Good afternoon!
We had a tired but happy crew of 30 boys and dads return to the church yesterday afternoon from our fabulous base camp in Burro Springs below Wikieup. Crisp cool air, warm sun, yellowing fall colors next to a beaver dammed creek contributed to the setting for our November outing. Campsite highlights included creative cooking (lasagna in a pot?, Dutch oven pizza?), Mille Bornes games by lantern light, scout advancement opportunities, and a roaring midnight campfire. But the main Saturday highlights were the natural warm springs pool where a dozen scouts splashed and frolicked, and a 5 mile climb up to a recently active mining claim, complete with hundreds of abandoned, cataloged drawers of core samples baking in the sun. Earlier in the week, two of our boy leaders met with the Kiva Elementary Webelos II den, and taught a rousing Readyman activity badge session. A half dozen cub scouts sat spellbound for 90 minutes as our boys taught comprehensive basic first aid – complete with Karo syrup fake blood, fake skin, and take-home first aid kits. It is in community service efforts such as this that one can see the impact that our boy scouts have in our neighborhoods – reflected in the sparkling eyes and laughter of a future boy scout, captivated by capable ‘big boy’ scouts.
Looking ahead, we are in the process of final recharter. If you plan on being active on the roster for 2012, please complete final arrangements with Mr. Benyi or Mrs. Traynor if you have not already done so. Our next outing is already coming up in two weeks, and will be a Superstition Mountains backpacking trip in Rogers Canyon to Angel Basin – one of my personal favorites. It is very remote – 25 miles over a rough dirt road to the trail head, and then a four mile hike one way. Our camp site will be near some very well preserved Anasazi ruins, in a meadow at the mouth of several canyons. Later in the month we will also be having a family information session / meeting at the church during an early December (6th or 13th) troop meeting. Please plan to come and discover / provide feedback on directions that the troop committee is proposing we take as we move into 2012.Â
We will be having our normal troop meeting this week on Tuesday night, so if you are in town, please join us. For those of you leaving for the weekend, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving with your family, from all of us in your troop family, and know that we are thankful for you.Â
Mr. Cole