Troop 281 Cincinnati, OH

Team Building      This week, the youth staff gave an interactive skill session on team building. The troop was split into groups to go through a rotation of seven stations. The stations had to do with things like coordination, trust, and getting to know people. After the entire rotation had been, well, rotated, the troop gathered again to play another crazy game of dodgeball. Once the throwing and slamming was over, we fell in for final announcements. The troop then circled up. Some Scouts were recognized for rank advancement. Mr. Todd ended with his Scoutmaster minute, remembering the life of Mr. Bill McNeese, who recently passed away.

Rainy Weather Camping Night        This week, we had a skill session on rainy weather camping. We began with flags and announcements. Mrs. Haught reminded everyone to turn in their popcorn forms. Then Mr. Todd and Mr. Wilson gave a presentation about rainy weather camping, and how to keep yourself, your stuff, and the inside of your tent dry. They talked about the great importance of rain gear, making sure it’s waterproof, and keeping it waterproof. Then they demonstrated how to put up your tent without it getting the tent itself soaked. After this the Scouts set up tents in the room using that strategy. Once this helpful skill session was through, we fell in, circled up, and dismissed with more knowledge of wet camping than we’d had a few hours before.

Sports Night        This week, we had some sports/games. After flags, some people went outside to play Ultimate Frisbee, while others stayed inside to play soccer. For quite a while, Scouts had fun by throwing, running, kicking, and playing around. The fun eventually came to an end as nine o’clock came near. We fell in for final announcements, and then circled up. Some rank advancement was announced/awarded and then we dismissed.

Peterloon      For this month’s campout, we went to Peterloon. Peterloon is the Dan Beard Council’s council jamboree, and the longest running one in the world. Held at Cub Scout Adventure World, part of the Dan Beard Scout Reservation, thousands of people come to Peterloon when it is held every two years. Scouts from troops near and far come to learn, have fun, and explore.        When our troop got there, it was pretty messy. It was steadily raining, and the ground was so muddy that cars, vans, and trucks were getting stuck on the roads, with their tires spinning and spraying mud all over. In fact, Scouts were getting stuck, too. After a while of sloshing and trudging the flat but treacherous road to Sub Camp 5, we found our campsite and got to work. We unloaded the trailer, put up pop-up shelters, set up patrol boxes, and set up our tents. After that was done, everyone had some time to look around and get settled in. ...

Dodgeball, Equipment Loading, and Other Things      This week we had the long awaited dodgeball tournament. The troop was divided into four teams. Then we began the hurling of gator-skin balls across the room. Once this great thing was over with, we fell in. However, some Scouts were disrespectful, talking and being disruptive. So because of this we had to stand with our signs up for six minutes in total. After we were able to relieve our arms, there were some announcements and rank advancement. Then we put all of our personal gear for Peterloon in the trailer. And once the trailer doors were shut, everyone left.