Events from December 2011

While this first event actually finished in late November, many of the scouts did not get their blue cards signed off until December so it is being posted here.

A group of scouts including Grant H., James B., Nick T., Cole D. Alex B, and Robert P. all pedaled from the north shore to the south shore and back again to fulfill the 50-mile ride requirement for the CYCLING merit badge.

This badge is an Eagle Required badge that can be used in place of HIKING or SWIMMING.

The ride was the the crowning event of several rides required to complete the badge

Mr. Herrmann was the counsellor for the badge and joined the boys for every ride as did David Takach, Carl DeMarco and Brian Bindert.

A job well done by all.

On December 10th and 11th, the troop made a trip to the Fire Island National Seashore and hiked in a few miles along a wilderness stretch of the island toward Bellport Beach.

Several adult also made the trip including Mr. Bindert, Mr. Herrmann, Mr. DeMarco, Mr. Takach, Mr. Baxley and Mr. Fabrizio.

The hike started fron the boardwalk to the west of Smith’s Point beach.

The boardwalk spilled the boys onto the soft sand on the ocean side.

….and a few miles later reached the level sandy spot that would be BASECAMP.

So how many adults does it take to setup a Timberline II troop tent?

A briefing from the SPL and ASPL for the campout…

They then met with the Ranger.

The ranger explained to the scouts how to identify the ENEMY….the Japanese Black Pine.

The needles are the key with the JBP having only two in a bunch.

Then it was time to gather the saws….

….and trudge off to the area where the conservation project was to be done and the JBP needed to be cut down.

Some last minute direction from the ranger at the site and the battle would be joined.

Not only did the scouts have to cut down the trees but also were required to pick off the pinecones from the branches so the seeds would not plant more JBP that did not belong there.

Hayden was the chief pinecone scout.

He collected and bagged hundreds and hundreds of pincones…..Great Job Hayden!!!!

The cutting went on for hours and the limbs where stacked in piles and them loaded into pickup trucks for disposal.

The campout SPL (above) worked alongside the other scouts as did the ASPL (below). You gotta love “LEADING BY EXAMPLE”.

After the last truck was heaped full, it was back along the beach to basecamp and a little beach frisbee before dinner.

Dinner involved dehydrated meals and lighting stoves in the wind.

Some found the wind break of a driftwood log to cook next to.

As the sun got low in the sky, the shadows got long and it began to get cold but the sky was a beautiful sight.

As the full moon rose into the night sky, the scouts headed off to bed early. With no fire (wilderness rules) and a hard day of work behind them, the sleeping bags seemed the place to be.

The next morning it was up early for the hike back out.

…and then back to the cars and home to a warm shower and video games

The December 15th meeting brought the troop to the Mills Pond Nursing Home where the scouts helped the residents play BINGO and just basically kept them company for a couple of hours.