Another Successful Multi-Troop Camp-out!

By Mickey Goodson

Here's another success story involving Soapstone troops using creative approaches to assure a successful monthly camping adventure for their Scouts.

Last weekend, Soapstone Troops 107 (Oakhurst Presbyterian Church) and 134 (First Baptist Church, Decatur) partnered with the Hightower district's Troop 158 (Clarkston United Methodist Church) for a joint camp-out at Stone Mountain Park.  The troops camped in adjacent sites in the park's campground.  But the unique part of the experience was that all the Scouts and most of the adult leaders traveled to the park from their respective churches (and back again the next day) via BICYCLES!  Troop meetings in the weeks preceding the trip focused on bicycle maintenance and safety, and each Scout brought his bicycle to a troop meeting for a safety inspection.

On Saturday morning, the troops gathered at their respective sponsoring churches, and prepared for the trip.  All the gear was loaded into trailers for transport to the park.  Troops 107 and 134 left separately from their Decatur locations and headed east, first on city streets, and finally hooking up with the dedicated bicycle trail in Scottdale.  In Clarkston (about half way from Decatur to Stone Mountain), the Scouts of Troop 158 were waiting with their bicycles, ready to join the ride.  The Scouts enjoyed camping together at the park on Saturday night, preparing lunch, dinner, and breakfast in their campsite.  Another highlight of the trip was enjoying the laser show at the park on Saturday night.  After breaking camp on Sunday morning, each troop conducted a worship service before beginning the ride home.  The Scouts of Troop 134 are even considering participating in this year's week long "Bicycle Ride Across Georgia" (BRAG), a ride from Hartwell to Saint Simon's Island in June, camping and cooking each night along the way.

Troops 134, 107, and 158 first camped together last June when they were assigned to the same campsite at summer camp.

For more information about the bicycle trip to Stone Mountain, contact the Scoutmaster of any of the three troops: Trey Palmer (T134), Vinny Ferguson (T107), or Tom Monroe (T158).