Ricketts Glenn 11/13/09 11/15/09
This weekends scouts were Michael, Alvaro, Dan, Nick, George, John, Peter, Michael, Nick, and Pete. Mr. Doris led the crew assisted by Mrs. Conti, Mrs. Ricciardi, and Mr. Bender. The group started off a little later than expected Friday due to some runaway church keys delaying the packing of the trucks. We drove through the rain and after a stop at the Allentown Service Plaza finished our ride to the campground. We made it to Goods, just on the edge of Ricketts Glenn by 11:30 and had camp pitched and set by 12:30. Too tired for anything else everyone climbed into tents and snugged in for a great nights sleep.
The younger scouts made sure everyone was up early on Saturday. After a hearty French Toast and Bacon breakfast cooked up by Nick and John the scouts practiced skills, learning to judge height and age of a tree and knot tying. After some play and lunch, the group went off on a five mile hike through Ricketts Glenn. We saw trees over 300 years old and some beautiful waterfalls. We made it back to camp just after dark and with appetites enlarged by the days hike made short work of the venison and beef roasts Mr Doris cooked up in the Dutch Ovens. After cleanup we retired to the campfire where we surprised Mrs. Ricciardi with a birthday cake. For those that had the energy to stay up the stars were a beautiful sight to behold. Even though there was word of a bear in the area the group slept well, confident that Mr. Benders snoring would frighten off the largest bear.
Sunday morning after breakfast we broke camp and drove to the top of the trail head at Ricketts Glenn. The group split up with Mr. Doris leading the bulk of the crew to Devils Pass where there was rock climbing in the boulder field. Mrs. Conti, Mr. Bender, Alvaro, and Dan headed off to see more water falls. After crossing some perilous water and rescuing one of Dans sneakers from the sneaker sucking bog monster the groups reunited and headed off to home. All in all a great weekend with good weather, plenty of fun and skills.
Fall Camporee 10/16/09 10/18/09
It was a wet weekend at Ockanickon but the rain did not dampen anyones spirits. The Scouts along this weekend were Dan, Nick, George, Peter, Michael, and Jon. Joining the Scouts was Eric a Webelo from a local pack. Adults were Mr. Doris, Mr. Bender, Mrs. Conti, Mrs. Ricciardi and Mr. Dupont. We arrived at camp a little after 8 Friday night during a break in the rain and pithched camp in Comanche. After cracker barrel and the leaders meeting, Mr. Doris played taps and we all bunked down in the adirondacks for the night.
Saturday began wet and rainy but after a hearty French toast breakfast and opening ceremony the Scouts left for the morning program. The Webelos worked on their Archery pins while the Scouts worked on the Fire Saftey Merit Badge.
At lunch we celebrated Mr. D.s birthday with cake, cardas and song.
In the afternoon The Scouts worked on the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge while the Webelos worked on their Fishing pins.
Mr McCullough showed up in the afternoon bringing more birthday cake and much good cheer. While the Souts worked on their merit badge Mr. Bender and Mr. McCullough did their good turn for the day by helping Mrs. Ricciardi find her car keys. After an exhaustive search she found them right where she left them in.
Mr. Doris cooke a delicious Dutch Oven dinner on Saturday night and more birthday cake was had for dessert. Mr. McCullough is a wonderful baker. Saturday night was the campfire and 117 put on the "Pow" skit.
After the council fire the troop had their own fire back at the site where the Scouts stood and talked into the early hours of the morning.
Sunday morning we had breakfast and headed over to Scouts Own Service. After services we headed back to the site and broke camp. After a quick Dillys stop for Root Beer floats we headed for home.
Acagisca 9/25/09 - 9/27/09
Friday 9/25/09 Alvaro, Dan, Michael, George, Nick, Nick, John, Everett, Jeff, Mr. Doris, Mr. James, Mrs Conti, Mrs. Callabro, and Mr. Bender met at the church on time and left for Camp Acagisca. Mrs. Ricciardi and Peter met us at the camp gate which was locked. Luckily Mr. Doris found a Ranger who let us in. By the time we had set up the tents and stowed the troop gear it was going on 10:00. After some relaxation and conversation everybody turned in for the evening.
Saturday arrived early and Michael and John started everyone off with a great breakfast of Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Sausage, Milk, OJ, and Canteloupe. During a post brekfast hike to the beach it was decided that it was more canoe weather than tubing weather. On returning to camp we changed clothes and hiked over to Wind River Campground to rent 4 canoes and 1 kayak. After a 4 mile ride upriver we began our 3 hour tour. Canoe 1 had Mr Doris, Nick and Nick. Canoe 2 had John and Everett. Canoe 3 had Dan and Alvaro. Canoe 4 had Mr. Bender, Mrs Ricciardi and Michael. In the 2 person Kayak were George and Peter. Dan and Alvaro tipped with in minutes of hitting the water and continued to tip and swamp 7 times over the next 4 miles. After a post float analysis we determined it was the canoes fault and not our intrepid padlers. Michael, Mr. Bender and Mrs. Ricciardi tipped once. Mr. Bender can attest to the fact that the water was cold. Mrs. Ricciardi managed to keep her hair dry although nothing else was. Mr. Doris, Nick, Nick, John, Everett, Peter and George made it down river completely dry. After completing our 3 hour tour in a record 4 and 1/2 hours we headed back to camp changed and cooked dinner. Dinner was mac and cheese and tacos with apples. As night fell the rain came in but that did not dampen anyones spirit. The campfire was lit in the pavilion and the Scouts had a good game of UMM-Brella. After the games we all settled in while Mr. Doris enthralled us with tales of the Jersey Devil while Alvaro cooked up Smacos. As the campfire dwindled so did our energy and we all turned in for the night. We fell asleep to the sound of rain hitting our tents. With the exception of Mrs. Callabro,whose tent flooded out, the night passed without incident and no one was a victim of the Jersey Devil.
We all woke up to the rain on Sunday and following a quick breakfast and a jump to Mrs. Contis' battery, courtesy of Mr. James, we broke camp and headed for home. While the rain put a damper on working on the Archery merit badge everyone was in high spirits and it was a fun trip.
Tinicum 8/14/09-8/15/09
Friday 8/14/09 Michael, George, Dan, and Nick were joined by , Joe, Mr.Doris, Mrs. Conti, and Mr. Bender for an overnight at Tinicum. We arrived Friday night and were surprised to find Peter and Mrs. Ricciardi waiting for us. After camp was set Nick and George got the evening fire started. The group stayed up till midnight shooting the breeze before turning in for the night.
The weather was great for sleeping and 8AM came up quick on Saturday. Nick and George cooked their breakfast over an open fire while Dan and Michael cooked up french toast and ham steaks for everyone else.
After breakfast and cleanup we broke camp and headed down to Lambertville where we went on a five mile hike along the canal. During the 2&1/2 hour hike the group completed a scavenger hunt and saw Deer, Turtles and lots of cyclists. Pedestrians stay to the right on the path. The hike ended at Dilly's where we all enjoyed floats and ice cream. After our ice cream, Dan, Michael, Joe, Mr. Doris, and Mr. Bender said good bye to Pete and Mrs. Ricciardi along with Nick, George, and Mrs Conti and we all headed home. A good end to a great trip.
Levittown Lake/Pennsbury Manor 7/11/09
Saturday 7/11 was a busy day for 117. Nick C., George, Jeff C., Everett, Garrett, Daniel and John met at the church at 9am and headed off to Levittown Lake to work on canoe skills and fishing. Mr. Doris, Mrs. Conti, Mrs. Calabro, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Bender, and Maverick joined the scouts on the days events.
The fish were biting at the lake. It seemed that the only reason the fished stopped biting is that they had their fill of meal worms and night crawlers. Aside from all the fish that were caught and released George caught a crayfish the size of a baby lobster. It was great canoe weather and the lake was flat and calm. Jeff and Dan perfected their technique for paddling in circles as opposed to a straight line.
Once our hot dog lunch was done we proceeded to Pennsbury Manor. After an informative video and tour of the grounds we began the orienteering hike to earn the Historic Trails patch. Other than some occasional confusion regarding pacing and direction the hike went off without a problem. It took about 2 hours but the scouts answered all 35 questions and completed the course before closing time.
It was a good day of fun and learning. Congratulations are due to allfor finishing the Fishing merit badge as wells as the Historic Trails patch.
Tamaqua Backpacking Trip 5/16-5/18
Even though the weather was not 100% cooperative everybody had a great time. Alvaro, Jeff, and Dan along with Mr. Doris and Mr. Bender headed out Friday evening. After fortifying ourselves at Roy Rogers we reached Tamaqua at 9:30pm. After a quick hello to Mr. Brozyno we hiked in and pitched camp. The weather was warm and it was a nice hike in. After setting camp and hanging the bear bag everyone turned in for the night.
Saturday dawned gray and early. After a hearty oatmeal breakfast and cleanup the group went on a five mile hike where we did tree identification and looked for signs of wildlife. We saw White Birch, Yellow Birch, Black Birch, White Pine, & Hemlock trees, Blueberry bush, Pin Oak and White Oak trees. We also spotted 41 Red Spotted Salamanders, Deer tracks and scat as well as Turkey scratchings.
Once the hike was done we went to the range where the boys learned gun saftey and shot .22 rifles. The weather was spotty with rain off and on but the sun fought its way through.
After the range we returned to camp where Jeff started the cooking fire and cooked up beef stew for dinner. It was shortly after cooking started that the rain began. Jeff persevered and succeeded in cooking dinner in a heavy rain. The showers were isolated but they seemed to be isolated directly over us. Dinner was hot and filling. With the rain continuing everyone turned in for the night by 10pm.
By the time we awoke Sunday the rain had cleared and the wind picked up enough to dry everything out. Once everyone had breakfast we cleaned the site, packed our gear and hiked out. Unfortunatley it was too windy to fish. After thanking Mr. Brozyno for allowing us to park on his land we hopped in the truck and headed home.
Despite the weather Saturday everyone was of good cheer and the trip was fun for all.
2009 Camporee
Beautiful weather and lots of fun. Scouts in attendance, Mike, Jim, Alvaro, Dan, Jeff, and Nick were joined by 3 Webelos from Pack 110, Jeff C., John, and Peter.
Arrived Friday with plenty of daylight left for setting up camp and a relaxed crackerbarrel. Alvaro was made Camporee SPL at the SPL meeting.
Saturday dawned early and Mr. Doris woke up the camp by playing reveille. Once breakfast was done we all assembled at Opening where everyone found out that Jim and Alvaro had volunteered Mr. Doris and Mr. Bender for the "Are you smarter than a Tenderfoot?" challenge. Following Opening the Scouts and Cubs went off to the fishing presentation and Mr. Doris and Mr. Bender started reviewing their knots and rope whipping ability as well as lashing together the worlds smallest chair as part of their challenge requirements.
After a hearty lunch the crew began assembling the cardboard canoe, aka "the bathtub" or "the battleship" depending who you asked. As lunch ended the group finished the fishing station and moved on to bike saftey. Everyone who went through Bike Saftey got a free helmet. While the Scouts and Cubs were going through their activities, Mr. Doris, Mr. Bender and the other leaders in the "Are you smarter than a Tenderfoot?" challenge were being tested on Totenchip, Flashlight Retrieval from a Mock Latrine, and Rope Whipping and Fusing. This was followed by "Knot Baseball" and a 3 hole Golf course played with clubs lashed together out of branches. Thanks to Mrs. Calabro for lashing together the clubs. It was the longest 3 hole Golf course in the history of humankind. However on review both Mr. Doris and Mr. Bender think 305 strokes on 3 holes is not that bad given the fact that Mr. Benders club strted to disintegrate after 4 strokes and was down to 12 inches by the time he finished.
Prior to evening Retreat the Scouts and Cubs worked on the cardboard canoe. The lesson of the evening seemed to be "You can never have enough Duct Tape."
Jim MC'd the evening campfire where, with the energetic help of the Webelos, the troop put on an enthusiastic version of "The Firing Squad". As the campfire died down the OA call out tok place. Congratulations to Jim for being Tapped Out for OA.
After Astronomy and a brief game of Manhunt everybody went to bed in anticipation of Sundays Cardboard Canoe race.
Once Sunday Breakfast and Scouts Own Service finished the crews took their canoes to the pond. Jim and Dan were our paddlers. After a slow start and to the excited cheers of "Row, Row" our canoe finally got going. While we finished a solid last in the race it was then time for the "Demolition Derby". Twelve cardboard canoes in the pond and last canoe afloat would be the winner. Jim gave his spot to Alvaro who tapped his inner Viking. After a somewhat timid start we pillaged and plowed our way to victory. 117 had the last canoe afloat.
As soon as the canoes were hauled out we headed off to Closing where our intrepid paddlers took the Silver Medal, Mr. Doris and Mr. Bender got their Tenderfoot Badges and the troops were dismissed to break camp, clean up and head for home.
Lets thank all the adult leaders who made this weekend possible. In no particular order, Mr. Doris, Mr. Levan, Mrs. Conti, Mr. Mccullough, Mrs. Calabro, and Mr. Bender.
Earth Day at Silver Lake
Garrett, Jeff, Dan, Nick C., Nick J., and Jim all worked to earn the Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge.
The group worked together to build a Wood Duck house. Other activities included a Soil Hike where no one fell in the water, a back pack gear demonstration, a Crawl Trail,and a Monkey Bridge crossing. One of the more interesting things learned was how to start a fire using steel wool and a 9 volt battery.
A good time was had by all.
CAMPING
at Assateague
