There is no bad weather .. Just bad clothing

Troop 287 was represented by 13 hearty Scouts at the Pathfinder District Fall Camporee at W.K. Kellogg Forest held on the weekend of October 5, 2001.

Arriving at the forest during a rainstorm we set up camp in the dark. When we were done setting everything up, the rain stopped!

We were honored to have the new Pathfinder District Executive, Jennifer Pevey, join our troop for the Camporee. Unfortunately Saturday morning she burned her hand with hot water and left during the afternoon but did return on Sunday morning.

Before the sun was in the sky, Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. Clark was doing bugle duty with an arousing rendition of revile at 7:00 Saturday morning. The Scouts made breakfast and we assembled for flags and daily instructions. Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. Clark did the honors of bugle duty at flags because the assigned bugler was missing.

During the morning we were escorted through the forest by a Naturist from Western Michigan University as we learned about tree specimens at the Kellogg Forest, some history of the forest, life cycle of the forest, native trees and not so native trees in the forest. The Scouts collected the 15 leaf samples needed for Forestry Merit Badge. We finished the 2-1/2 mile hike in time for lunch.

Well fed, we headed to the trails again this time our guide was a Forester from Michigan State University. Following the sleet storm we hiked the same trail but learning about forest management, conservation, forest types, tree production, testing, and the types of experiments being done at the Kellogg Forest. We finished the 2-1/2 mile hike in time to participate in camp games.

Tying a timber hitch to a log and pulling it in a race was easy for troop 287. As planned SPL Nate Ekola tied the knot and three other Scouts pulled the log. Then we were challenged to a friendly game of tug a war with Troop 205. We did it twice but their muscles were just a little bigger than ours.

We had several Webelo Scouts visit during the afternoon. Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. Slade showed them around the Camporee and three stayed for dinner. One patrol prepared boiled dinner while the other cooked spaghetti with salad. No one left hungry.

At the campfire Troop 287 did the Train Station skit. The audience was starting to participate in the skit quite actively and vocally as Tom Chodl had the power of the camp. We had one of the new skits presented at the campfire.

Troop 287 proudly accepted Second Place for the Scout Spirit Award. Not realizing we were being judged, we won it by being ourselves and doing what we always do on campouts. That says a lot for our Scouts! There were 18 troop with about 250 Scouts at the Camporee.

The campfire concluded with the retirement of several flags and everyone left in silence to return to camp.

Saturday was a busy day, hiking over 5 miles in the cold. By 10:00 our Scouts were in bed! When Mr. Clark played taps at 10:30 he woke some Scouts up to tell them it was time to go to sleep!

Assistant Scoutmaster Mr. Clark didn't get the message that revile was going to be at 7:30 Sunday morning and he lost a half-hour of restful sleep! Everyone was up by 7:30 for breakfast, flags, church and a 2-hour Service Project for the Forest. Some Scouts spread wood chips on trails while others "planted" logs on the hill of a trail. This is to help stop erosion of the soil.

We concluded the Service Project at 12:30, took down camp and reflected on the weekend. We discussed the principles of Leave No Trace during the weekend and when our campsite was being inspected the question was asked, "where was your camp set up?" In the spirit of LNT, we did good!

This was a weekend of learning, work and fun. Our Scouts learned a lot about our forests and the delicate balance of nature, they learned about food management, menu planning, cooperation, the dangers of fire, and what is necessary to stay warm and dry on a fall campout.

Arriving back at CHUM about 2:15 we had 13 tired Scouts and 4 leaders.

Scouts who attended were:

SPL - Nate E, ASPL - Dustin B, Quartermaster - Brad C, Historian - Matt G, Grubmasters - Evan K and Rob G, Scouts - Tom Cl, Steven B, Kyle P, Sean C, Sam Cl Will M, and Eric S.

Special thanks to:

Jim Chodl for transporting the trailer, Dave Slade, Joel Clark and Don McQuitty as Assistant Scoutmasters.

Dan Bunker

Acting Scoutmaster

For the Camporee

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