Volume 4 Issue 5,6,7 ---- December, January & February 1996
Editor: JONATHAN STEAD
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ROCK CLIMBING
On Saturday January 13, the troop participated in it's second annual rock climbing adventure. At the Philadelphia Rock Gym in Oaks PA the scouts could chcoosee to climb walls from a large range of difficulty, so everyone was able to participate in the inter-patrol competition. The rock gym has some really neat walls, including ones that slant backwards over the floor! There is even a walk-in cave that has hand holds on the walls and the ceiling. A good time was had by all!
WINTER CAMPING
During Winter Camping '96 down at Camp Ware, Devon 50 learned many useful skills. The weekend was not like the typical WInter Camp where videos are watched and , scouts sit around playing cards. Many classes wrer taught including First Aid, Knots, Lashings and WInter Wilderness Survival. Beaver Pastrol flaunted its skills with a survival demo by Ollie Uberti (researched by Steve Camman). They also took first place in the knot competition. They finished all the knots a good five minutes ahead of the rest of the troop.
Apart from a few frozen fingers and toes, everyone had a great time.
WHY I LIKE SCOUTING
Why I like scouting, that is a very good question. I like scouting for the adventure, and I like to be trustworthy, loyal,helpful, friendly, courteous ,kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave,clean,and reverent. It is very fun. I love hiking ,canoeing, cooking ,camping ,knots and first Aid. Scouting Rocks!YEAH! There is nothing like the great outdoors ,especially the availability of a bathroom.(tree)
SCOUTING!
Camping Trip
Twenty six bold Devon 50 scouts and seven adult leaders braved the cold (and gave up football games) to receive the January winter camp at Camp John Ware. Green bar set up a schedule of responsibilities, classes, meals, and free time right away. The classes provided many opportunities for individual scouts to show their skills and earn merit badge requirements.
Carl Maloney met first with those scouts not yet First class and gave them an outline of steps and goal setting to help them earn fisrt class within their first year. His main message was to have scouts set goals and share those goals with parents, leaders and adult leaders.
Next Dave Haerland assembled thee entire troop for the coldest first-aid class in recent history. Dave as well as the other patrol members taught first-aid subjects for an hour session, in preparation for the up coming, Council Wide, first-aid meet.
The week before winter camp, Trevor Maloney had met with nine new members in a hands-on knot tying course at Jarvis, to teacch the basic 8 p[Plus 2 knots. At winter camp Sean McConnel again taught all the knots to the entire troop. After Sean's intro to knots, he gave those scouts who thought they already knew the knots the opportunity to be excused from hisd course by testing Mr. Maloney. "Many felt called, but few were chosen". Steve Camman and Carl Maloney tied for knowing all the knots and earned 700 points each for their patrols.
Brian Copeland demoed lashings to all the Scouts in Lawrence Hall. The Hall was the best place to hang out. Larry Norton was either kind enough or desperate enough to maintain a constant wood stove fire.
Jerry Cavanaugh raw K-P during free-time. His motto was "it can't be too hot in the kitchen." (Gas stoves make a more beautiful light in five degree weather.)
Free-time took on a whole new meaning with the rescus mission taken on by most of the Scouts. In exploring, they found the Octaro had flooded about 20 feet over its banks and left stranded many 6 lbs. Carp in large puddles near the bridge. Scouts broke ice, waded in ice water prodded with sticks, grabbed with gloved hands and freed at least 19 good size fish. Throwing them in the riverr, the swore even the most ice-cubed fish came back to life and swam away.
After spaghetti dinner, Ollie Uberti led an emergency winter survival class and led an ingenious night time game that he had constructed with the help of other staff members. Using international rescus signs patrols struck out to find and rescue 5 downed American pilots in Russian territory.
We wrapped up the day with a Campfire (stove fire) in Lawrence Hall. We had invited over the troop from Haverford to share in our game and campfire. Trvor Pye, Dave Haerland, and Dan Spangler put together the 1 1/2 hour campfire and emceed the event for their Communication Merit Badge requirement.
Lights out at 11, and 6 dads braved the bitter cold and slept in Adirondacks or tents to earn or re-earn their "blue beads." Snoring competition again went unjudged.
Sunday morning pancakes warmed the patrols up for the know tying competition of 32 knots in rapoid succession. Beaver took first, Hawk took 2nd and Eagle took 3rd.
All scouts were checked out for warm cars home by 10:30.
Hawk Mountains
On Saturday, November eleventh, the troop took a day trip to Hawk Mountain in order to do some hiking on the Appalacjian trail. We arrived at Hawk Mountain after about an hour and a half of driving. As we started out, the sky was overcast, and the forcast called for rain, but no matter, we'd finish the hike anyweay. At first, the trail was flat, and wit wound it's way through quiet forests, and over clear, cold streams. At length, we reached the foot of the mountain, and the trail became steeper.
After huffung and puffing, we finally reached the top of the ridge, and before us we saw a breathtaking view as the land dropped away into a huge valley and we could see for miles in all directions. We continuedwqlking along the ridge at the top of the mountain, and a strong wind began to blow, but still the rain held off. Everywhere along the trail were rocks, little tiny ones the size of cars, all of them left behind after the glaciers. From here on, going was slow, since we had to pick our way over all the rocks, and even climb huge piles of them. Overhead, we coculd see hawks and other birds of prey drifting high above in the strong wind.
As soon as we finished the hike and stumbled into the Visitor Center, it began to pour buckets! After looking around the visitor center, we sprinted to the cars, and drove to Hags Manor, where we would be having dinner Lancaster County style. The food was great, and there was plenty of it! We all had a terriffic time.
Results of Elk Mountain Ski Trip.
The Elk Mountain ski trip was a great success. There were over thirty scouts that came up for the weekend. We met at the cabin at 5:45 and took rule and left. The drive was two and a half hours but it was all time spent for a good cause.
When we got there everyone who needed to rent went for their skis. Then we went to bed. When we woke up, we put our gear in the basement. Then we skied down for breakfast. Then we had the whole day to ski from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.! We were given lunch tickets so we could eat when we were hungry. We met for dinner late that afternoon. Then we continued to ski that night. For people who were tired there was a movie playing at the halfway house where we stayed. When we woke up, we got breakfast and continued to ski. Everyone left that day when their driver left.
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