Troop 212 2024 Cardinal District Camporee Write-up By: Vivek Chintala This year’s District Camporee started with our troop meeting up at the Bicycle Chain and going to our campsite, Magnolia, in Camp Durant. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out by the campfire before we called it a night. We woke up early the next morning to get the Dutch ovens ready for the Mountain Man for breakfast. After breakfast, we cleaned up and started changing into our uniforms for flags. After flags, we started pairing up with buddies and got ready for the activities. Almost all of us started out by making leather bracelets at handicrafts and went to the activity field for sand sifting and to play some football. After that, we ate quesadillas for lunch. Then, we cleaned up and got ready for our second round of activities. Before we started activities again, we all went to the trading post for some items. We did ax throwing, and also did an activity where we had to build a fire which would burn through 2 different ropes. We then split up until 4 when all activities ended. We then had pasta for dinner and we also hung out in the campsite until it was time for the campfire at 8. We started the campfire off with some skits from many troops. Members from the Order of the Arrow came and started the campfire. One member started doing a call and the others responded back with the same call. Next, there was an EPIC ceremony with the responders coming into the center of the area
Troop 212 2024 New Scout Boot Camp Write-up By: Vivek Chintala This year’s Boot Camp started like every other boot camp- a bunch of new scouts at the muster eager for their first camping trip by themselves. So we all met up at the Food Line muster and drove out to Camp Campbell in Virginia to campsites 22-25. The first night we had a fire until lights out. But, then the Civil war of the Fire Monkeys began and went on for some time until there was a broken tent! Finally, they had a truce until the next day. We all woke up on Saturday, half of us were warm during the night, and the other cold. Nonetheless, we cooked breakfast. The new scouts used a Dutch oven for their breakfast which was Mountain man, but it did take a while, so in the meantime, the scouts warmed their hands up around the hot coals. Their first activity was with fire, which was instructed by me and Ethan Fuller. The scouts learned the different ways to build a fire before lighting it. Next, they learned how to use propane stove and backpacking stoves, and learned when they should use them. Then, they went over to the shelter and each scout had to build and make a fire last for at least 2 minutes. ALL of the scouts passed with flying colors! Thats how all of the new scouts officially got their Firem’n Chit. Then they went over to the axe yard with their troop guides and met their instructors there, Zachary Sandman and Ian Fuller.They learned how to safely enter and exit an axe yard, how to safely give the tools to other scouts, and how to safely use an axe, pocket knife, and a saw. They then completed the requirements for the Totin’ Chip, which allowed them to whittle in their free time. Then after lunch, we took a break for an hour before starting with the activities again. The new scouts learned the knots needed for Scout rank. They were the square knot, two half-hitches, tautline hitch, and the bowline knot. Later on, they moved onto to navigation with Mr. Verdery, where they learned how to navigate with tent stakes and how to use compasses. After the activities, the scouts just hung out and played some games like football and hide and seek. Then the new scouts cooked quesadillas in foil packets, which were put in the fire. Then everyone went over to the adult campsite and learned how to properly use a Dutch oven and even helped with the preparations for 3 different types of cobbler, apple, chocolate and blueberry. Afterwards, everyone went back to the other campsite while the cobbler was cooking and just hung out by the fire until Mr. Verdery and Mr. Wall showed the new scouts nighttime navigation with the stars. They learned how to find the true north and how to find constellations. But since there was cloud cover, they weren’t able to see the Big Dipper. By the time nighttime navigation ended, the cobbler was over. So we all went back to the adult campsite and had some delicious cobbler. Then all the scouts hung out by the fire after returning back to the campsite until lights out. As the sun rose on Sunday, the scouts started packing all their gear up and ate a light breakfast. After breakfast, we started to clean up and put our patrol boxes and personal gear by the trailer. Then we did some quick police lines to make sure that the campsite was clean. Lastly, before we left, we all did Roses, Buds and Thorns, where we basically told everyone what we liked about the trip, what we didn’t and what we could improve on in the future. That's all!
Troop 212 2024 Winterblast By Elliott Qualls Well, Winterblast was certainly… a blast. It was delayed due to heavy storms, so muster was bright and early on Saturday. Well, early, at least. It was still pretty dark out. We split up into cars and arrived at good ol’ Camp Durant. We had breakfast in the Grand Lodge, then headed to set up camp. Pretty soon, it was time for us to begin merit badge classes. So we each headed to our first 3-hour class. After class, we headed to lunch. There was a Scout from the Czech Republic there, and he was giving a speech for the Scouts who were taking Citizenship in the World. Then, rinse & repeat. We went to class and met back up for dinner. After that,we had another 3-hour evening class, and then went to bed. The next day was quite similar. Class, lunch, class, dinner. Dinner was… interesting. It was some really good lasagna. So, naturally, I went and got seconds when they announced it. When the guy behind the counter asked me what I wanted, I responded with, “As much lasagna as I am legally allowed to have”. He laughed, picked up the serving spoon, and put it back down. Then he tried to scoop the lasagna with my tray, then just stood there, calculating. Eventually, he pulled the lasagna pan out and put the whole darn thing on my tray. When I got back to the table, we all started hysterically laughing, and remained like that for a few minutes. Also, James started collecting cookies, asking everyone to give him their extras. He walked out of the lodge that night with a styrofoam container filled with what, 30? Scout camp truly is an absurd place. Anything can happen. There was a small campfire that night. After that, we mainly just sat around and went to bed. The next morning was pretty fast. Get up, pack up, walk up to the Grand Lodge to get some of the grab & go breakfast. We did a Rose & Thorns and police line. Eventually, we were just waiting for Mrs. Fuller to arrive so that we could split up into cars. But then, Ethan revealed his “new superpower”. He snapped his fingers, and around the corner came Mrs. Fuller’s car. So we divided up and were homeward bound. It was an awesome weekend, overall. There were so many fun merit badge opportunities. There was a Polar Plunge, where you jump into the freezing lake. And, of course, the many visits to the reading Post & Grill. I hope to do it again with the troop someday.