Most Fun Outings (Thrifty & Spendy)

[DuctTape 1230]

A thrifty way to find a place to camp which we use regularly is contacting local parks which do not allow camping in general. We have had good success asking if we could do a "park clean-up and camp overnight". The town parks are very amenable to the arrangement. They will often send someone down with a truck to provide bags and then collects them when we are done.

The scouts do about an hour or so of dedicated cleanup in the parking area, and then continually pick stuff up while hiking and playing.

Edit: having the scouts call to ask (on speakerphone) is a fantastic growth opportunity. To facilitate success, we will have an adult make first contact to inquire about the possibility and then have the scouts call.

Edited September 3, 2022 by DuctTape

[RememberSchiff 3673]

Long Beach Troop Marooned on Catalina Island...again

The scouts met at 6 a.m. at Long Beach Yacht Club on a Saturday for a supposed three-hour cruise. They sailed to Cabrillo Harbor Beach on the north side of Catalina Island. It is a remote beach accessible only by boat. Once there, an abandon ship announcement was made and the scouts all swam ashore.

This trip, according to the letter sent to parents “there may be some MRE food rations hidden on the island or possibly washed ashore during the shipwreck.” A far cry from gourmet food, but this was a survival weekend.

The troop members prepared weeks in advance, and the more senior scouts taught workshops on fire, shelter, signaling, provisions and first aid. The sessions included education demonstrations for the basic survival skills “everyone who ventures into the outdoors should understand and be fully prepared for this adventure.”

The letter also stated “Word of Caution; As much fun as this sounds, this trip is not for everyone. There will be no bathrooms, no shelters for shade, no fresh water, and the troop will not be providing troop tents, food boxes, wood cook boxes or any other gear from troop storage. All you will have is what you bring in your pack.”

https://www.presstelegram.com/2022/09/02/on-the-water-long-beach-boy-scout-troop-marooned-on-catalina-island-on-purpose/