2025 Camp Waubeeka

With only one Troop 4 Scout new to Waubeeka this year, our Scouts' years of experience with making wood fires & cooking all of our meals in Haystack made for a very smooth two weeks.

Our Scouts also knew many of the returning staff from 2023 & 2024 which is always positive.

Waubeeka Lake == peaceful as it awaits the arrival of the Scouts

All new kayaks & sailboats

The Swim Area ready for the 2025 Swim Classifcation Tests

Adirondack Nature adds interest & color to Camp Waubeeka ..... & Beavers augment the water ways

Howard's personal tent was ready for it's 59th summer ( at Old Waubeeka + New Waubeeka ) -----but was threatened by a 150 foot dead White Pine tree only 50 feet away. Ranger Keith eliminated that problem with his expert chainsaw skills. 🙂👍

[ Note: Proper care of this Campmor tent --- as learned in Scouting --- has also allowed this tent to travel to

every one of the United States ( except Hawaii ) & most of the Canadian Provinces ! ]

The first day of Camp is always a hectic one == beginning with unloading personal gear to be taken to our Haystack along with all our cook gear for the two weeks. Then a Staff served BBQ at the McIntyre Pavillion ; followed by the welcoming campfire on the shores of the lake. Then , finally, off to bed ....

The fabulous improvement this year was the installation of a huge " carport " for our eating area that replaced the much smaller ( & leaky ! ) tarp. Thanks to Ranger Kris, Troop 4's request was granted == an extended fresh water line that now reduced a 400 feet water carry from the fresh water tap to the cook area to a mere 30 feet !!

We are now "Living Large ! "

Meanwhile there is no need to change from our reliable Barrel Stove & Sheepherder Grill due to the unequalled skill of Troop 4 Scouts to efficiently make wood fires. [ We now hold the distinction of being the only Waubeeka Troop in the entire summer to not downgrade to a propane gas option 👍

Last year a Scout from a "propane Troop" was heard saying, " How come Troop 4 always is first to arrive at evening Camp Colors after dinner & cleanup ?!! "

Further evidence of this is Troop 4 continued victories in the Waubeeka Fire Building competition. This year in Week I the team of Nate M., John M., Luke O., & Marty O. once again trounced all the competitor Troops !! In Week II , to give other Troops a chance, we divided into two teams: one with Luke & Marty; the other was a solo team of John. Then we crushed the other teams by having BOTH the #1 AND #2 fastest times !!

" A competitor Scout said, " I don't know why our Scoutmaster has us continue when Troop 4 always wins! "

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The key to success is plentiful AND dry firewood --- especially White Pine & Hemlock for " starting wood " Then proper proportions for the "bug juice". Grilling on the Sheepherder & Boiling on the Barrell Stove.

Then Grace .....then the best part: mealtime .... with enough perfectly cooked food that anyone can go for seconds & thirds 😋

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After dinner we go to the Parade Field for Evening Colors [ with a Troop 4 Bugler ] . Before dark there is time for Camp Competitions, open boating, trail rides , open archery, rifle & shotgun ranges, snacks at the Trading Post, or just relaxing with Troop 4 Scouts or friends from other Waubeeka Troops.

The Troop 4 transition to Week II begins at dawn with a trip to the local laundromat to get everything clean for the next week. Mr. Bensburg [ Alumnus & Troop Eagle Scout ] comes up from Florida to chauffer our group for the day & challenge the Scouts with Riddles & Quizzes . Breakfast at McDonalds. Then, off to a historical site in the Adirondacks for some enlightenment. This year we went to Fort Crown Point on upper Lake Champlain --- site of two forts: the first during the British & French Indian Wars, the second at the begining of the Revolutionary War.

[ Our prior Troop 4 trip to Crown Point , dozens of years ago: there were just the earthen ramparts & some stone building remains. BUT in 2025 there was a magnificant interpretation center with hundreds of recently excavated artifacts & " you can touch" displays. Our tour guide was excellent at conveying the 200 year history of these forts to the Scouts.

At mid-day we went to Schroon Lake Village for a terrific lunch at local Irish Pub / Restaurant . Then down to

Lake George for minature golf & then to Glen Falls for our usual Appleby's dinner stop. At dusk we were back in Chestertown for the annual Fireworks followed by a stop at Stewarts. Back to Camp for a night's rest before we began Week II with brunch at Subway & Dunkin & McDonalds ... & a stop at Walmart to replace needed items.

In Week II in 2025, we had the First Annual Read Reservation Olympics . It was forecast as a

" Samson vs Goliath" event with Waubeeka playing the role of Samson.

In historical fashion , "Samson" / Waubeeka turned out to be the winner !! 🎉

Troop 4 provided its assistance: Nate was on the Ultimate Frisbee Team as it pulled out a hotly contested win in sudden death overtime as the sun was starting to set in the west. Peter competed in the Kim's Game and walked away with a strong win for Waubeeka.

Later in the week, Marty competed in the Waubeeka Chess Tournament & took a win in the final round as he & his competitor battled it out : Rook & Queen vs Rook & King until Marty outplayed his competitor.

Mid- Week II we were off to the Sacandaga River for White Water Rafting in our 2025 Class B Troop 4 tee shirts ( BUT first == lunch & ice cream dessert at a nearby roadside lunch spot for " energy" .