Summer Camp Experience 2021

Greetings Scouts & Campers,

There are a lot of things to say about camp and they are all good, with many lessons learned. I hope all your scouts are more enthusiastic about scouting after this experience. This update maybe a bit long but there are some important notes. Let me begin with some gratitude to those who made it happen.

Mr. Carter, for all your coordination and follow ups to each detail along the camp trail. To all our Troop Committee Members who come each month to meetings to keep us on track for risk, planning, membership, high adventures, compliance, and fund raising (this year campers had a $100 discount). Thanks to Mr. Rzepczynski for keeping our troop focused on the important and vital things that matter the most. Thanks to Mr. Belmont & Mr. Will (Duggan) who stayed with us three nights and four days of camp experience, giving up work commitments and listening in on Camp scouter meetings. To all our scout parents who made the trip on time both ways. Thanks to SPL Henry, ASPLs Lincoln and Lucas and JASM Ben for their service to the troop. To our scouts who are also volunteers in scouting to fit scout camp into a busy schedule.

Scout Camp is valuable; the value is earned as we come together as a unit with a shared mission. New scouts are working with older scouts to set up tents, clean camp, clean latrines, learn to be a waiter (sweep the floor, clear the tables, get water and food). They learn lessons like adults get the first serving and how to pass family style plates without reaching across their neighbor and spilling drinks that need to be cleaned up or spilling all the food for the table. They learn to be courteous and use words like please and thank you. They learn many, many scout and life skills. The older scouts learn to plan each day in detail with who goes where, when and what equipment will be needed. They learn to deal with issues including first aid, morale, hygiene, and logistics. They learn good sportsmanship and the value of working together. They learn rules are there for their safety. They also learn to challenge themselves. I can say all scouts this week did something new and were challenged, which leads to growth.

It was a great camping experience and long days. Ask your scouts about it and scouts, tell your parents what the day was like. First, wake up calls at 6:30, assembly for troop colors 7:15, down to the dining hall for roll call and breakfast, grab your bag lunch, then off for the morning, lunch on the run between morning and afternoon activities (Weather, e-Prep, ATV’s, Blacksmithing, Environmental Science, Welding, Rifle, Waterskiing, Archery, etc.…). Then back to camp after 4:30 pm, get ready and don class A’s for dinner. Troop assembly, strike the colors, off to camp, roll call, dinner, camp colors and announcements, then evening activities, and back uphill to troop camp for PLC meeting at 10pm-11ish for planning the next day. Morning to late night each day.

The facilities like the dining hall, Carter Lodge for adult meetings, waterfront (power boats, sailing catamarans, kayaks), council ring, camp sites with new canvas tents, blacksmithing forges, welding facilities, scout craft areas were “super fantastic”. The dining hall was good but all those with TL Storer experience said the dining experience and spirit was on a different level and I would agree. It was all good but TL Storer meals were beyond compare for scout spirit and songs and inter-table cooperation. Hidden Valley GSR was a great camp and there are so many more ways that this camp can be used for even more high adventure for older scouts.

All scouts earned merit badges, learned new skills and many earned rank advancements. All our new scouts earned Scout rank (parents, you need to complete #6 in the scout book). Many others earned ranks that have been allusive for a few months. Let’s get all these requirements in, boards of review complete and records all updated.
 
I’m proud to say that our troop shared the camp spirit award with their enthusiastic “shower patrol” camp challenge. This is a topic all to itself. A special shout out to the senior leaders and Marcus for challenging the entire camp to keep hygiene to the next level. It was the buzz of the camp. Another shout out to Charlie, who on Wednesday set the camp obstacle course record (for the entire season) at 2:53 minutes but was beaten by another individual by about 13 seconds later in the week). To the entire teams that completed in the Iron man and came in second place to a very senior Dover NH troop. Henry, Ben, Christian, Jonah, Charlie . You guys were super competitive. The entire troop was supportive and I witnessed great examples of sportsmanship from our entire troop.

Scouts - you lived the scout law and I’m proud of all your accomplishments at Camp. Keep up the good scouting and remember to do your good turn daily. 
 
YiS,
Mr. Duggan