Activities & Camping

Fall Camporee is ON!

Here are the details:

Fall Camporee 2020

October 2-4  Beaumont – Lane field
Fee for Scouts BSA is $8.00
Check in at T-B HQ between 5:00and 9:00pm on Friday evening – or between 8:00 and 9:00am on Sat
Bring fees and completed rosters.
ALL participants need to check in at HQ to have temperature checked before proceeding to event area
If possible, check in as a unit (make things easier)
Parents / drivers need to stay in their cars to drop off or check in for temperature checks before proceeding
Same goes for pick -up
Unit leaders will be responsible for ensuring that all participants follow the safety guidelines and are healthy BEFORE they leave for camp
Masks are to be worn at all times except when eating or sleeping
Scouts should sleep 1 Scout per tent unless same sex family members
Regular had washing and sanitizing required
We are limited to 50 participants per area.
Grand Towers will be at one end of the field and Thunderbird at the other.
If Thunderbird has more than 50 campers, we’ll have to put them in a 3rd area
We’ll try to spread out each unit’s camping areas as much as possible and limit intermingling of units.
There’ll be no “campwide” events.  So no district campfire.
Units can have their own fires in their camping areas
Theme is “Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge”
Program Starts at 9:00am on Saturday
Units should split up into groups of approx. 10 Scouts to move from station to station on Saturday as Patrols
Groups will be proceeding around the Camporee field from event to event in a clockwise direction
Patrols should pack a sack lunch to be eaten within their pod and not return to campsite until they have rotated through the entire event in order to avoid as much intermingling as possible

If any Unit wants to come out for just Saturday (no camping), that’s fine
They just need to check in at District HQ between 8 and 9 on Saturday

We will not be running a Cub Scout program at the Camporee – instead
Cub Launch will be happening Every Saturday in September and October thru Oct 24
$10 (a $5 voucher is available for all “new” Cubs)
Register Online on GSLAC website (stlbsa.org)
Cubs MAY camp with Troops – up to the unit
But they will need to make a separate reservation with Council

If any Scouts have difficulty coming up with the fees for this Camporee – contact me, John Ebert at theebert6@juno.com  Camperships may be available.

Fall 2020 Camp Manual

Popcorn Sales

The council is hard at work planning the 2020 popcorn sale. GSLAC and Pecatonica are working on a variety of ways to execute an awesome sale during these abnormal times. I want to reassure you that we are going to make sure we give you the tools and plan to keep all of your scout families safe. If you are returning as the kernel you will have to set up a new popcorn username and passcode. Registration is open; click here to register.

SIGN UP FOR THE 2020 POPCORN SALE HERE (Click the “Create Unit Profile” button and be sure to enter the council key: 312gsla)

For all the dates: 2020 Important Popcorn Dates

Fall programs coming:

TOPIC 1: Cub Scout Meeting Planning Guide

• A planning guide for packs and dens to navigate how to meeting safely during the time of COVID
• Virtual and In-Person Meeting ideas
• Feature full list of Cub Scout Advancements for each rank that can be done outside and socially distant
• Other ideas on drive-up advancement ceremonies or other fun activities to do safely, in-person
• 2^nd edition to come for the winter
• Information and Guide (attached): http://bsaarchive.webtestdev.com/2020FallOutdoorExperiences/

TOPIC 2: Scouts BSA Troop Planning Guide

• Meeting and activity guidance, like where to meet, what types of technology to use, and how to make sure you are meeting Youth Protection requirements
• Camping and transportation guidelines
• A sample meeting agenda with guidance on how to do each part virtually
• Individual meeting plans for September through December, with monthly themes designed to complement rank advancement and get troops outdoors.
• Guidance on service opportunities and selecting an Eagle project
• Information and Guide (attached): http://bsaarchive.webtestdev.com/2020FallOutdoorExperiences/

TOPIC 3: Cub Launch Saturdays

• Will take place almost every Saturday in September and October at Beaumont and then 7 other locations will have multiple Saturdays to choose from as well (flyer attached)
• Sessions will be capped at 50 people both staff and participants
• The sessions at Beaumont will be at 9AM, 11AM and 1PM
• Activities include, hiking the bobcat trail (where they can get their bobcat badge), archery, bb guns and STEM demonstrations and a STEM activity
• And new Scouts will get $5 off registration (voucher attached)
• Information and dates: http://bsaarchive.webtestdev.com/activities/events/cub-launch/

QUESTIONS? Contact Suzie Voss: suzie.voss@scouting.org

Scoutfest 2020 (actually 2021)

ScoutFest 21 is a once-a-decade, regional Scouting camporee organized by the Greater St. Louis Area Council. Expected attendance is 20,000 people across one weekend in Forest Park!

ScoutFest 21 is open to the whole family, including Cub Scouts, to camp overnight in St. Louis’s iconic park. Exciting program and activities are currently being developed by volunteers and youth, and will include live performances and fireworks on Art Hill, STEM and robotics, climbing walls, water sports, competitions, and much more!

The dates are set at October 1-3, 2021.

Go to the website for more information: https://www.scoutfest21.com/

National Camp-In Patch

The BSA National Camp-In was an amazing experience! What would any Scouting event be without a patch? Check out the special Limited Edition National Camp-In patch. Make sure to reserve your patch while you still can. Patches $ 2.99 each. https://www.scouting.org/campin/

Fall Camporee Pictures

Fall Camporee was held October 4-6 at Beaumont Scout Ranch, Laemmli Area

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Summer Twilight Camp…

was held June 10-13, 2019 at the Tower Grove Stone Pavilion. Water games and kaleidescopes were some of the fun they had. Here are some pictures from the camp:

Thunderbird Scavenger Hunt

This year instead of a district hike, there was a Scavenger Hunt at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

Participants were Pack 100 (Mason School),  Troop 4 (St. Gabriel), and Troop 62 (Joan of Arc). Pack 100 had enough participants that we split them into two groups for the Scavenger Hunt.

This scavenger hunt was a little different than most. It was set up to collect information, NOT objects. The Scouts were given a list of 72 questions about the Zoo with a total of 90 answers.

Vast majority of questions could not be answered by a “Google search” or an “educated guess”. To properly answer, participants had to walk all around the Zoo grounds to find the answers.  Scouts were given a maximum of two hours to find the answers.

No expense was spared when buying the two “trophies” at the Dollar store.

Troop 62, St. Joan of Arc, won the prize for Boy Scouts. They were given a nice plastic rat that squeaked when squeezed.

Team 1 of Pack 100, Mason School, won the prize for Cub Scouts. They were given an excellent plastic cockroach on a lanyard.

Troop 62 was able to correctly complete 68 of the 90 answers.  This was a better outcome than we had expected.  Obviously, our Boy Scouts are much brighter, faster, and more adept than we gave them credit for.

Team 1 of Pack 100 correctly completed 30 of the 90 answers.  Again, we knew young Cub Scouts would have a tougher time than the older Scouts.

After the Scavenger Hunt, our Master Chef, Tim Wiese, cooked hot dogs for all 26 participants, along with distributing bottles of water and cookies.

Below is a very small sample of Scavenger Hunt questions posed to our Scouts.

Can you answer correctly without looking at the answers below?

25.WHERE IS THE GIANT SQUID STATUE? ________________________________

26.HOW MANY SEALS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE WATER AT THE HERMANN FOUNTAIN? ________

HOW MANY ARE THERE TOTAL?   ___________

27.TO DONATE CASH TO THE HERPETARIUM WHERE DO YOU PUT THE MONEY?

_________________________________________________________________

28. WHAT DOES IT COST TO RENT A WHEELCHAIR IF YOU ARE A ZOO MEMBER?

_________________________________________________________________

29. WHERE IS THE “CORN GRINDER” MACHINE LOCATED?

_______________________________________________________________

Answers

25.  Living World (hanging from the ceiling)

26. Eight in the water, eighteen total

27. In the mouth of the snapping turtle sculpture

28. Nine dollars.  Ten dollars if you are NOT a Zoo member

29. Adean Bear exhibit, in the viewing shelter

Spring Camporee

April 26-28, 2019

Beaumont Scout Reservation – Shippey

In addition, I want to especially thank Paul Winter, Grand Towers Camping Director, who coordinated the entire event with Illini District, Grand Towers District and Thunderbird District.  This three-District event widened our Scout Camporee perspective.  All three Districts “do” camporee slightly different from each other so it is enlightening to coordinate.  Our Thunderbird unit had the opportunity to camp right next to the Illini unit.  We each had fun watching the “camping style” of the other.

 

It was very interesting to note, the Scout encouragements and Scout admonishments I heard from ALL the various Camporee units were nearly identical.  Scouts are the same from wherever they come.  Our job is to teach, teach, teach.

 

Paul Winter presented the Boy Scouts with logic puzzles with a “Who Stole the Donuts” program.  The boys had a tough time trying to adjust their thinking to follow a “logical” path.  Most of the units failed to solve the puzzles, but had a good time at camporee.  Working together was the goal.  Solving the puzzles was secondary.

 

Our Cub Scouts made little “popcicle” stick rafts and floated them in the creek.  They had a great time getting wet and muddy.  What amazed this adult, was the Cub Scouts hardly noticing they were wet and muddy.  It seemed to concern the adults, but didn’t phase the Cubs.

We had a great time at our “pot Luck” dinner until the large popcorn bag fell and spilled popcorn all over the shelter floor..  Thank you Troop 62 (Joan of Arc), who came to our rescue by loaning us a broom and dust pan to sweep up the mess.  Another “disaster” story to add to camping lore. 

 (Thanks to Scott Hoffmann for contributing this information)

Cub scout manual

Boy Scout manual

Boy Scout and Venturing 2019 Summer Camp

Registration for 2019 Boy Scout and Venturing Summer camps, as well as specialty camps, is now open. Click here for more information

Cub Scout Summer Camp

Go to the council website to see all the summer camps available for cub scouts:  http://bsaarchive.webtestdev.com/activities/camping/cub-scout-summer-camp/

Click here for the map

Some pictures from Saturday, November 17th:

Fall Camporee 2018

Make sure your camp rosters are complete before registering!! Roster is in the manual.

Twilight camp pictures

Here are the pictures from the fun events that took place at Weird and Wacky Twilight Camp June 11-13, 2018.

Spring Camporee:

This year’s Spring Camporee was held April 27th through the 29th at Laemmli Field at Beaumont Scout Reservation.  Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Boy Scout and Venturing 2019 Summer Camp

Registration for 2019 Boy Scout and Venturing Summer camps, as well as specialty camps, is now open. Click here for more information

Cub Scout Summer Camp