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Troop 14
LaGrange, IL

Voyageur
Trace
District

Des Plaines
Valley
Council
811 W. Hillgrove
LaGrange, IL 60525
708-354-1111

Troop Scribe Notes 2003-2006

Troop Leader Training (TLT) in Wisconsin
By Joey G., Troop Scribe

The night we left LaGrange was a rather cold evening, but luckily for the Scouts and leaders attending, we didn't have to sleep outside and set up camp. Instead we stayed in the "Conroy Hilton," Mr. Conroy's 5-star cottage.

Anyways, arrived at his cabin in Wisconsin at around 8 or 9 p.m., where the younger Scouts hung out and the adult leaders and high school Scouts planned the next day's training. Then everyone went to sleep, because we were supposed to be well rested for the big day.

In the morning, after a hot breakfast, the Junior Leader Training began, led by SPL Ryan L. The point of the training was to make all the Scouts that attended better leaders. Not only did we become better leaders, but we also played some fun games and activities to make the training more entertaining. We learned all types of things from expectations of Scoutmaster and the SPL (Senior Patrol Leader) to using SMART goals to learning how to train Scouts skills. We went over talking in public, reviewing troop position cards, and living the Scout Oath and Law. At the end, we had to put our learned skills to the test in a competition.

Then after everyone completed the training, we went to a water park where everyone had gallons of fun! Everyone was tired when we got back, and a hearty dinner got everyone back in full spirit. Then it was bed, and everyone went out like lights.

Nothing happened the next day. We packed up, and headed back to home.


Orienteering at Waterfall Glen Campout November 2005
By Joey G. Troop Scribe

The Scouts and leaders arrived at the campsite Saturday morning and we set up camp right away. Adult leaders and PLC Scouts had meetings, and the other scouts played fun games, worked in the axe yard, and practiced advanced map reading.

After lunch, the Webelos came and they set up their tents in their adjacent campsite. Once they were all settled in, we started the photo safari and orienteering course competition (special photos of objects and scenes plus finding out the 2 letter code on the orienteering points gave you various numbers of points). Every patrol split up into two sub patrols and they went orienteering for two hours. The Raven Patrol ended up winning.

When everybody got back to camp we had dinner after a cooking for a while. Most patrols had chicken pot pie that everyone loved. An hour after dinner, there was a campfire with funny skits that everyone enjoyed. Then it was bed. Everyone needed sleep after the long day.

The next day, Sunday morning, the same thing happened that happens on every campout. Gear is packed. Breakfast is eaten. Tents are taken down. Everyone leaves and takes nice, steamy showers.


September 2004 Climbing Outing to Devil's Lake. By Jake M. Troop Scribe

For this past month's camp out we went to Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin and went rock climbing. It was really a lot of fun! We hiked up the steep mountain to where the ropes were set up, about 1200 ft. from the ground.

We all got lessons in belaying. There are special knots that we learned to make certain that the climbing Scout was securely tied to the safety rope. We had a quick lunch on the side of the mountain, and then we climbed all afternoon. There were eight different ropes that you could climb on and later in the day you could go rappelling, which was a lot of fun. It was a great camping trip that you shouldn't' have missed. See photos here.


On January 23 the Boy Scouts went to ski at Alpine Valley. The trip was fun. The ski weather was great. The snow was fluffy and there was no ice. No one got hurt either.

We occupied our time, (when we weren't on the slopes) with board games. Several scouts also made rank advancements too. On Saturday night Mr. Ulrich baked some cakes with the help of his scouts. Overall the outing was awesome, the food the slopes and everything else.


April 2003. Mike C. On our April campout we went to Starved Rock. No… the rock is not starved. It is an Illinois State Park about 2 hours away.

We arrived on Friday night and set up camp. It was a very clear night; we could even see some planets. It was windy and once we saw a tent fly away.

Our activity on Saturday was a "Photo Safari". We had a list of things we needed to take a picture of, such as a fuzzy animal, a bird, etc. The judges (our adult leaders) determined how many points each picture would get. The best part was, if you took a picture of a Scout off of the trail you would get an automatic 20 points. See who it was caught off the trail by going to our web site. The Flying Eagles won the competition by a little.

After our day's work, the Scouts played Rugby. It was great. And then after
that we played Dodge Ball.

We had dinner and then had our campfire with skits.. The skits didn't make sense, but they were great anyway.


By: Mike C, Troop Scribe

On our May 2003 camp out we went to Upper Limits. At U.L. (Upper Limits) we learned how to rock climb and belay. Belaying is when the person not climbing is on the floor taking the slack out of the rope. Adults and Scouts climbed.

This camp out was different because this time we didn't sleep in a building (like we did last year); we slept inside our tents. This camp out was also different because there was a lot more trust, even if you weren't best friends. That is because you have someone's life in your hands and so there is no emotions, just concentration.

This is one of the best camp outs we have had all year.

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On our June 2003 camp out we went to the Indiana Dunes! We took a five-mile hike and then went to the beach. Some scouts dug a huge hole in the sand. It was about four feet deep and five feet wide. We also flew kits, and we had a stunt kite.

Later, we went back to camp and had a delicious spaghetti dinner. That same night we played Capture- the-Flag at the dunes. It was great. I would recommend this camp out to all the Scouts and adults.

 

Click here to read prior scribe entries from 2002-2003.