January campout ‘for the birds’…but in a good way

Troop 50 Scouts “nested” the weekend of Jan. 22-24 at Auburn’s Chewacla State Park with a variety of activities in mind — chief among those being working on Bird Study Merit Badge. The troop’s first campout of 2021 also included work toward Hiking Merit Badge, including a five-mile troop-wide hike on the park’s scenic and backwoods trails.

Friday evening included typical activities that mark the first night of a campout: setting up patrol areas where Scouts would cook and gather, as well as pitching tents where Scouts would bed for the night. Fortunately, the day’s rain broke just as Scouts arrived at Chewacla, but was followed that evening by temperatures that dipped into the upper 30s — making for a chilly night’s sleep and an equally chilly morning on Saturday.

Mr. McGuire leads the morning's Bird Study Merit Badge discussion.

After patrols finished breakfast, the troop divided into two groups — with a majority of Scouts opting to pursue Bird Study Merit Badge. The morning session was led by John McGuire, a troop parent, certified forester, and wildlife biologist. The group discussed the basics of bird study, such as understanding birds’ importance to the ecosystem, terminology and sketching techniques, and using bird study resources like field guides and binoculars.

Scoutmaster Baird and Assistant Scoutmaster Wes Williams share their hiking and
backpacking experiences as part of the Hiking Merit Badge session.

A smaller group of Scouts worked on Hiking Merit Badge requirements with Scoutmaster Andrew Baird. It may be earned by Scouts as an alternate option to Eagle-required Swimming or Cycling merit badges. Their discussion included planning for a hike, mitigating hiking health and safety hazards, and incorporating proper guidance for attire and footwear. Both Scoutmaster Baird and Assistant Scoutmaster Williams shared about their experiences from both short hikes and multi-day Philmont Scout Ranch backpacking treks ranging from 70 to 80 miles.

The Wizard Lizards Patrol with their assigned members of the Leadership Corps.

The Gladiators Patrol, along with their assigned members of the Leadership Corps.

The troop reassembled for a group hike through Chewacla State Park — the goal being to cover five miles as part of the Hiking Merit Badge requirements. The troop departed in two groups, reconvened for a trail lunch, and then set out again for the remainder of the trek.

Scouts who were part of the Bird Study Merit Badge class head out to do a little bird-viewing.

Upon the troop’s return, the Bird Study Merit Badge group conducted a field observation of the Civilian Conservation Corps campsite. Scouts used binoculars to view the birds’ activities, and described and recorded the birds they saw in their field notebooks.

After dinner and well into the evening, the troop gathered for a traditional Saturday evening campfire. Scouts entertained each other with skits and songs — both planned and impromptu. The final element of the campfire was the retirement of roughly a dozen American flags. Most were faded, torn, or tattered and therefore ready to be retired — the term used to define the proper, dignified way of destroying United States flags that are no longer fit to serve the nation. The United States Flag Code, Title 4, Section 8k states, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

The 48-star American flag provided by the Jerome family for retirement.

One flag stood out from the rest — a 48-star American flag given to the troop by the Jerome family, which includes Jake Jerome, the troop’s first senior patrol leader, second Eagle Scout, U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, and a current U.S. Air Force pilot. The flag, more than 100 years old, would have been in circulation between the admission of Arizona as the 48th state in 1912 and Alaska’s and Hawaii’s statehood in 1959. The Jeromes decided that, because the flag had become discolored and stained, it was past its prime and ready for a dignified retirement.

Scoutmaster Baird assists Scouts with the retirement of the Jerome family flag.

The ceremony included the retirement of nearly two dozen
American flags.

This particular flag belonged to Jake’s great-grandfather who fought in World War I. He received the flag in conjunction with his service in the U.S. Army, which also included being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross — the second-highest medal after the Medal of Honor that our country awards servicemen and servicewomen.

The solemnity of the flag retirement, which concluded with the playing of Taps by new troop bugler James, and the cooling temperatures found Scouts welcoming the day’s end and the warmth of their tents.

On Sunday, after breakfast was over and everyone’s gear was packed away, the troop gathered to reflect on all that Scouts accomplished over the weekend. Chartered Organization Representative and Troop Chaplain Michael Tullier led the troop in its traditional “Duty to God” devotional service. Together, they discussed the role of pausing, prayer, discernment and wisdom in the decisions we make in life.

During the troop’s Patrol Leaders’ Council meeting the following Monday, youth leaders saw opportunities to work on Hiking and Bird Study merit badges as a good mix. They observed that the patrols worked well together, but duty assignments and “kitchen patrol” need to be improved to ensure better organization and teamwork. They also liked incorporating the flag retirement ceremony as part of Saturday night’s campfire.

The troop is evaluating camping options for February and remaining focused on the pandemic’s possible effects on those and troop meeting plans.

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

Badges and bowling

While the rainy, cold weather outside on Saturday, Dec. 8 was frightful, the inside of Auburn United Methodist Church, where Troop 50 Scouts gathered for the annual Merit Badge Day, was delightful. More than half of the troop’s Scouts attended the event to add one more badge to their merit badge sashes – either one of two Eagle-required badges, Citizenship in the Nation or Cooking, or Architecture Merit Badge.

Assistant Scoutmaster Christian Dagg, an associate professor in Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction, and head of its School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, counseled Scouts on Architecture Merit Badge. In addition to familiarizing Scouts with the basics of and careers in the architecture field, it marries Scouting’s emphasis on being conservation-minded with concepts like sustainable architecture and the use of renewable and recycled materials in the build environment.

Assistant Scoutmaster JP Pendleton taught Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge. Requirements help Scouts understand the principles of U.S. citizenship, including one’s rights under the Constitution, Bill of Rights and other subsequent constitutional amendments. It includes a focus on many of the historic milestones behind the founding of our country, as well as how constitutional checks and balances affect how the federal government operates today.

Finally, Chartered Organization Representative Michael Tullier counseled Scouts on Cooking Merit Badge. Classroom instruction includes teaching Scouts about the need for safe food-handling techniques, how to avoid foodborne illnesses, and how to prevent and treat injuries that may occur as part of cooking. The merit badge also helps Scouts incorporate good nutrition standards into their meal planning, and how to read food-packaging labels. Scouts will complete the merit badge requirements as they plan, shop for and cook meals at upcoming campouts, as well as doing the same for meals they plan and cook for their families.

Following the merit badge classes, many of the Scouts participated in a troop outing to go bowling. As the gutters outside continued to collect water from the day’s ongoing rain, the gutters inside the bowling alley were just as busy collecting bowling balls rolled by our budding Scout bowlers.

For more pictures from the troop’s Merit Badge Day, visit the troop’s online photo album.

Enjoying our freedoms and the outdoors

On Saturday, June 14, Troop 50 celebrated Flag Day by joining with the brave men and women of Auburn's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5404 who have served our country honorably to retire many U.S. and Alabama flags that have flown proudly over our country and state. The troop participated in the event at the invitation of Post Commander Ron Douglass.

First proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and established by an Act of Congress in 1949, Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

VFW Post 5404 coordinated the event, which included VFW dignitaries and members of the post's Ladies Auxiliary. The VFW, which traces its roots back to veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902), is the official nonprofit service organization for U.S. military veterans benefits, VFW programs, community service, patriotic and world events, American flag sales, and services to military veterans and communities.

Scouts Clayton, Andrew, Kyle and Liam level the new rock
added to the VFW Post's flagpole area.

Before the flag-retirement ceremony began, troop members assisted the post by enhancing its flagpole area and refreshing the rock bed at the base of the flagpole. Troop members also assisted with ceremony arrangements such as assisting with logistics and helping to fold the more than 100 American, Alabama, and POW flags that would be retired during the ceremony.

Scouts Andrew, James Robert and Kyle lowered, folded and prepared the
tattered U.S. flag to be retired as part of the ceremony.

The troop's flag honor guard presented the ceremonial flag to the post's
senior vice commander as the first flag to be retired during the event.

Troop 50 Scouts and leaders joined with others at the
event to pay their respects to the U.S. flag.

Troop 50 Scouts formed the flag-retirement honor guard and lowered, folded and presented the flags to post members for formal retirement. The two flags preceded the more than 100 other flags that were retired by post members, visitors, and Scouts throughout the afternoon. Those present also enjoyed fellowship over lunch prepared by post members. The post also celebrated the U.S. Army's birthday, which coincides with Flag Day. On June 14, 1775, Congress adopted "the American continental army" after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole.

The Troop 50 mountain-bikers!

Parent volunteer Bob Harris and Scout Liam
coming off the trail for a break.

Many of those attending the flag ceremony headed out to Chewacla State Park after the event concluded to enjoy the beautiful afternoon and the network of biking trails developed in conjunction with the Central Alabama Mountain Pedalers, or C.A.M.P., organization. Bikers started on a one-mile loop to allow everyone to get comfortable on their bikes before venturing further into the park. After mastering the bike loop, the group headed over to the Falls View Trail where the ride was much more challenging, as well as the CCC Camp Trail near the park's CCC Campsite that Troop 50 and other Scouting troops frequent for district events and local campouts. In the past, several of our Scouts assisted with creating and maintaining these trails as part of a service project at a previous Saugahatchee District Camporee.

Of the four designated mountain bike trails, the troop covered most of two of them (Trails #1 and #2). After about an hour and a half of peddling through the woods, the boys decided to hang up their helmets and call it a day. Everyone made it back safely, however, there were several stories of Scouts being introduced to a tree or the ground in an intimate way. All Scouts enjoyed telling their trail stories and seemed eager to do it again! Learn more about the C.A.M.P. mountain-biking trails at Chewacla State Park by visiting the C.A.M.P. website.

The troop's involvement in the VFW Post 5404 flag-retirement ceremony was featured in the Sunday, June 15 edition of The Opelika-Auburn News (view the online version). View additional photos from the VFW flag-retirement ceremony and Chewacla State Park mountain-biking outing on the troop's online photo album.