Centennial Community Campout

Post date: Aug 30, 2010 3:48:2 AM

The Centennial Community Campout is coming up on September 10 - 12. We will be camping in front of McFarland Lutheran Church where we recently held our picnic/roundup/court of honor. Because we have no meeting this Monday (Labor Day), I want you to be aware of what to bring and what to expect.

Arrive on Friday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. We will set up camp. Be sure to bring your Scout uniform, handbook, and a compass, in addition to your regular camping equipment. On Friday, patrols should cook a Dutch oven dessert - be sure to bring the fixens - and we will also hold an Arrow of Light Ceremony and cross a Webelos over the bridge to Troop 53.

On Saturday, patrols cook breakfast as you would on a regular campout. Patrols should plan on two breakfasts, one lunch, and one supper. Get together to plan your menus as patrols and figure out how to arrange it. After breakfast, the troop will construct a large gateway entrance to our campsite. You will figure out how best to hang the large "McFarland, WI, 53" red and white signs from the gateway so that they will be visable to the community. An orienteering course will be available for all to try, and I will have the hatchets sharp and ready for throwing in a safe roped off area.

After lunch, I will lead those of you who want to earn the Path Finding Merit Badge. This is one of the centennial merit badges that were retired in 1952, but have been brought back only in 2010. You can get a head start by reading the original merit badge book, and studying the requirements here:

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/2010_mb_pathfinding.aspx

After supper and clean up, we will have a campfire program - get those skits and silly songs ready, and afterwards, we will retire worn out American flags in a formal ceremony. Bring back your flag retirement ceremony from Camp Indian Trails in March, that went very well.

Sunday after breakfast we will attend church at McFarland Lutheran Church at 9:15 a.m. However, you are free to go in uniform with a buddy to the church of your choice if you do not wish to attend MLC that Sunday. We will begin to take down camp after church, and leave the grounds in leave no trace condition. Hopefully, we will all be home and cleaned up in time for Packer kick off at noon.

NOTE TO PARENTS

Parent patrol - if you plan on eating with Troop 53 at the campout, please let me know by Wednesday, September 8th so I can purchase food for the parent patrol. Parents are certainly free to go home for meals, but Scouts are expected to stay on the campsite for the duration. If you do have to take your son out of the campsite for sports, church or other activity, please let me know before you both disappear. I try to keep a good headcount, even in McFarland.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I think this is going to be great time. And for those who attended the Great Lakes Jamboree a year ago in September - know this - The Dweebs will NOT be appearing at this campout.

Yours in Scouting,

Brock Chalmers

Scoutmaster