I thought I would provide a report on our pack’s annual camping trip that we just completed last weekend. This was my first full event as Cubmaster and I hope they all go this well. It was a lot of fun for everyone, or at least everyone that I talked to.

We reserved three spots at a group camping area called Pickle Gulch in Arapahoe National Forest. It is a nice area at about 9500’ and the facilities have the potable water and vault toilets per the BALOO requirements. There were 45 scouts, 37 parents and 15 siblings on the trip.

Friday:

In the morning an advance party met up to load the trailer and vehicles with food, the pack’s camping equipment, and the equipment we borrowed from a troop. This year we had two carports, some tables and water jugs we bought from the returning jamboree troops to help set the pack up for years of camping fun!

At the campsite we set up the two 10’x20’ carports for kitchen and eating areas, the big propane grill (grillzilla!) and the tables for the central area of the campsite. We also set up tents and figured out the general layout for where the different dens were going to camp.
The majority of the campers met up in town and caravanned to the campsite. They arrived around 4 PM and began setting up tents. Dinner was served about 6, after a brief flag ceremony.

After dinner we had a short orientation meeting covering camp rules, what to do in an emergency, Leave No Trace and things of that nature. By this time it was 7:30 and dark.
We then organized everyone for a night hike (providing red cellophane for the flashlights) and departed for an area away from camp where we had telescopes, binoculars, and spotting scopes set up for stargazing. We spent about an hour pointing out constellations while groups cycled through using the scopes and finished out the astronomy belt loop. The biggest hit seemed to be the green laser used to point out the stars. Go figure. After a short trek back to camp, everyone headed off to bed.

Saturday:

Revelle was provided by one of the leaders at 7. We had an opening flag ceremony a half hour later and then breakfast was around 8.

After breakfast we hiked up to a day use area for the mornings activities. There were four stations, and the scouts rotated through in half hour increments. There was the geology belt loop taught by a Boy Scout, the volleyball belt loop, a craft area where the scouts made s’mores themed neckerchief slides and a knot station.

After a lunch that was brought to the day use picnic area, we departed on a hike up to a meadow, took a group picture of the pack and headed back to the main camp.
In camp there was some downtime where the dens worked on skits for the campfire, covered rank-specific outdoors requirements, and had a bit of free time to chase each other around.

After flags was dinner, and then the campfire! We had a blast! Songs, skits, more songs, awarding of the belt loops earned over the weekend (we’ll see how many actually made it home to the belts), still more songs, and a Cubmaster’s minute. The skits were great! Some were classics, while a couple of dens made up their own. After the campfire, everyone made their way back to the tents and crashed. Guess it was a busy day. :)

Sunday:

After reveille and the flag ceremony in the morning we had a short interfaith worship service where we sang a few songs and talked about taking care of God’s creation and our fellow inhabitants. After the service we had breakfast and everyone broke camp (where I heard many cub scouts still singing the campfire songs). After a couple of passes to police up the area, we made it back to town around noon. After unloading, a few of the leaders got together and power-washed the packs camping gear and the borrowed equipment so the former can be put back in the storage unit and the latter returned to the Boy Scouts.

Whew! It was a blast, and I can’t wait to do it again next year. I am thankful for the planning and organization of the camping chair, the former Cubmaster, and ALL the other leaders and parents that pitched in. I really do think outings like this are not only great for the boys, but it brings the leaders and parents closer and more willing to help out!

If it would be useful, I can email you copies of the spreadsheets we use for food planning and such.