Our annual Fall Camp-out has come and gone but what a great event it was! We started something new this year at Pack 83 by having each of our Dens lead our different events throughout the year. The Wolf Den was up to bat first with the Fall Camp-Out, which if we think about was a pretty daunting task as they have only attended one since they started as Tigers last year, but that didn’t stop our Wolf Den! They came up with great activities, involved the whole den and created options that ranged in interest level from Kindergarten (Lions) through 5th Grade (Arrow of Light). They teamed up with Troop 83 to provide help, cooking and even a lesson for the Bears on Dutch Oven cooking at a camp out! Delicious!
The camp-out started with a new Wolf parent leading a hike through the woods. This is our first time doing it and what an extra special treat to have someone as experienced as Jason leading the scouts! He had a large group of scouts and parents but he took special care to discuss the BSA Buddy System and he utilized the Boy Scouts, with Troop 83, to serve as markers (when he found something he wanted everyone to be able to see), as branch holders (so no little scouts got pummeled by branches) and as barriers to keep kids from going off path. The scouts were able to see many different things in the woods. For some this was their first official scout hike, but we promise it will not be their last!
When the scouts returned from their adventures in the woods they made marshmallow catapults and painted kindness rocks to spread around Denver! Our older scouts, (Bears and above) who have earned their whittling chip, made their own pencils using parts of a tree! They carved their pencils carefully and even followed the Blood Circle! In fact, I got too close to a scout, he looked at me, stretched his arm out and got up and moved! I guess I should have paid more attention to his blood circle but kudos to that scout for knowing the right thing to do! With their pencils the scouts wrote thank you notes to local police officers and firemen that will be delivered as a group! All these activities helped many of our Scouts earn their Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award for the year!
And of course Kickball! Troop vs Pack! And our scouts hung with the big boys! Kickball then, of course turned into Dodgeball! It’s not a Pack 83 event without Dodgeball!
But alas it was dinner time and the Troop was called in to put to use some cooking skills they had recently learned! Hamburgers and Hot dogs were on the menu and the Troop prepped, cleaned, cooked, served and helped clean-up AND entertained some hungry scouts before it was dinner time!
Right before our campfire program started a couple of the Troop Leaders worked with the Bear Den to show them how to cook with Dutch Ovens and they made AMAZING Cobblers and Brownies! This helped the Bears complete their Bear Necessities Requirement.
After the Webelos got a great fire started Cub Master Ryan started his Campfire Program! Did you know Ryan Blionson holds the record for kicking the fastest soccer goal in his high school? In 8 secs he had a goal scored! Did you know that Webmaster Adam Coleman could fly before he could drive! Did you know that Bear Leader Josh Yarbrough makes and INCREDIBLE mooing sound? Just like the real thing! Our treasurer Jeff did scouts at Hills Chapel! Now his son does, how awesome is that! Pack Trainer Paul Jacob used to have a pet Kangroo…I guess it helps being from Australia! Matt Shipman, Tiger Leader, is a 4×400 high school champion! Webelos Leader Brandon McConnell was President of Lake Norman Toastmasters (public speaking)! Arrow of Light Leader Mark Grabants has seen 2 of the 7 Wonders of the World! We have a great group of leaders that work hard to create a great program at Pack 83!
After learning some interesting facts we sang a song, watched our scouts perform skits, played reverse charades and retired flags!
This was a great camp-out and great start to our year! We are looking forward to our next events! Thank you to everyone who came, pitched in, brought items, planned, laughed and most importantly, had fun!
