Troop 602 travels to Camporee!!

Have you ever been deep in the woods and heard the unusual sound of quiet?  No television, no games, no worries...just boys being boys?  Well - I HAVE!!  This weekend Troop 602 loaded up the bus and headed to Clinton, Louisiana to Camporee 2012.

The first fire of the campout!!

If you ever would have told me that four boys and three adults could fill a trailer with that much stuff and use it all I wouldn't have believed you, but now I do!  We arrived in camp Friday evening and began setting up camp.  In Boy Scouting its up the boys to make their own camp, set things up and do everything themselves, so although we were there for guidance, we let our boys go.  They did a fantastic job.  They were even kind enough to share their fire pit with us old geezers AND light all the fires and cook the meals - as we only had one fire pit to use and limited firewood.

                         

                               The BRAVE spider slayer!!

Everyone in our small Troop plays an important role and camping is where they really come into play.  We have our Senior Patrol Leader Hunter, who worked to coordinate the boys getting camp set up (and was the MEGA SPIDER SLAYER!), our man in charge of team spirit, Hilton, who did his best to keep everyone up and at em during rotations, Max, the historian and clerk, who will be receiving the 170 photos this camera happy mom took, and Grubmaster Gabe...who worked in the food department to keep everyone healthy and happy (as well as full).
 



Camp Avondale is a great place, with lots of land to spread the boys out over.  Thanks to the awesome leaders of the local district scouting troops for volunteering their time to lead the activities for the boys and to those in charge who spent so much time preparing.  We were "loaned" a wonderful Scout named KC from Jack at Troop 119, and we were BLESSED to have him.  KC helped our boys through the day, gave them advice and shared his years of scouting knowledge with us.  One of the beautiful things about scouting is the way the boys are taught to open their minds and hearts to the other boys in the organization and share everything they can with them.  We are looking forward to having KC join us at some of our future meetings. 
As we are a very new and small  troop, we didn't have enough boys to make up a "team" for some of the events and our boys joined in with others.  I'm proud to say that although they didn't receive official camp ribbons, both age categories were on winning Tug-O-War teams, the older boys even going against the Scout Masters and beating them (yes, I do have photos of that!!!).  We will be making sure the boys get an award for their winning participation in that event.  In all of the other events I was very proud of their work, as they have only had three meetings together as Boy Scouts.

Celebrating a victory with his boys!

 

 

                                    

As part of our stay, we participated in a service project.  We were allowed to choose between leveling out the fire pit or trimming the shrubbery around the bathrooms.  The boys spent about an hour out there cleaning out that space, and I am proud to say that our campsite was left a clean, tidy and safer place for their work.  As a bonus they found a freshly shedded snake skin in the trees, which the brave Scout Master Nina extricated for them (and ickily enough it's in my house now!!!!)

Gabe and Assistant Scout Leader Truett (otherwise known as DAD!!)

Ah that Scout Master Nina, always has her duct tape handy!!

I think we wore them out!!

 Sitting around the fire talking to these boys, watching them put aside all of their differences and work together, listening to them sing and cheer on other boys they haven't met before, all of these things remind me of WHY I scout.  As adults, our lives are busy and sometimes we wonder WHY we get ourselves involved in so many things.  These boys remind me why. Scouting is not about the NOW, it's about the future.  It's about teaching boys to be men, GOOD men, who work hard (and play hard), who live life as they should and give back whenever and where ever they can.  It's my firm belief that that time we spent in the woods this weekend was an investment in the future of four AWESOME young men, and I can't wait to invest in them some more!!

The EPIC battle, Mother Vs Child!!

Child always wins!!

 The following group of pictures I don't even know how to caption.  These were taken as the boys worked through their stations.  They built a fire from a 2x4 they had to cut up and make into tinder and fuel, the goal was as few matches to burn through both ropes.  We only used two matches, but didn't get that 2nd rope, although it was SCARED of us and achieved some definite char!  We will get it next year!!

                                     

On to knots, demonstrate the seven basic knots and build a chariot.  Ok, after some consideration and retying we got all the knots, and LOOK at those boys go!! Max would like to know if they can come cart him around school like this please!!

On to Athletics!! Nothing like a track star as your shoe in for running the races! 

Each boy did their part in the races and made us all proud!

                                       Hey, Max...paddle faster, the banjos are getting louder!!

Lessons from Jamaamaw!

This week, we had to earn our Totin' Chips for safety using knives, saws and all other sort of cutting implements. Information about this can be found here: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/totin.aspx
Our ScoutMaster Nina is a true veteran of such things. Nina has lived the experiences that she is teaching these boys, and it shows.
These boys impress me, ya know, and they worked hard to earn their reward. Nina even gave them a test, which you will see a photo that will make you giggle about that~

Here's that promised photo:


Think she made an impression?

This weekend we will head to our first campout as Boy Scouts. Look out Avondale, here we come~
Boys, here is a list of things that would be helpful to bring to camp:

TO bring:
Class A uniform (boy scout shirt and appropriate pants)
Class B uniform (troop 602 shirt, olive drab shorts)
an extra set of clothes
Mess Kit
Personal shower kit
swimsuit and water shoes
towel
pocket knife and Totin' chip
Firem'n chit
tent, rainfly and tarp included
sleeping bag
flashlight
chair
bug spray
sunscreen
baby wipes
compass
snacks of your choice, drinks of your choice
a scouting attitude
an open mind and heart

NOT to bring:
electronic devices
an unwilling attitude
soda of any sort

Now to the reason Mimi and Vati read this, the photos!!

Hunter listening to his mom, as she explained the whos and whys....


My Maxito, getting extra help...


He might be new, but he's got it~~



My Gabe, now he can't hide when it's wood
chopping time this fall~~



And...looks like Brenden is to be invited for
the wood chopping party as well!!



When she speaks, They listen~~


and...I'd like for you all to greet the newest member of our Troop. This is Tony. Tony came with our shirts, notice we are all OFFICIAL now~~~ Well, Tony will be traveling with us and making guest appearances on our blog. Class B made our shirts, and I have to say, it's probably the best customer service I have ever encountered. Thank you all at Class B!

Learning to fly....well, ok, to camp....

Welcome to this first blog of Troop 602. Troop 602 is a group of boys working together, moving towards their Eagle Scout status.
This year will be Troop 602's first year in existence. As such, we are, indeed, learning to fly. So...to test out our wings this weekend we went for a little day trip to Bogue Chitto campground. Bogue Chitto is a lovely little state park that is very close to our home town.
By working together, the boys managed to set up camp, cook their own meal, break down camp AND achieve a hike AND a fire starting and safety class!!! With this achieved, I feel we can move on to camporee safely and with confidence.
An interesting adventure that we like to partake in while hiking is geocaching. Interestingly enough, we located a cache that we planted as PACK 602 two years ago while hiking. We will certainly be looking into more geocaching locations.
Boys...if you are reading this, I'd love to have YOU write an entry in this blog. Boy scouting is about YOU, not me. Although I love scouting, and all of you scouts, it's how I see you going about the scouting adventure that really makes me tick. You guys are great, and I want you to share your adventures. If you have photos to share, videos, recipes or ideas....send em in...let me know, I'll teach you how to get to the blog to share with the rest of the group.
Now..onto the embarassing, MRS HEATHER following you around with the camera moments!!

Here's what it's all about...WORKING TOGETHER!! Everyone works towards the same goal and it becomes closer and closer, until it's achieved!


Just because ....our Troop leader



He managed the BEST camping spot, and got his tent put up FIRST!! Great job!


Fire lessons...from a firefighter! Don't worry, later he taught them how to properly extinguish one as well...


On the hike itself...


The Pack 602 GeoCache....planted by many of these same boys two years ago!



Because at the end of the day, they are still indeed REAL boys!


My newest favorite scout!


And man, remember when we started ...he was such a baby, now he's growing up. Brenden has been with us through the conception of Pack 602 and now he's a charter member of Troop 602.









Keep Scouting!!