We have just returned from the West Point Camporee. Here is a link to some pictures with others sure to arrive as other participants send them to me. I wish I had gotten more pictures of the troop gateways, some of which went well beyond elaborate and bordered on the bizarre.
One of the things that struck me as we set up and struck our campsite was how light we travel. All troop gear fit in Mrs. Griffiths Sequoia with room to spare. OK–I will admit that when the vehicle was parked in my driveway, the neighbors thought we had added a room, but there are troops out there that pack so much stuff that they have to make ten or more trips to get it all to the campsite. We can do it with one trip for troop gear and one for personal gear.
We also know how to cook and clean up efficiently. We keep a clean campsite. And we are quiet at night.
The weather was fantastic with just enough rain to remind those who did not bring them that rain gear and a day pack are essentials. Every time we go on a hike, a Scout should have: Day pack, rain gear, small flashlight, first aid kit, and water bottle. For those who read the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy, I have always thought that the admonition to bring along a towel is sound. Of course, a real neckerchief will suffice … and even the “new” triangular neckerchiefs will do. The original neckerchief was square, somewhat larger, and was designed to be much more than a uniform accessory.
A huge Thank You to Mrs. Ho who drove the second early car and to Joey, Eliot, Wilson, and Ray who set up the campsite so that the other Scouts and adults would not have to work in the dark pitching tents. They really wanted to go on the tour, but the thought of twelve more Scouts and adults from Troop 160 arriving in the dark kept them hard at work.
This is a different kind of event for us. West Point does a great job of bringing together 3,000 plus Scouts from more than 100 troops and there is always something for everybody.
This year we had a couple of close-up displays in the form of a Civil War Union cavalry reenactment company with one platoon doubling as a Southern cavalary platoon. They brought along a cannon as well. Later in the afternoon we saw a demonstration parachute jump from a helicopter, then got to look at the helicopter really close up.
West Point supplies a Cadet sponsor for each troop. Unfortunately, Zach Griffiths could not be with us this year, but Phil Hokenson, a graduating senior, stood in for him nicely. He taught us to march with some semblance of order and he helped us get rid of some of that food we brought with us. Thank you Phil!
A huge thank you to Mr. Griffiths for putting all of this together. He didn’t even get the fun of going so thank him when you see him.
One Response to “Scoutmaster Minute: An occasional newsletter for Scouts and parents: May 8 edition”