Spring Camporee, Orange County Speedway

I have to admit that I did not know what a “2peat” was when James V said it to me on Sunday morning. I assume some of you do not know what it is either. So let me tell you: 1) it means winning something two times in a row; 2) James used it because Troop 9 won the Blue Ribbon for Best Overall Patrol at this past weekend’s Orange District Spring Camporee! James also led Troop 9 to win the Fall 2006 Orange/Mawat District Fall Camporee’s Blue Ribbon for Best Overall Patrol. A 2peat for sure!

James led Daniel R, James S, Will C, John P, Nathan H and Mark M in a two night campout for the Orange District Spring Camporee at the Orange County Speedway in Rougemont (12 miles East of Hillsborough). The campout’s centerpiece was an Iron Chef Competition, in which Scouts from Troops all over Orange County had 3 hours to prepare and serve a chicken main course, vegetable dish, potato dish and desert made from bananas to a panel of judges from the Orange District Committee. Without any adult leaders’ help - we had to leave! Good thing our boys practiced a few times! The scene was quite amazing. The results:
• Potato Latkes – Daniel R and Mark M – 1st Place
• Banana Ice Cream – John P and Will C – 2nd Place
• Snow Peas and Pineapple – James V and Nathan H – 2nd Place
• Dutch Oven Chicken Wings – James S – 2nd Place
• Overall Meal – preparation, cleanliness, complexity and presentation – 2nd Place
◦ clean dish towels at a three-bucket washing station, printed recipes, candle-lit table set with red, white and blue picnic-ware and American flags, Dutch Oven Hot Towels and Philmont Grace wallet card gifts for the judges.
The recipes can be found at http://t9ch.org/Docs/IronChef.html
The Scouts also led a timed pancake preparation/cooking/carrying competition in the morning for all Troops to participate in. This generated a large pile of pancakes to be used in a Guinness World Record attempt for pancake flipping, but we MISSED IT due to having to move our shelter canopy before the Iron Chef Competition started. We flipped the pancakes (at each other) as a Troop anyway, and everyone had a blast.

Later on Saturday, we led 44 Scout volunteers in singing “If I Weren’t a Boy Scout” and the assembled masses in singing “Zulu Warrior” at the campfire. The songs can be found at http://t9ch.org/Docs/06-07/CamporeeSongs.html

James S, Will C, John P, Nathan H and Mark crossed over a ceremonial bridge to Boy Scouting with about 80 other former Cub Scouts from Orange District Packs. They received beautifully decorated arrows from Jim Summers, the District Chairman.

This was followed by a flag retiring ceremony and ashes ceremony. As has become our custom, we added Troop 9 ashes to the fire and took ashes in the morning. We will update the "pedigree" history and distribute the ashes at the May Court of Honor. This was the first Boy Scout campfire for Nathan H, Will C and Mark M. You can see the ceremony and Troop 9's pedigree here http://t9ch.org/Docs/CampfireAshesPedigree.html

Daniel R, James V and Wayne V were selected to join the Order of the Arrow in an impressive torch-lit ceremony complete with an OA Ceremonial Dance; The Order of the Arrow is the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers.

On Sunday morning, John P opened the assembly by leading the masses to call out “Good Morning Orange County – Good Morning Hillsborough – Good Morning Chapel Hill – Good Morning Carrboro” as loudly as they could. It was quite loud. I am certain you heard it if you were not in camp!

Daniel R led the Scouts’ Own program of spiritual readings and group songs. Daniel selected the passages to touch every Scout’s heart rather than appeal to any particular religious beliefs. James V lead the responsive reading and a silent observance. John P led two group songs and read the closing passage “an old Irish blessing”. Nathan H collected $236 in donations for the World Friendship Fund during the program. An old tradition in Scouting worldwide, A Scouts Own is not very know in our District. Troop 9’s presentation was very well received with many compliments from District Scouters. The program can be found at http://t9ch.org/Docs/06-07/ScoutsOwnBookletApril292007.pdf

Finally, the presentation of all the awards culminated in the Best Overall Blue Ribbon given to the Scouts of Troop 9. A 2peat.

Congratulations to all the Scouts and Scouters who participated.

YiS, the Scoutmaster

Trip Sheet Pictures

Craighead Caverns

The only hard part was the almost 7 hour drive back in Sunday. We left at about 9:30am, and arrived back in Chapel Hill around 4:45, with a couple of stops in between. A three night trip, with a stop at Lake James both ways, would have been ideal. A one night trip would be very ugly.
Every boy on the trip said they wanted to do it again. Soon.
We ultimately had 10 on the trip (seven boys, plus three adults).
Lake James was beautiful and could be considered for a fishing trip in the future.
We had an ashes ceremony at the morning campfire at Lake James.
There were 7 groups caving at one time, about 125 people in all. There were two other Scout Troops.
Although there were other groups, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and led us univocally. We hardly saw anyone else except when we returned to the largest rooms to go to sleep.
We were the only group with helmets, although I recommend them even more highly after this trip.
Future caving trips need helmet and light fitting done at a troop meeting prior.
The sleeping area's floor was damp. future trips need to bring large tarps as a base for their sleeping bags, etc. Oh yes, you get really dirty.
We received patches for all the attendees - to give out at the next COH.
The adults led the Scouts Own on Sunday morning. We invited Troop 1776 from Marietta Ga to join us.

Johnston Mill Nature Preserve Webelos Hike

Troop 9 Family,

Yesterday's Webelos Day Hike produced outstanding results, notwithstanding the inclement weather, and I thought you would appreciate knowing more. Dave Filpus suggested the ideal location for a Webelos day hike. Wayne Vanderburg and I walked the Johnson's Mill trail on Saturday, identifying where we wanted our Scouts to set up teaching locations and trying to anticipate issues that might arise. But, by 12:30pm on Sunday, the rain was turning to ice in Chapel Hill. We decided to postpone and reschedule the event in order to avoid dampening anyone's enthusiasm for Boy Scouting with a day hike on a slippery, icy trail in freezing rain. James and Wayne called the Troop members who had committed to attend, and I called the Webelos parents I had spoken with previously, to advise of the reschedule. No one seemed surprised.

Wayne recommended that we go out to Johnson's Mill and inform anyone who showed up in the parking lot of the reschedule. Our expectations were so low that we were certain we would stand outside in the freezing rain for an hour by ourselves. James, Wayne, my son Garrett and I met in the parking lot at 1pm. A few minutes later, ASM Matthew Grady showed up. Then the first parent showed up with his Webelos son - they had both been at December's Movie Day recruiting event. As we were talking about the need to reschedule, five more cars pulled in. It was exactly 1:30. The rain was coming down steadily, mixed with some ice. Then Scout Sprit took over!

The Webelos said they wanted to see the trail anyway, and the rain did not matter to them. With the consensus of their parents, we agreed to an abbreviated hike that would fulfill the Arrow of Light requirements. James stepped up to lead the six Webelos and Garrett as a Patrol, followed by Wayne, Matthew, myself with the six parents. First, we stopped by the picturesque site of the old Johnson Mill to let James talk to the Webelos about Troop 9. We showed everyone the Eagle Project that was recently completed on the site, and answered more questions about the Troop and Boy Scouting. Then, James led everyone on the loop trail. We stopped twice, for James to teach the Scout Sign, Salute and Handshake, and recite the Oath and Law for them. The rain and temperature were not as bad as had been feared, and we returned to the parking lot after about an hour on the trail. Matthew helped me pass out information brochures to the parents, and skill worksheets to the Webelos. Everyone had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, in spite of the rain and cold temperature.

Two of the parents were Den Leaders. They said they would like to return with more Webelos from their Dens when we reschedule the hike. We made a very positive impression on our visitors, and I want to commend James for showing awesome Scout Spirit yesterday. Also, a big "thank you" to Wayne and Matthew for displaying great leadership qualities to the Webelos parents. Troop 9 could not have looked more impressive to our visitors. You truly helped "turn lemons in to lemonade" for those Webelos families and Troop 9.

Yours in Scouting,

Gregg

Eno River State Park

Length: Two nights
Crew: Three adults, four Scouts
Day One
Backpacked about three quarter of a mile to the group campsite at Few's Ford. We had to cross a pedestrian suspension bridge to get there. Set up camp.
Day Two
Since we did not have a Few's Ford for Saturday night, we moved camp to the new Piper Creek campground at Cole Mill. We backpacked out to the cars and hiked into the campground. We were the first campers to camp at Piper Creek. Only one site had a fire ring built, so that's where we camped.
The newest Scout in the troop had a magnesium fire starter. He taught the other boys how to use it. The leaders are trying to buy their own.
Day Three
Returned to Chapel Hill.