From: Esson Family (esson@CYBERTOURS.COM)
Date: Mon Aug 14 2000 - 19:50:50 CDT
Troop 356 of Wells, Maine is home from Gettysburg and environs. After 2
years of constant fund-raising, 19 boys and 5 adults packed a lot of
activity into a short time. Scout behavior was the best ever on a trip,
with very few problems. SPL and older boys really stepped up to
responsibility, and watched out for the little guys. Everywhere we were
complimented on our boys! Saw several other Scout groups.
We left home at 4am on Aug. 5 and got back after midnight on the 13th
after running into torrential rains from Philadelphia to Newark. Since
some early predictions were for rain all week, it was a relief to have
only 2 rain days! We stayed at the Drummer Boy Campground in
Gettysburg, good except for insufficient toilet facilities.
We hiked the battlefields (and were also surprised by the lack of
water,) and visited the Eternal Flame, Eisenhower Farm, Wax Museum,
Amish country, Indian Echo Caverns, the Railroad Museum of PA, a pretzel
factory, Hershey Park, Zooamerica, Harley Davidson factory (under-12
only the museum,) and Valley Forge, including the excellent Scout
Museum.
Highlights:
The 20th Maine memorial at Little Round Top - our latest Eagle project
included clearing the grave of a survivor of the regiment.
A Scout looking thoughtful on the battlefield and asking "Would guys my
age have fought here?"
Boys carefully moving a box turtle off a park road.
Scouts in full uniform standing for Grace at a restaurant.
Two fearful boys proudly riding their first roller coasters.
Scouts sitting on huge brand-new Harleys and grinning ear-to-ear.
Marching single-file out of Hershey Park in the dark singing "The ants
go marching one by one" while wearing light-up fluorescent green alien
antennae. (You had to be there!)
Proud of our boys but happy to be home Bev Esson
