Troop185

My wife doctor's office has closed!  Fortunately, the doctor had an answering service, and he called me back.  My only other choice was to take her to the E R.  We are in Oakland County, the worst county in MIchigan for the virus.  The doctor order an antibody for her, and save us a trip to the E R.

We had some M & M's that did not have the M & M's marked on them.  We kept them in a glass jar for H-Virus (homesickness).  It seem to help them, if they had a pill to take.

We used the group site at Wilderness State Park before.  Wilderness is about 10 miles outside Mackinaw City.  The camp site is large and on Lake Michigan.  They could put other groups in the site, but we never had a problem.

I have been going to Northern Ontario for the last 30 years - we use our own canoes, and equipment.  I do not go to N T, but to Lake Superior Provincial Park and/or Pukuskwa National Park. I always go in August because of the less bugs, with the younger scouts.  You do get any problems with the older scouts in sports/band in August.

I have a temporary patch from 1981, still on one of my uniforms.  I was a new Webelos leader.  We had only one Webelos meeting  and went to the District Fall Camporee.  12 scouts and 11 adults.  It snowed that weekend.  We all received a patch, and II thought I really did something - taking the scouts out camping in the snow.  

After talking to a girl scout leader in my subdivision, I thought, "I didn't do so much!"  The lady and another lady took 15, 3rd grade girl scouts out camping that same weekend by themselves!

Years ago, I had a dad that really enjoy Cub Scouts.   He was a fireman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping.  His son was a great kid and loved the out of doors.  When he was a Webelos, his dad and him went backpacking with me to a Wilderness Area, in the Sand Dunes next to Lake Michigan.  Later that summer, they went up to Northern Ontario for a week of wilderness camping.  They both love it, and I learned a lot from the dad.  He was an expert on the stars, fire building, etc.

The dad was so excited about scouts, he signed up for training that Fall, and went with our Webelos Leader.  They both were upset with the training, but especially this dad.  He especially did not like that they treated them like little kids.  The dad just gave up on scouts.  When his son crossed over to Boy Scouts, he drop him off at the door, and would not even come in.  As you could expect, his son only lasted about 6 months, before he dropped out.

I always suggest Ontario; you will not be sorry.  Beautiful country and a lot cooler than Illinois.  Check out Pukaskwa National Park or Lake Superior Provincial Park.  Both have a Coastal Trail along Lake Superior, at least as demanding as Philmont.  At Pukaskwa, I would suggest you rent a boat to take you down the coast, and backpack back (takes about a week).  You might not see anyone else the first 3 - 4 days. 

Lake Superior Provincial Park is 3 hours closer to you.  A lot of boulder beaches, and hills to climb.  The most difficult trail I have backpacked in my 70 plus years, was from Orphan Lake Trail to Gargantua Bay, on the Coastal Trail.  The later in the summer you go, the best for the bugs.

My not so found memories of setting up camp in the dark:  some adults wonder why the raccoons were digging around their tent for the 3 days we were camping at the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario.  They found out when they took their tent down.  Some people camping there before us, had bury some food scraps, and they had set their tent up on top of it!

Since we are getting into Halloween Stories:  Years ago (1990?), I took a group of Webelos on a cabin outing at Bald Mts. State Park (in Michigan).  About two weeks after the cabin campout, Dr. Kevorkian (Dr. Death) help killed a lady in the same cabin.  As far as I know, the Pack and Troop has not been back to the cabin.

Our troop meets at a Sportsman Club with acreage, woods, and a campground set up in the back of the property.  Also, there is a indoor bathroom building there.  In the last few years, the Sportsman Club has puts on a Haunted Forest in October, and needs volunteers to scare the "victims".  Needless to say, the scouts enjoy the campout.

Someone just ask at the Committee Meeting tonight, how many were registered in the troop?

Answer: 59 scouts; 39 adults.

If it is like most camps, they will not let the campers bring spray bottles / cans. 

I have nothing to say, except you have a good Troop number!

I always remember when my son crossover (30 years ago).  I had a lump in my throat.  I thought he is not a little guy anymore.

Best wishes to you and your son.

When my son was in scouts, he went to a weekend camping outing at a local Boy Scouts Camp.  Why he took his merit badge sash, I do not know.  Anyways, he came home without it.  I had him call the camp, and they said they found it, and took it to the Boy Scouts office.  Whoever he talk to on the phone, said he left the sash on the District Executive desk.  I went in the next day to get it, but it had disappeared from the desk.  The DE remember seeing it, but had no idea what happened to it.  His desk was one big mess!

My son had to purchase a new sash and all the merit badges (over 20) that were on it.

One of my jobs is as a Webelos Coach.  I do not do Den Meeting, but I do invite the Webelos to join me on some camping trips every year; and do joint activities (camping and field trips) with the troop.  One of my favorite Webelos told his parents this Fall, he would quit scouts if it was not for Mr. Troop 185 trips!

An excellent video for recruiting!  Best wishes and keep having fun.

Nice story!

jbelanger86 wrote:

"Oh and did i mention that DL is refusing to get Baloo to take her boys on a webelos campout?"

OWL is the Webelos outdoor training, Baloo training is to take the Pack camping.

^{We did the 3 mile hike with the Webelos last night.  We had about 30 Webelos show up, and about 50 people all together, with the parents, and a couple of siblings.  We combine the hike with a road cleanup, for a service project.  The Webelos walked about 2 miles doing the road cleanup, so they only had to hike another mile, on the grounds of the Sportsman Club, do get the 3 miles in.  We had vests and gloves for everyone, and a vehicle with flashing lights in the front and back of the group, while they did the road cleanup.  Some of the Webelos came late, and join in the road cleanup when they got there, and some did not get there, until the campfire.}

^{The former SPL took the Webelos on the last mile of their hike, coming out of the woods, to find the troop at the campfire.  Several of the Boy Scouts, organized the Webelos by Packs (we had 4 different packs represent), and work out a skit with each group.  The Webelos had a great time at the campfire, do their skit and watching the other Packs and the Boy Scouts doing skits.  The Boy Scouts had 4 dutch ovens going, and everyone has a snack at the end of the campfire.}

^{Below is the information we send out to the Packs about the hike.}

^{Webelos Hike, Service Project, & Campfire (Den Event)}

^{Start Time: Tuesday, September, 29 05:30 PM}

^{End Time: Tuesday, September, 29 08:30 PM}

^{Location: OCSC}

^{Event Message:}

^{Webelos Hike, Service Project, & Campfire}

^{What:        3 mile hike for the Webelos, with a road clean up on [location redacted by moderator]Road and campfire, with the scouts from Troop 185.} 

^{Where:[Location redacted by moderator]}

^{Date:          September 29, 2015; 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.}

^{Bring:        Wear your uniform, but dress for the weather.  Bring water and flashlight / headlight.}  

^{Campfire:  If you cannot make the hike, join us at 8:00 for the campfire.}

Eamon said " I am thinking at 70 my hiking and cold camping days will be a fond memory."

You can still do it.  I am 70 and still do the backpacking and camping.  I do go to Florida for the winter, and I work mostly with the 1st yr. scouts, and I do take a sleeping pill when I am on the ground!  You just got to be fussy with what trips you decided to go on.  I am hoping to die on the trail, sometime in the distance future!

Cub scouts was a 3 years program, Wolfs - 3rd grade; Bears - 4th grade; and Webelos - 5th grade.  My son was in the first ever, Tiger Program, in 2nd grade.  We thought it was a great program.  They had one meeting a month - each family took a month, and had a field trip, or a meeting at their home.  The Tigers wore an Orange T-shirt, and only went to the Blue and Gold, and the Graduation Pack Meeting. 

Now look at what it has become.  No wonder everyone is burned out by the time to crossover to Boy Scouts.  I always tell the Webelos Leaders to take at least 6 months off, before trying to help the troop.

We had an incredible opportunity to fall into our laps this year!  We are a small (20 boys) pack in an extremely rural area.  A local Hunting/fishing sporting goods store holds a yearly event called "Kids Outdoors"  it focuses on showcasing activities for kids to do outside.  This event has drawn nearly 300 kids in previous years  Our council has a portable rock wall./climbing tower.  We just so happened to have it reserved for the day of this outdoors event and was planning on setting it up elsewhere.

 

Well word got around that we were bringing in the rock wall and the sporting goods store jumped at the chance and asked us to set it up at their event.  After making sure it was clear that, A) it was to be open to anybody and everybody (within safety guidelines) for free.  B)They needed to help us with getting parental release forms signed. and C) we were going to use it as a recruitment opportunity.  They were more than happy to partner with us!

 

Its a win-win for both of us.  They get another "activity" to add to their event, and we get direct access to hundreds of kids with a hands on activity that promotes the adventure of scouting.

 

The event is in a couple weeks, so hopefully all goes well!

Sound good.  Please let us know how it goes.

We found out last week, that one of our Scouters has cancer.  For the last several years, he has been the #1 leader in our District.  He is the C.R. from our troop, and one of the Venture Leader.  He is the former C.C. of the troop and pack. His wife is the C.C.. for our pack.  His 3 boys were all Eagle Scouts in our troop.

We found out he was doing the reading at 8:00 a.m. Mass this last Sunday.  Close to 100 scouts and scouters show up by 7:30, to greet him and his wife, and surprise them on their way into Church.  I would put the picture up, if I knew how.

Below, is what he wrote on his Caring Page:

Our scouting friends from the Cubs, Boy Scouts, Crew and AHG came together in a great sign of support for Janet and I this morning. It was both humbling and profound to see this group as we walked into church at 7:45 a.m. this morning. Thank you to all who were there to show their love and support and all who were with us in spirit. Your faith + our faith will see us through this difficult time.  Special thanks to Sarah/Karen (I heard this was your idea); Kendall (for helping me out as lector so I didn't have to read my own name!); Joe, Larry, Jeff & any of the rest of you who helped organize - and to ALL you Scouting families for getting up so early to support us!    It was an incredible, humbling experience.   My hope (and maybe this our Lord's idea?) is that I can show these young ladies and men in a real world way that we all need to "Be Prepared".  We know not the hour or the time........(hopefully, with good doctors & wonderful science, my time is not soon, but if it is I hope to be "prepared").

Welcome BamBam.  It is nice to have someone else from Michigan.