Spring Camp-O-Ree

May 3,4,5  2002

“Boy Scout Camp” on the Marias River

near the Moffat Bridge approximately 7 miles below Tiber Dam

(85 miles from Gt. Falls)

 

Theme: As this is near Father’s Day & Mother’s Day, the scouts will be showing off their fancy cooking & other scouting skills to mom & dad & other special guests (scoutmasters, assistant scoutmasters, committee members, contest judges etc.).

 

Contests are all based primarily on the requirements for advancement in rank & merit badges.  See your scout book & reference the requirements for the cooking requirements.  The patrol method, cooperation, problem solving, team work & “No Trace” camping will be stressed.  The boys should have a fun filled day.

 

 A good on line resource is http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/mb/index2.htm

 

 

Fee:  $10 per person, payable in the Scout office by May 1 at 4:00. (Also due Paperwork part 1 Cooking)

 

Late registration will be 25% more & scouts will have a 10% contest point deduction and all materials (paper work) must be in “in total” before “Cracker Barrel” 8:00 PM Friday night.

 

Contests: Will be in several parts this year and based primarily on;

                        Webelos requirement # 7c

                        Arrow of Light requirement #2e & 5

                                    Outdoorsman Activity                

                        Scout requirement #6

Tenderfoot requirements #2, 3, 4 & 8

                        Second Class requirements 2c - 2g

                        First Class requirements #3, 4, 7

                        Cooking, Camping Pioneering Merit Badges

Refer to all of the Cooking merit badge requirements & parts of the Camping & Pioneering merit badge requirements.


Campsite:     Camp Gateway & Camp gadgets

Camp setup & inspection.

Cooking:      Planning preparing presenting & cleanup.

Catapult:       A water balloon contest.            

 

Campsite

           

Check with the Camping Committee upon arrival as to where your unit is to camp.  Campsites will be assigned in a general area on a first come basis.  An area will be “off limits” for camping and will be set aside for Order of the Arrow.  Scout trailers and other vehicles will not be allowed in camp.  You may pull in and unload your vehicles, but must then remove the vehicles from the camping area.  The Family camp area (for scouting families and their RVs) will use the area to the west of the road, by the canoe landing and by the permanent outdoor toilets.  Please check with the camping committee before parking, so that we may maximize the use of this area for all

 

Each unit will have a camp gateway.  This should be constructed of non-manufactured lumber products & lashed together on site.  The name board may be constructed off site & may be made from manufactured lumber products.  (non-manufactured lumber products = logs or poles from the woods)

 

The campsite shall be well laid out, neat & orderly, this includes inside the tents.  Typical areas to include are; uncut wood area, ax yard, cut wood pile, cooking area, camp kitchen, wash area, etc.

 

During spare time scouts can be making gadgets for camp.  Remember you are “showing off your scouting skills”.

 

The catapult can be worked on in or “near” the camp.  It will be moved to the contest area after supper. 

 


Cooking

 

Each patrol needs to Plan, Budget, Shop & prepare a breakfast, lunch & dinner for your patrol & guests. 

 

Each patrol will select an area in their campsite, but separate from other patrols.

 

Each patrol will be judged on the following.

 

1.     Plan, budget, shop & transport & store required supplies. (Include & supply & equipment list)  The following lists or plans will be included with your registration packet when you register May 1 & will include; a) the troop or pack number, b) patrol name, c) a list of the members of the patrol including patrol leadership position & rank of the scout, d) the names of the guests (plan for one “guest judge” for each meal), e) the menu, f) the shopping list for foods, g) the cost of each of the food items, h) the list of required equipment, I) the patrol duty rooster (a list of the duties of the patrol members for each phase of this competition), j) a time schedule of when the cooking will be started, meals served & clean up completed, k) other lists as deemed necessary to properly prepare for & complete this competition.  Turn in these lists with your registration.  They are part of the contest and will be judged prior to contests.

2.     Prepare a fire-cooking area.

3.     Cook breakfast & serve it to the patrol & guests & clean up afterwards.

4.     Cook Lunch & serve it to the patrol & guests & clean up afterwards.

5.     Cook dinner & serve it to the patrol & guests & clean up afterwards.

6.     Clean up cooking area to no trace camping standards.

7.     Make sure that your guests are comfortable & well served.

8.     The meals should be cooked & may have a theme such as one pot cooking, tin foil cooking, light weight-back pack cooking. Please state that emphasis on your menu.  More difficult & innovative cooking procedures will receive more points.  A hot dog on a stick will not receive as much credit as Dutch oven cooked roast will potatoes, carrots, & fresh baked bread.  Remember you want to impress these special guest on your ability to prepare a first class meal for them showing off your scout skills.

9.     Attention Patrol leaders.  This is a patrol contest; your patrol should have fun but no horseplay.  “Keep Busy & Have Fun”  

10. Don’t forget camp gadgets. 

 

Catapult

 

The catapult shall be constructed as shown in the diagram.  (Approximately 8’ – 12’ long, 4’ – 6’ high)

1.                   The throwing arm shall consist of three poles lashed together. 

2.                   The throwing arm will be powered by two boys pulling on ropes that pass through pulleys.  

3.                   It may be staked or held to the ground for stability.

4.                   Aiming gages or devices that aid in the accuracy are permitted.

5.                   The bottom of a 2 liter pop bottle will be used to hold water balloon.

6.                   The pop bottle bottom can be fasted to the throwing arm using wire.

7.                   All connections on the catapult will be lashed with rope or twine.

8.                   The only hardware allowed is the pulleys & throwing cup.

9.                   The target range will be between 50’ & 100’.

 

Contest

A.                  The scouts will load the water balloons on site.

B.                  They will be permitted practice shots before the target is set.

C.                  Shooting order will be determined by volunteer & draw.

D.                  After the target is set they will have three practice shots.

E.                  They will fire three shots at the target.

F.                  The distance from where the balloon lands to the target, measured to the closest foot = score

G.                 The total of the scores from the three shots is their score.

H.                  Low Score Wins.

I.                     One scout from each patrol will pick up the remains of the water balloons.

 

 

Materials:  Materials will not be available on site for construction of camp gadgets, gateways or the catapult.  It is suggested that you get an assortment of lodge pole pine poles to use for construction.   The number & sizes of poles will be up to you to determine.   This means that you will have to do some planning before hand.    The material on site available to us to use is downed wood, mainly cottonwood.  The downed wood will be your main source for fires etc.


Caution

 

We are camping in Montana in a primitive and undeveloped area.  The conditions of the camp area are not going to be greatly different from what Lewis and Clark encountered.  You will encounter wild animals.  These animals may be small and harmless, like a mosquitoes or flies or large and harmful.  This is Montana and it’s wildlife.  Be prepared.  Do not harm the wildlife this includes the flowers, scrubs and trees.  Stay away from the dangerous animals (snakes) and avoid bothering all wildlife.  Do everything in your power to not attract animals to you.  Do not feed the wildlife.

 

We will be camping in a cottonwood bottom on the edge of a river.  Scouts are not to be in or near the river. Beware of dead cottonwood limbs or trees. Remember “Rock a by baby in the tree top, when the wind blows, the cradle will rock, when the bough breaks the cradle will fall, down will come the baby cradle and all.”  (This is from a new grandfather).  Both times that we have been up to the camp, it was windy on top, but not windy in the camp area.

 

 

Time Line:

            Now      Ask questions – Start Planning – Get Help

                        Get Lodge pole pine poles. (go camping in April as a tune up & get the poles at the same time)

Review patrol method & organization.

Hint; http://www.troop23online.org/boyscouts/Scout_zone/cooking/cooking.html                

Have patrols set up menus.

                        Have patrols get food.

                        Review catapult plans.

                        Gather materials for campout.

                        Invite guests.

                        Practice

Have patrols prepare lists for part #1 Cooking.

Make sure patrols have their list ready to turn in with their registration.

Turn in patrol lists as required in part #1 Cooking  with your registration.

 

 

            May 1   Registration is due.

            May 3   Load up the boys & head them out.


            May 3   4:00 – 8:00        Arrive  - Check in & set up camp 

            May 3   8:00 – 9:00        Cracker Barrel

All Scout Masters, Pack Masters

SPLs. & youth Webelos Leaders (Required one adult and one youth leader for each patrol or den.)    

Sun Set: 8:39pm - Sun Rise: 6:02am

Moon Rise: 2:57am

                        11:00                Lights out

            May 4   7:00                  Reveille

8:00                  Serve Breakfast

                        9:00                  Flag Ceremony by camp headquarters

                        12:00                Serve Lunch

                        5:00                  Serve Dinner

                        6:00                  Catapult Contest

                        7:00                  “Zero Trace Camping” Inspection

                        7:30                  Campfire – Guests –

Lewis & Clark talk – Awards –

Comments – O A Tap out

                        11:00                Lights out

            May 5   7:00                  Reveille

                                    Breakfast on your own

                        9:00                  Non-Denominational Service

                        10:00                Camp Check out.          

                       

How to get there from Great Falls:

1.                   Take highway 87 north towards Fort Benton.

2.                   Near Fort Benton, at milepost 40.5, take a left & head west on highway 223 to Tiber Dam.

3.                   At milepost 39.2, take a left & head west to Lake Ewell (Tiber Dam). This is gravel.

4.                   After 1.5 miles at the crossroad, take a left & head south.

5.                   After 4.3 miles should be at where the Moffat Bridge crosses the Marias River.

6.                   Scout camp on the left side (east), Webelos on the right side (west) near the bathroom & canoe landing.

 

 How to get there from Chester:

1.                   Take highway 223 south of Chester, to milepost 39.2 (approximately 13 miles)

2.                  At milepost 39.2 take a right & head west to Lake Ewell (Tiber Dam). This is gravel.

3.                  After 1.5 miles at the crossroad, take a left & head south.

4.                  After 4.3 miles you should be at where the Moffat Bridge crosses the Marias river.