Troop 1131 at Raven Knob Scout Camp 2008

Troop 1131, Report 2

Monday, 6/30/08

Brian Hess' rooster alarm did the trick this morning too; everyone got up at 6:30 a.m. It was a very cool night and a very chilly morning. Chris Dills made the leaders' coffee in his French Press, and the boys got their hot chocolate. We "circled-up" for announcements before heading off to the dining hall. Breakfast was pancakes and sausage, but cold cereal and bananas were on the buffet table for those who wanted them.

Many scouts have received email messages from their parents. The printed messages are put into our troop mailbox in the dining hall, and we pass out the messages to the boys as they are eating. After cleaning up around the campsite, for which the troop got a 100% rating, the boys headed off to their first day of classes. The boys all reported to good
Experiences; however, the First year scouts complained that they were falling asleep during their First Aid class, the last two periods of the day.

A cold front came through about time we were to assemble for dinner; we had strong wind and rain that only lasted an hour. Most of the day was delightful, sunny, and almost "Spring-like." After dinner, we had a troop archery shoot. About twenty five-Or thirty of our scouts and leaders walked up to the Archery range. The camp staff asks units to sign up for a lottery for a limited number of troop rifle shoots and archery shoots. We got selected to do the archery, but initially did not get selected to do a rifle shoot. So I talked to Ted Laferty, the rifle instructor, and arranged a special troop rifle shoot for our troop. Normally the troop shoots are Monday or Tuesday evening after dinner, but we are going to have our troop shoot on Thursday after lunch. Our troop has been to camp for so many years, the staff goes out of their way to work with us.

The scouts made it back to camp in time for our first extravaganza: Banana Boats and Baked Apples. The boys constructed our aluminum foil oven, and it did the trick. Tonight we'll cook pita bread pizzas. While the food was being prepared, we conducted Several Scoutmaster conferences and two Boards of Review. William Cash and Chris Sevier advanced to Star, and other boys will get their boards in the next few evenings. Two of our First Year Scouts, Andrew McNutt and Tyler Chandler, passed their Totin' Chip, and set up and slept in a two person backpacking tent. Both of these activities are Tenderfoot advancement requirements.

The day ended with a small campfire, and a frog hunt after taps. Scouts taking Nature and Reptile and Amphibian merit badges were required to go on the frog hunt, and some other scouts joined them just for the fun. The night sky was ablaze with stars, and the Big Dipper hung over our campsite.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Several special events on the schedule today include a lunchtime hike up the "Knob." We anticipate having thirty scouts and leaders on the hike. We will climb the steep hill overlooking camp. Near the top a rocky outcrop is the Knob.

Find a picture of the who attended the Archery shoot last night attached to this message. I anticipate having another great day in beautiful "downtown" Camp Raven Knob. We have a nice group of scouts and leaders in camp. The scouts have been well behaved, enthusiastic and fun to work with.

Take care, more tomorrow.

Philip Sternberg
Scoutmaster, T-1131