CAMPING

We camp every month, even in the winter. Each August we research locations and choose where to go. During the month we earn merit badges to prepare us for the next campouts, and we plan the next campouts. Adult Leaders support us (make reservations, drive, manage the checking account) but we run the Troop ourselves.

We chose different places to camp each year. Some of our favorites are Starved Rock, Mathiesen State Park, Devils Lake, Galena, Eagle Cave (in the cave), and USS Cobia submarine (in the submarine).

When it's warm we hike, swim, canoe, kayak, fish, play softball and football, see wildlife (snakes, deer, fox, moose), secretly stuff rocks into our friend's backpack, talk instead of listening about poisonous plants, learn to treat poison ivy, climb the bluffs, admire the beautiful fall colors, explore caves, build catapults, enjoy the campfire, and play capture the flag.

When we camp in the winter, we toboggan, ice fish, play football and Frisbee golf in the snow, play last man standing in the deadly ring of terror, wait till morning to put our gear away, wake up the next morning to find that all of our gear is lost in the snow, cook chili in boiling water, and enjoy a warm campfire.

Besides campouts we also perform service projects for the community such as blood drives and highway cleanup.

COMPETITIONS WITH LOCAL TROOPS

SLIDESHOW

We compete with other Troops in our District at the First Aid meet and Klondike.

At the First Aid meet, adult Leaders simulate a disaster such as a plane crash. The victims wear special makeup to make them appear they are really injured. Troops have to identify what is wrong with each victim and give them the right treatment before time runs out.

Klondikes are themed winter games where Troops have to apply their winter outdoor skills. We race sleds, shoot bows and arrows, throw tomahawks, transport "radioactive" waste without spilling it, sled down hills, use our compass skills to find supplies, compete at building fires, save ourselves from an avalanche, use a rope swing to an island while snow blind (blind-folded), cross a rope bridge, rescue someone fallen through the ice, ice fish, snow shoe race, and cross-country ski.

Together with other District Troops we host the Webelos Klondike and Webelos Woods, themed events for Webelos Scouts.

SUMMER CAMP

SLIDESHOW

Each summer we attend summer camp at Camp Makajawan in northern Wisconsin. We earn merit badges at various stations, shoot a rifle, shot gun, and bow and arrow, shop at the trading post, swim, sail, canoe, play volleyball, eat in the historic lodge, compete on the obstacle course, shoot the rapids in a raft, listen to tales by the campfire, and sleep under the stars without a tent.

ORDER OF THE ARROW

In February, we hold Order of the Arrow elections. Scouts elected are "called out" during Summer Camp at Camp Makajawan in an amazing fire bowl ceremony.

HIGH ADVENTURE

Each summer older Scouts go on a high adventure trek. Troop 1987 does the complete Boy Scout triple crown: Philmont, Boundary Waters, and Sea Base, Bahamas. We can team up with Crew 1987 which has boys and girls ages 14-20.

1. Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico

SLIDESHOW

Here's an example trip. We take a train to Cimarron, NM, eat in the dining car, sleep on the train, and watch scenery from the viewing car.

Our first day we stay in base camp with Scouts from all over the country and attend a stage show under the Milky Way.

For the next week we hike, see wildlife (deer, bears, mini-bears), get caught in torrential downpours, climb 12,441 ft. Mount Baldy, throw tomahawks, brand our gear with a branding iron, shoot our gear with early American long rifles, ride horses, adopt a burro that carries our gear, play mountain ball with the rangers who change the rules so they always win, drink the most wonderful root beer while enjoying a live stage show, climb spar poles, learn blacksmithing, tour a mine, hang gear from our bear line, meet a ranger who was attacked by a bear, engage in team building games, perform a service project to improve Philmont for Scouts who attend in the future, learn to rope cattle, hypnotize chickens, and identify and track animals from their tracks.

We can also attend the Ranch Hands program. We work on the ranch for a week and then get a free week cavalcade. By riding horses we can see more of the camp, including some of the most beautiful parts typically inaccessible to Scouts on foot.

2. Boundary Waters, Canada

SLIDESHOW

Here's an example trip. We fly to Ely, Minnesota. We choose and plot our couse and choose our food.

The next day we fly to a remote location in Canada, clear customs, and set off on our trek.

For the next week we canoe, fish, portage (carry our canoes and gear), swim, cook (especially fish), see wildlife (frogs, turtles, eagles, deer, and moose but luckily no bears), capsize our canoes in a storm, dry out, shoot the rapids, dry out again, pump (filter) drinking water from the lake, cook pancakes, eggs, and sausage at the campfire, see stars and satellites in the sky we can't see from home, portage some more, lose our gear, go back for our lost gear, re-portage, bathe by laying in the rapids, exaggerate the size of the fish we just caught, get lost, get back on course by actually applying our compass skills and portaging though the most awful and disgusting smelly mud, hoist our gear onto the bear line, snooze in our hammocks tied to trees, paddle though lily fields and weeds, shower in a waterfall, camp on an island in a terrible lightning storm, swing from one island to another on a rope swing, snack on a rock, swim where the adult Leaders told us not to swim, after the swim burn leaches off our feet, and camp on a site with twin waterfalls.

On the last day we fly back to base camp, take a real hot shower, eat burgers and ice cream like we just discovered what food is, and sleep while the adult Leaders drive us home.

3. Sea Base, Bahamas

SLIDESHOW

Here's a sample trip. We pass the swim test at the local pool and a few days leter fly to Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. For the next week we sleep wherever we can find a spot on the ship, swim in the ocean, realize that swimming in ocean salt water and waves is much more difficult than the local pool, chart the ship's course, sail the ship, Boogie Board, take a dingy to the islands, tour the islands, catch star fish, snorkel, take underwater pictures of fish including star fish, sea rays, and barracuda, break open cocoanuts and make cocoanut cake, tour an old lighthouse, and shop in the stores for souvenirs.

BROWNSEA ADVANCED TRAINING

As we get older, we need to learn how to Audience the Troop. At Brownsea Training we attend Leadership training classes, take turns Audienceing and following, practice first aid, build camp gadgets, learn advanced knots and lashings, and compete in games.

CAMP STAFF

We can work as staff at Summer Camp at Camp Oakarro, Camp Makajawan, or Philmont Scout Ranch. Camp Oakarro staff runs Cub Scout Day Camp trading post, campfire skits, fishing, ropes, BB guns, archery, and swimming stations. Camp Makajawan staff runs Boy Scout Summer Camp trading post, kitchen, and merit badge stations. Philmont staff serves as rangers showing Troops how to camp at Philmont or run backcountry stations. Camp Makajawan and Philimont staff lives at camp.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

SLIDESHOW

Many international programs are available. An example is the SAJ friendship trip to Japan where 32 Boy Scouts or Venturers are selected as Boy Scouts of America ambassadors to Japan. Scouts fly from here to Dallas for a tour of the BSA museum, fly to Japan, attend workshops with their Japanese counterparts, tour Japan, and stay with a host family.