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Troop
Scribe Notes 2003-2010
An Old Fashioned Campout
April 2010
By Matt D., Troop Scribe
On Friday night we packed our gear into our cars and trailer, and stowed lots of
logs into a pickup. For what purpose? Trebuchets! We got to camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls,
set up our tents, had troop cracker barrel, and then slept in our tents.
In the morning we discovered that it had rained the previous night so it was hard to
start a fire. While some worked on starting the fire, others cooked breakfast over camp
stoves. We ate a warm breakfast and then cleaned up.
After breakfast we began constructing trebuchets. Each patrols built their trebuchet with
logs and lashings. We had a competition on who could launch a tennis ball the farthest.
The winning patrol hurled a ball a distance of 22 of Dr. McCrohan's paces, but they had built
a catapult, not a trebuchet.
After the contest we had lunch, which was followed by a brief rain shower. Later we went
out into the field where we had built the trebuchets and played dodge ball until dinner.
Each patrol prepared dinner and cleaned up just in time to enjoy warm peach cobbler Mr. Reardon
had made for the troop in a Dutch oven on the campfire. We had planned to do skits around the
camp fire, but the wind was blowing hard and it threatened to rain, so most people went to their
tents. A few of us stayed up for awhile longer talking as we sat around the fire. It did eventually
rain, but not until much, much later that night.
When we woke Sunday morning we took down our tents right away. When that was done the patrols
enjoyed a cold breakfast. After we had cleaned up the campsite, we headed back to La Grange.
Winter Campout at Waterfall Glen Campout
February 2010
By Matt D., Troop Scribe
At 9:00am on Saturday February 27th, Troop 14 gathered at the church to go
on a winter campout. It was only a one night trip. We drove for fifteen minutes
down to Waterfall Glen where we would camp. It took a while for some people to
find the site but we all got there. We had a lunch of potato soup, and hot cocoa
after which we had snowball fights, made forts and explored the river during which
we saw a falcon. Mr. Lorenzen also brought his dog Sadie on this trip.
Later that day we drove a few minutes to the orienteering course. We separated into
small groups and with a compass and map navigated our way through paths with varying
levels of difficulty. When we had found as many as we could, we came back and had some
hot cocoa and chips for a snack.
When we got back to the camp site the patrol cooks started the chili for the chili
cook-off. The rest of us built a fire and explored some more. When the chili was ready
we had that and some soda for dinner. According to the judges, the Wolverine patrol had
the best chili. After dinner we sat around the fire and talked. We had cobbler for dessert
(cherry/blueberry and apple) which was cooked in a dutch oven. After that we went back to
the fire and gradually went to bed.
After a cold night we were eager to start up the fire that we put out last night (I hope).
We packed up our gear and tents then had a breakfast of muffins, cereal, instant oatmeal,
and hot cocoa. We did a final cleanup of the camp and then drove back home. This was the first
tent camping for many new scouts. That was our winter campout of 2010.
Troop Leader Training (TLT) in Wisconsin
December 2007
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.
Climbing Outing to Devil's Lake.
September 2004
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.
Ski Trip at Alpine Valley
January 2004
By Nick W., Troop Scribe
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.
Camping Out in Starved Rock
April 2003
By Mike C., Troop Scribe
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.
Campout at Upper Limits
May 2003
By Mike C., Troop Scribe
On our May 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.
Hiking on the Indiana Dunes
June 2003
By Mike C., Troop Scribe
On our June 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.
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