under construction, being updated.

We appreciate any pictures you may have that we can upload to the website.  Please make a copy on a CD (we'll replace the CD) and give it to me or an adult leader to update.  Thanks!!

April 17-19 2009

Maquoketa, IA

Maquoketa Caves

We arrived at the caves on Friday April 17, at about 9:00pm.  We set up our tents and some of the scouts played a couple of games of cards before going to bed.  The next morning, we set up our chuck-boxes and made breakfast.  The adults had their morning announcements and after that we went “caving”.  About 5 minutes into caving, Brett S. got stuck in the mud - luckily I had my trusty gloves to help him out of the 2-inch mud.  There was one refreshing cave, the Ice Cave.  It seemed like 40 degrees in the cave itself.  The younger scouts (the Indian patrol and some members of the Cobra patrol) went to all of the caves!  And they all agreed that the Wye Cave was the best one.  Except for the dead raccoon in the way, it was a cool cave.  One cool surprise was a mushroom that glowed when you put your hands around it.

Meanwile, The Mustang patrol and some of the Hawk patrol members went “swimming” in a nearby river. They were pole jumping the river and Tim L. was mid-flight when his pole snapped in half and he fell to his doom!  No, not really.  He just fell into the river on his back and we all helped him out and to safety.  After that we went back to the camp site and changed clothes.  After exploring the caves some more, we went back to the camp site all tuckered out. When we finished lunch, we were supposed to go on an 18-mile hike (I personally don’t think it was 18 miles) but the adults said that it was, so nobody wanted to go on the hike.  We all wanted to keep exploring caves.

We passed a balancing rock which was really cool.  The newer scouts tried to push it off its rock that it was balancing on (Shhhhh don’t tell anyone).  That happened on the way back to the camp site for the last time on Saturday afternoon.  Chaney made the axe yard for the scouts that didn’t already have their Totin’ chips.  Some scouts played Frisbee and some whittled sticks that they found.  Some just talked. We made dinner and had the usual contest for the best food. The Hawks won with a slight lead with Colby Jack Cheeseburgers. The next morning we packed up our tents just as the rain started, and left the camp site tired and ready for our own beds.  And a shower.

Lowden Boy Scout Camp Campout

March 20-22, 2009

We arrived at Camp Lowden Friday night and, being the only troop there, we set up our tents where we wanted and went to sleep. The next morning, we unloaded the chuck boxes and made breakfast.  After breakfast, we went on a 5-mile hike around the camp.  After we returned, the new scouts (the Cobras and Indians patrols) were instructed by Chaney D., Ben S., and Matt T. to get their Totin’ Chits.  Meanwhile, Jason V. and Marty V. collected fire wood, with help from some of the adults.  At about 5:00pm we started making dinner. There was a Contest to see which patrol made the best food. The Hawks made Spaghetti, the Cobras made really good hamburgers, the Indians also made hamburgers, and the Mustangs made hamburger burritos, which none of the adults had heard of before. The winning patrol for best dinner was the Cobras patrol.  About eight Scouts decided to stay in the cabin on Saturday night where it was a little bit warmer and the bunk beds were more comfortable.

It was a really fun campout and we had awesome weather for the weekend.