CAMP TRACY - DAY 2 & 3 (July 11 - 12, 2008)

We started out day 2 with Archery - everyone was able to show off their skills after a brief lesson on range safety.

(You can't see it in these pictures but scout leader John Edwards is down range with an apple on his head!)

Maps and Compass
Magnetic North and Magnetic Declination, two important map reading skills that we mastered.

We then went to the Rifle Range - It was amazing how well everyone shot, could it have been the video games they play... Many of them had never shot a rifle before. Ian had a grouping of five shots all within the radius of a quarter - this qualifies for one of the five that he needs for the rifle shooting merit badge.

After lunch we got the opportunity to properly handle the United States flag. I think when we repeat the Pledge of Allegiance, we will be more mindful that it says "One nation under God" not, "One nation, under God" like often times it is said.

Later, Spencer took a fall down the rock face, into a patch of poison ivy, then into the frigid river below... Good thing we all knew first aid!

Our last class we took was knife, saw, and hatchet safety... please pass the knife.... THANK YOU, YOUR WELCOME... Remember what the blood circle is? Well, for most of you DOUBLE IT!

TIME TO GET CAMP SET UP - it was a pretty cool place, if we could have stayed away from the hyper-active, talkative, attention deficient, laser pointer confiscating camp councilor (Jacob) that found his way to our camp site.

More camp pictures will be posted at the bottom of the page...

CAMP TRACY - DAY 1 (July10, 2008)

Day 1 of camp came and went - What a blast!

6:45am came pretty quickly for most of us - another hour of sleep would have been perfect. However, despite our crusty eyes we were ready to go.

Here is a list of our days events:

1)Nature trail - passed off our native plants and animal recognition. See if you can remember the following plants: Juniper, Saw tooth Maple, Scrub Oak, lamb's ear, White Fir (smells like tangerine), Oregon grape, dandelion, choke cherry, and try to remember the ones that had flowers like popcorn and the plant that looked like rhubarb.

2) BSA Swim Test - EVERYONE PASSED! Way to go!

3)Lashings - No, your boys didn't get a beating; but they did practice the clove hitch, square knot, half hitch, and square lashings.

4) Knots - More good application of the Bowline and other important rope skills.

5) BOATS! - Impressively, what was set out for a "two-hour tour" actually went without a hitch. There were no Gilligan's on the water today (at least not in our troop - two others found themselves capsized in waste deep muck!).

6) First aid- The energetic instructors saved this otherwise mind numbing exercise! This was good review of CPR, and how to treat injuries such as puncture wounds and bites. More requirements passed off!

Lastly, we had a fun run through the Riverton WALMART shopping for dinner and breakfast for our camp. Great job finding bargains and sticking to your meal plans and lists.