Spring Camporee 2016

Post date: May 16, 2016 2:43:38 PM

Key Facts:

• Theme: Cave Man Camporee

• Rum River Scout Camp

• Meet on Friday, May 6, at 6:00 PM, with departure at 6:30 PM.

• Return on Sunday, May 9, around 10:00 AM.

• Roster: 11 scouts, 5 adults

Tasks:

• [not documented]

Recap narrative (from Corey Needleman):

• First Class and over scouts (called 'Chiefs' at the caveman Camporee) taught many of the round robin scout skills in the morning and our T1 taught a host of those skills. We had a dominant Order of the Arrow representation ran the campfire (Evan) and call out ceremony. Troop 1 was recognized for their efficacy in the round robin instruction.

• Some of the skills at the round robin were similar to first class reqs but not quite there, for example they taught some temporary quick Japanese lashing that I'd never seen before, but not a straight ahead square, shear or diagonal. Alas, the boys didn't learn anything for advancement purposes but they did pick up some good skills.

• There was also some good paddling down the Rum River as well as some afternoon hammocking in camp (by the Werewolf patrol), archery, field games and an epic capture-the-flag experience.

• Fortunately the camp master partially lifted the fire ban Saturday afternoon for charcoal cooking (just before dinner prep time) - good thing for the planned dutch oven and kabob dinners. Everybody had planned to use wood coals and didn't bring charcoal, but I got some from the store. This only seemed fair since the conditions were beyond our control and had changed pretty quickly.

• Flying Penguins somehow forgot their eggs for Sat breakfast and only brought clementine oranges for Sunday. Regardless, nobody starved. They also had some duty roster problems.

• Though it didn't seem to bother the boys too much, it took 1:15 to get on the road Friday night: not enough tents (then grabbed extras that didn't work from the trailer) we also grabbed water jugs, saw, and axe from the trailer. General gear disorganization with combined patrols, etc. presented these challenges. It was difficult because the chain of command was largely stand in.

• Troop 1 accepted 4 wooden patrol boxes from Troop 6 via Greg LaFontaine and the "gear exchange."

• We need to make a shift in our propane plan. The boys grabbed 5 of the. 1 lbs. bottles before we left. 3 were empty. I had to go to WalMart and buy more. I have a schnozzle for refilling the 1lbs bottles but I think it's a pain. I recommend either moving to the refillable 5lbs. or 10 lbs. containers.

Notes for next time:

• Flying Penguins forgot eggs for Sat breakfast and only brought clementine oranges for Sunday; we'll need to strategize a better way to prep for better success with these things and these guys.

• General gear disorganization with combined patrols, etc. presented challenges, especially because the chain of command was largely stand in.

• We need to make a shift in our propane plan. I recommend either moving to the refillable 5lbs. or 10 lbs. containers.