July 26, 2008

Surprise! Upon arriving in the vicinity of Kelly Lake about twenty miles from home, the older boys, Pihneftuuf Elston, Christopher Riehm and Brandon McCarthy went to look around for a good campsite. Scoutmaster Dolly, who drove the gear pick up with the older boys, went down an incline to look out a potential site, slipped and fell.

That left only the three youngest boys, Cody Sindle, John Cook and Ryan Wilson, who just graduated from Webelos with me to assist her. Thanks to Charles Tello, who was camping in the area and helped us out! Then Quinten Peterson came and got the crew organized to get her safely to camp. The older boys returned to help so that was a big help. There was a rattlesnake a couple feet away from the trail that needed to be taken care of too

Our Scoutmaster was soon sitting in camp with her swelling foot elevated on ice until we could get her to the clinic. The boys fell to work setting up tarps and tents and soon a camp was organized. A campfire circle with downed wood collected by John, Ryan and Cody, provided cooking for hot dogs for lunch.  Everyonce in awhile we’d have showers, but about the time we got another tarp up, it would cease. The boys had fun throwing each other in self defense moves taught by Q!

The boys also pitched in and made venison stew for supper. Under Robyn Eadie’s guidance, Alex and Abbye helped cut the potatoes. When Mia helped and cut her finger, Abbye provided band aid care. Neffers browned the venison. Steven Welin cut up the onion, the most unpopular job of the meal.  The most popular part was s’mores around the campfire, with melody of “Does you Chewing Gum Loose Its’ Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” and stories, (scary and made up with additions by each camper) around the campfire. 

After a good night sleep, despite the rain and lightning off and on, the boys prepared a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes. Brandon cooked up the bacon. All those pancakes disappeared quickly. Boys ate the food they fixed with gusto!

Then it was off to the fishing derby. Surprisingly,  the fish (1500 lbs of fish had been delivered Wednesday before) weren’t biting as well as the day before. Someone caught and released five the day before in a very short time. It is my theory that those released fish went and told the rest of the fish all about the hooks behind the bait!!!

Well, as you know, all the lightening of Friday ended up starting fires in the area, and all around northwest California . The Fire Camp was set up in Gail Zink Park for Siskiyou Fires. The Forest Service will be giving us updates on the fire situation but we have been very grateful that (except for last Sunday) the smoke hasn’t been awfully bad, but it still continues. We are grateful to the Firefighters who have come to battle the wildfires started by lightening!

June 1, 2008

By Judy Bushy

Webelos are the highest Den level in Cub Scouts. Webelos who are ending 5th grade are John Cook, Cody Sindle, and Ryan Wilson. Along with Jeffrey Kanawyer, they have had a great year of new experiences and learning! Having completed the requirements, they bridged to Boy Scouts at a special Pack Meeting June 1st.

 Alex Eadie, James Simmons and Patrol 1 Leader Pihneftuuf Elston welcomed them into the Troop. Friends and Family gathered for hotdogs and hamburger fellowship and to wish the boys well.

January 19, 2008

Happy Camp Boy Scouts have been very busy this fall. All of the merit badges and the camping experiences they have had culminated Friday evening with a Court of Honor held after a dinner at the Assembly of God Church in Happy Camp.

Only James Simmons had already received his Scout badge from when he moved to Seiad Valley from Washington. Now, however, all the members of the troop have received this award. They also have achieved the Tenderfoot rank, first step on their way to earning the Eagle Scout Award which is their goal.

Thanks to Scout Masters, Carol Sharp and Veronica Salvage,Troop 52 had been held together in the past few years. They have worked at Snowcapades and gone to summer camp as well as working on invasive weed projects and planted feed for elk. They also appreciate the community help and support that is given through volunteers and buying popcorn when they are fundraising.

This year the boys got really serious about going on with their steps to achieve the Eagle Scout Award in the future. The new Scout master, Dolly Elston, was enlisted to lead the troop and the Patrol leader from the boys is her grandson Pihmuftuuf Elston. Alex Eadie and Alex Garcia are the two newest members of the group, Alex G. being one of six boys to bridge from Webelos to Boy Scouts a year ago at the Blue and Gold banquet in February 2007 and Alex Eadie joining two months ago. Christopher Riehm, James Simmons and Brandon come from Seiad Valley for the meetings in Happy Camp.

The Troop would really appreciate men who would be willing to volunteer to take the boys hiking and fishing or teach them skills for merit badges. Many of the boys have completed the first aid, canoe, and wilderness survival merit badges and are looking rorward to learning more in the future. Scout Master would appreciate volunteers from the community to hike and teach the boys things for earning the merit badge skills that they will need to accomplish.