2024 Camp Waubeeka

It may seem redundant when I say , " this crew was one of the greatest of all summers !! "

That being said, each week in 2024 had small crews ( 6 & then 5 ) AND without Senior Scouts this summer. Yet the advancement was impressive, the cooking fires readily started, every meal was cooked to perfection, the duty roster was followed to a tee , not a single argument or kerfuffle, the Scout Oath & Law always in evidence !!

Troop 4 arrives for 2024

A calm lake before the swim tests

STEM Ranch where mechanical Merit Badges take place ....

as well as Equestrian activities ...

Haystack has a modern latrine &

double wash sink.

Fresh water is available for the cook area as well.

Upon arrival a medical recheck is done followed by the swim test & swim classification wrist bands

Reveille sounds daily at 6:30 a.m. followed by Colors in Haystack.

At that hour when it is time to go to the Commissary for the food pickup, it is just easier to stay in your pajamas !

When the food returns, the crew goes to work preparing & cooking the meal ( This morning it was Egg McMuffin :o)

The " Barrel Stove " is the key for boiling food AND heating a lot of wash water for a sanitary cleanup

With her sense of humor, " Mother Nature" likes to occasionally provide the challenge of a classic Adirondack DOWNPOUR right at mealtime -

The cooking would be hectic without the reliable " Sheepherder" [ firebox w/ griddle ] where we can cook a dozen pancakes at once, scramble eggs for everyone , or cook 50 pieces of bacon at one clip ! This helps to insure that we all have warm food on our plates all at the same time ! [ Other Troops with propane stoves cannot come close ! ]

Try cooking at home a dozen cheeseburgers at once !

We strictly adhere to the Waubeeka " 3 Step Cleanup " =

WASH + RINSE + SANITIZE

After an efficient cleanup with "all hands on deck" there is always ample free time before classes or Troop activities.

A few meals a week are served by the Staff at the MacIntyre Pavillon

Chess & cards occupy the waiting time.

Troop 4 is always the sharpest in the

Class A Uniforms at Camp Colors !!

Howard still hangs in as Camp Bugler at Camp Colors :o)

Troop Campfires occur in Haystack ... as well as late evening Smores Parties & Pizza Parties at the Sheepherder to pleasantly end the day with your buddies.

A dry tent on a raised wood platform, an " army cot" with mattress , and a bug net == make for a welcome night's rest !

Sometimes a " local" makes an inquisitive visit ....

For every Waubeeka Scout who is motivated to take an early morning (6:30 a.m. ) dip twice a week, there is a badge awarded .

Thu, Aug 1, 2024 at 12:26 PM.pdf

Waiting for lunchtime pickup ... including lots of ice cubes for cooling the drinks

A Troop 4 donation to the

" Reptile Pit " at Waubeeka Econ.

Peter found endless friends

With appreciation for many of the above candid pix by Troop 4 Camp Leader, Mr. O'R

..... beaver live nearby ....

..... and a lot of BIG bugs .

In the nearby mountain pass there is even an elephant .....

In our campsite there was a crop of very rare Indian Pipe Fungii

We depart Camp at 5:30 Saturday morning at the end of Week 1 to clean all our clothes for Week 2 at the Warrensburg laundromat. While that takes place, breakfast at MacDonalds. Then Alumni arrive to join our Troop 4 Leaders & Scouts for the always memorable "Mid - Weekend Trip ". [ Alumnus Ben B. who spent Week 1 volunteering as a teacher of welding & metalworking during the first week of Camp also joined us for the day ]

After breakfast , with the laundry done, Troop 4 Eagle Scout / Alumnus Mr. B. arrived from Clermont, Florida to provide a chauffer & our transportation for the day ( as he has done for 40+ years now ). First stop this year was in Albany to visit the USS Slater , the only surviving " Destroyer Escort" from WW II. Our guide was Carl C., USN ret. who enjoyed our Scouts' enthusiasm to the extent that he extended our paid tour from one hour to almost two hours . He discussed life & artifacts of the sailors who manned the Slater ( He pointed out that many of these sailors were at that time very close to some of our Scouts current ages ). [ see pix above & below ]

This was definitely not one of those " Do not touch " tours !

It was now time to enjoy a meal that was cooked & served by others in an air conditioned restaurant at Johnnie Rockets.

Then we headed back outside to the The Great Escape in Lake George == both for the amusement park & for the water park. ( Since the event lines were shorter than some years & it was sunny/ warm the group opted to focus on the water events).

Next : off to Glen Falls & Applebee's for dinner. Then back to Chestertown for the fireworks ---- this year even better than ever since it was the town's 200 anniversary of incorporation. [ Note: Just the "Finale" is shown in the video below ! ]

A quick stop for snacks & ice cream at Stewart's . Back at Camp we sacked out for the traditional "sleep as late as you want" on Sunday ... then showers & off to Ft. Ticonderoga for the 3 adjacent brunch choices: Subways, McDonalds, & / or Dunkin' Donuts. ( Some guys couldn't resist two of them ! ) Next stop = Walmart to restock for Week 2.

Once back in Camp we had an easy day until Week 2 began with the Waubeeka BBQ dinner & then the week opening Campwide Campfire ..... finally to bed.

Week 2 we enjoyed the annual white water raft trip on the Sacandaga River --- after a lunch & ice cream stop at a roadside stand

Due to the torrential Adironadack downpour the day before our raft trip, this year we enjoyed a river that was even more lively

Each week begins & ends with a Camp Waubeeka Campfire by our lake beginning at sundown.

Week 2 = John Paul was honored by the Rifle Range Staff with a special award.

" Alas ... all good things must come to an end ".... it's time to head for home ................

packing.pdf

? ? The 3rd point of the Scout Law is ...........

These 2 Scouts seem to be forgetting this as Mrs. O. packs the car & roof rack unassisted ...

5 Troop 4 Scouts & all their gear make for a VERY full load !!

We end with 2 videos which show 2024 memories we will never forget :

Lower left: the extra special "Finale" to the Chestertown 2024 Fireworks to celebrate their 200th year

Lower right: Troop 4 entered the Waubeeka Firebuilding Competition in Week 1

Our time == under 3 minutes to build a fire & burn through the string !

The second place Troop was already at TEN minutes & going nowhere --- when they took out a lighter & burned the string in embarassment & frustration .....

And that is the difference of a Troop that makes dozens of fires for their cooking vs the Troop that take the easy way out by taking the propane option.

Another Point taken: notice which Troop LOOKS SO SHARP competing in their perfect CLASS A UNIFORMS!!!

And that is what our Troop 4 Motto reflects:

" SCOUTING THE WAY IT USED TO BE --- SCOUTING THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE " !!!

IMG_0749.MOV

Fire-building competition