(Editor’s note: This is the first in a three part series to run about the Bald Eagle United Methodist Boy Scouts. This part will focus on pack activities. Parts two and three will focus on troop and crew activities.)
Bald Eagle United Methodist’s triple crown of scouting including Pack, Troop and Crew 103, has had an amazing year of activities and accomplishments to add to their 48 years of local scouting.
The Pack, Troop and Crew would like to extend an invitation to an open house August 13 at Camp Anderson to any interested youth or adults in the area, to experience being a Scout for a day. This is open to any youth seven to 20 years of age. Female members of the Crew need to be at least 14-years-old. There is no cost to this event, and it starts at approximately 12:30 p.m. and will end at approximately 9 p.m. for anyone that does not want to stay overnight. Meals will be provided. Activities will run all day into the evening.
For the Cub Scout Pack, the Coyote Patrol of Pack 103 joined 140 other Webelos scouts from Chief Logan district at St. Mary’s Camp in Pinecroft for the 2005 Cub Scout Klondike Derby.
The boys pulled their dog sled from a station that tested their skills in fire building. Pack 103 was the only Pack to start a fire with flint and steel. They also tested: ice rescue, knots, lashing and pioneering, shelter construction, suspended log bridge building, outdoor cooking and events meant to test team work such as lifting and maneuvering their sled through a “spider web” of rope, picking up and moving a bucket of water with ropes attached to a bicycle inner tube and was the only pack to construct a 15-foot tripod and hoist a 150 lb. log off the ground.
They also participated in the Great Sled race. At the end of the day, the Coyote patrol of Pack 103 accumulated 96 out of 100 points to take top honors of the day.
The Pack was treated to a demonstration of Maple Syrup making at Parker Dam State Park. The boys learned the history of maple syrup making, learned to identify sugar maple trees, drilled and tapped several trees, helped collect sap and observed the process of boiling the sap into syrup. They were also treated to samples of syrup and maple syrup snow cones.
Other activities for the Pack:
Pine Wood Derby
The boys, with guidance from parents, constructed pine wood racers from blocks of wood. This year’s assortment of cars included pickup trucks and sleek racers. The top three place cars moved onto the district run off at Delgrosso’s.
Blue and Gold Banquet
At the banquet, two boys of Pack 103 were awarded the Arrow of light, cub scout’s highest award, and other members of the Pack received advancement awards they had earned.
Balsawood Glider Plane Air Show
Boys assembled the planes and then a contest was held for longest glide distance and biggest aerial loop.
Cross Over Ceremony
The pack held a crossover ceremony at Camp Anderson with three Weblos crossing over from the pack to Troop 103. The boys were given a compass and a camp cup as parting gifts.
Summer Day Camp
The Pack attended three days of summer camp at Camp Anderson in Tyrone. The boys enjoyed fishing, BB gun shooting, archery, crafts, an obstacle course and lots of games and fun.
Pack 103 Picnic
The pack met at Bald Eagle State Park on July 24 for a covered dish picnic. Hot dogs, hamburgers, hand cranked ice cream and lots of great food was enjoyed by all. The boys enjoyed fishing, swimming and boat rides around the lake. The event was topped off by many of them seeing Bald Eagles flying overhead.
