Troop 1131 at Raven Knob Scout Camp 2006

Raven Knob 2006 #5

Troop 1131:

Today is our last full day in camp. Most scouts will be finishing their merit badges, but as in years past some scouts will only complete part of the requirements, and may be able to finish the remaining requirements when we get home. For example, several scouts opted not to go on the Wilderness Survival overnight trip last night, but they will have a chance to build shelters and complete the overnight on the troop's wilderness survival camping trip in September.

Three of our scouts, Kyle Gula, Jonathan Pratt, and David Mazzocco qualified for the NRA Marksman award yesterday. They will be recognized at the campfire program tonight, and get a certificate and a patch. One of our best marksman, Grant Skipper, would have qualified, but he put six shots in one bulls eye, and four in a second bulls eye. The rule is that each bulls eye can have only five shots. Grant was pretty upset, but I explained that he'll have a chance to try again, perhaps at home, but certainly next year at camp.
At the end of the week the Patrol Leaders' Council selects one scout as Honor Camper for the troop. This year, Grayson Doucette, was selected, and he will also be called out at the campfire this evening to receive an award. Grayson really deserves the award. Grayson is one of our new Patrol Leaders. He has been cheerful, and spirited the whole week, and has been a real friend to all the other scouts.

We're getting ready for the trip home. Last night, we finished six more Boards of Review, and we have a few more to do tonight. The boys who advanced in rank this week will all get their patches, but they will get their cards and mothers' pins at the Fall Court of Honor in October. Each scout will get a camp T-shirt for the trip home, and a 2006 Camp Raven Knob patch. Those who climb the knob today will get a special "knob hike rocker," and scouts in the Mountain Man program, Ryan Kavanaugh, Stephen Livick, Calvin Sauerbier, and Elon Smith will get the "outback rocker."

Our incredible Dutch oven Black Forest Cobbler turned out incredibly well last night. Despite having eight of our scouts out of camp for the Wilderness Survival and Camping merit badge overnights, the remaining group finished all of the cobbler (two full 12 quart Dutch ovens). Nick Abbott and Daniel Sauerbier helped cook and serve the cobbler; they did a great job. Our Dutch oven Black Forest Cobbler is definitely one of the best deserts, especially if you are a chocaholic!

After the closing campfire this evening, we head back to our campsite and make home-made donuts with powdered sugar and cinnamon, often our scouts will invite staff members to join us at our campsite. Most of the staff at Raven Knob are older scouts, 16-17 years old. Many were campers, and enjoy spending their summer here.

We have had many scouts from Troop 1131 work at Raven Knob over the years, and believe me, it's an absolutely marvelous experience. The close friendships among the staff is palpable. If your son is 14 years old, he is eligible to participate in the two week Camp Staff Development program. Many of us know this as a counselor in training program. Scouts 15 years old or older can work at camp in areas that interest them, like aquatics, scoutcraft, and outback.

Jim Larmour, Jake's dad, showed up in camp yesterday, and Charles Rollen, Joe's dad, arrived this morning. Tomorrow we will pack up, clean up the campsite one last time, and check out around 9:00 a.m. The trip home takes about six hours with stops so we should arrive at St. Stephen's between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. As cars get close, drivers may ask the boys to call their parents to let them know we're on our way.

Take Care. See you tomorrow.

Philip Sternberg
Scoutmaster, Troop 1131