Hiking Safety

We went over hiking safety in our last meeting but it is good to go over safety issue again. Check out this Boy Scout video. Let's be ready for our Roan Mountain backpacking trip.

Tenderfoot Requirement #5: Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night. Explain what to do if you are lost.

Bike Trip 2009

Another cool trip that gave many Scouts their first chance at a loooong bike ride (over 25 miles). One of the things I love about the Boy Scouts is the opportunity for many kids to have a unique experience. I know my son has ridden more miles on his two Scout bike trips than he has in his entire life with the added benefit of gorgeous views with his buddies beside him on the trail. My bet would be that over 75 percent of our kids did 20 more miles in one day than they have ever done in any other day of their life. It is quite fulfilling to me as a leader to see these Scouts discover that their abilities are greater than they know.

Mr. Brown found a wonderful campsite for us that was right on the New River. One of the great added benefits of this riverside camp was that the burbling gurgling rumbling sounds of the river drowned out the sounds of talkative scouts and snoring leaders as we slept at night. Saturday morning we had breakfast and loaded up and headed for our start point just north of Galax. As we unloaded the bikes we them bikes to check that they were trail-ready. This pre-hike inspection ensured that all the bikes made it through the long ride. We had Mr. Brown and Mr. Guthrie drive with the van to provide repair service, hydration support, and best of all, to meet us halfway with lunch. They missed the beautiful vistas, the railroad trestles and tunnels that we rode through on our ride. We had the opportunity to ride right into our camp at the end of the ride and it was a great feeling to get off that hard bike seat. Of the 38 of those who started the 25 mile plus trip - WE ALL MADE IT!!!

That night one Patrol made something they called Tornado Lasagna. It seems that instead of layered lasagna it is all put together and mixed as if in a blender but they said it tasted great. Another Patrol made Ziploc ice cream and some the vultures started to hovering around and begging for a taste. The Leaders made enough spahetti to feed the Troop but we had to eat it ourselves because the Patrols made their own suppers. We didn’t want to deprive them of the thrill of eating their own cooking!

I don't know about the boys but I'd love to do this trip again.

Click on the picture below to see the trip photo album.

Bike Trip 09-

Tenderfoot Requirement #4B

4b. Demonstrate that you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch.

Tenderfoot Requirement #4A

4a. Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.

Morrow Mountain

What an exciting trip we had to Morrow Mountain. Nearly 60 Scouts and leaders filled "Big Brown" and the church van so personal vehicles were needed to get everybody to the park. The trailer was filled to the top with Troop gear, food and personal gear. Mr Smith and I were the Trip leaders and we agreed it was a great Scout weekend.The instructor patrol worked with the Ravens to setup their tents on Friday night and then taught the new Scouts how to cook using the Coleman Camp Stoves on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Things I thought were great:

• The Ravens getting to ride in "Big Brown" for the first time. It is a rite of passage for all Troop 934 members.
• The Ravens setting their tents up for the first of many times in the dark.
• Watching the oldest Scouts working with the newest Scouts to get breakfast on the table.
• Scouts teaching other Scouts during the Fishing Merit Badge session.
• After losing their hooks while fishing I watched a couple of Ravens used their new skill of the improved cinch knot to tie a fishing hook to their fishing line.
  
• Boys handling a wiggling worm for the first time.
• Scouts scaling, cleaning, gutting and fileting the fish they were going to eat that night.
• The new boys being taught knife and axe safety so they could earn their Totin' Chip before summer camp.

Like I told the Ravens: Think of all the things you did this weekend that most of your friends at school have never done. How many have slept in a tent that they set up without their parents being there? How many have prepared a fish so they could eat it that night? How many have ever used an axe to cut up firewood or made their own breakfast and cleaned up afterwards?

This is the start of a great journey for these Ravens.

Mr. Vickers has posted some pictures from the trip.

Morrow Mountain March 09 click to go to web album

Tenderfoot Requirement #2

Tenderfoot Requirement #2

Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch.

On Monday night we had the Ravens practice with 3 boy leaders who showed them how to put up our Troop tents. On Friday night they will have their chance to do it themselves outside and it will be their home for the weekend. We have some older boys lined up to help with the pitching of the tents as needed.

Tenderfoot Requirement #3

Tenderfoot Requirement #3

On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol's meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together.

On the trip the Ravens will prepare 2 breakfasts (,pancakes and bacon, and eggs and sausage ). They will work on setting up a sandwich lunch and for supper they will clean a fish, prepare it and then help cook it. They will also help with cleanup after the meals--the older Scouts will assist them with these chores.

I don’t think any meal taste as good as one that you prepare for yourself and your buddies.