachel Ray Show or deep-fried by Paula Dean, know that this porcine treat started first with Troop 50! Check out pics of their creation below, other photos from the weekend in our online photo album.