Dear Troop 455 Scouts,
Many of you are aware that the first new merit badge for the Scouts BSA program since 2017 officially launched in 2022. It is also now an Eagle-required MB for any Scout completing Eagle rank on or after July 1, 2022. Citizenship in Society provides Scouts with opportunities to learn more about our world by encouraging them to explore information on diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership — and to learn why these qualities are important in society and in Scouting.
The Citizenship in Society merit badge encourages a self-guided/self-exploration approach to learning. While there is no official MB pamphlet or book, there will be a counselor’s guide to serve as the foundation for the badge. The intent is for Citizenship in Society merit badge counselors to guide Scouts on their journey of self-discovery and facilitate discussions as Scouts seek to further understand the diverse world we live in. We are fortunate in Troop 455 to have two adult leaders, Mickey Smith and me, who have attended Citizenship in Society facilitation training and are certified by the Atlanta Area Council to conduct sessions at our Unit level.
The best practice for this badge is for Scouts to take this MB in small groups at their Unit level. To align with this, we are offering this MB class in two sessions, August 7 and August 14 from 3:30p to 5:00p. You must commit to attend both sessions to complete the MB. Slots will are limited to 6-8 per group. We may have 2 groups depending on the level of interest. Please RSVP at your soonest convenience via Scoutbook and also please email me directly at brady@lum.net. The deadline for signing up will be Wednesday, August 3 at 10pm.
Here is a link to the requirements for this badge:http://filestore.scouting…utReqs.pdf
We encourage all interested Scouts to sign up and participate. Here is the list of Scouts who have already RSVP’d: Evan Richards, Owen Stockton, Parker Pape, Walker Moore, Wiley Lum, and Will Brooks. Join us!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Mr. Smith.
Looking forward to sharing this new MB journey with you — I know it will be a meaningful one!
Yours in Scouting,
Brady Lum
Scoutmaster, Troop 455
Greetings Troop 455 Families,
It was great to see many of you over the Summer, and it will be even better to share our many escapades and adventures! Probably like many of you, I have been in denial of the fact that Summer is basically over and school begins for many on Monday! Two months for Summer just does not seem adequate nor fair:-(
We are also launching our 2022-23 Troop 455 Program Year in August; and it starts with a bang — lots of opportunities for planning, reconnecting, and participating in a range of activities and outings. Hang with me as there is a lot of information to share with all of you so that we can make the re-entry process smooth and fun! Below are links to our 1-page Program Calendar as well as our more detailed Program Guide — both should be very helpful documents to aid your family calendar planning as well as understanding the overall goals and flow for our Scout year. All of these activities are now loaded in Scoutbook. They are also viewable in our Troop 455 Website. In a later email, I will share some guidance for what and when to reference Scoutbook or the Website for information — each will be used extensively but for different reasons.
2022-23 Troop 455 Program Calendar 1-pager
2022-23 Troop 455 Program Guide
August Highlights: Below is an overview of all of the activities for consideration. Many of these will be communicated via separate dedicated emails and appeals over the coming days. Please check your emails, Scoutbook and RSVP!!!
8/2: PLC Meeting, 7:30p at Haygood. SPL Ethan Polk will be sharing an agenda for this important first gathering for the Scout leadership in the Troop.
8/6: Multiple event day.
9:00a – 3:00p: Parker Pape Eagle Project. Parker is conducting a Red Cross Blood Drive and soliciting volunteers to help him in two shifts. If interested, please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488514
9:30a – 1:30p: Gear Room Clean Up & Inventory. We are partnering up with Pack 17 to clean and fully inventory our gear closet in the Grizzard House garage. SPL Polk will be sharing more details on how you can help. If interested, please RSVP on Scoutbook — https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488121
3:00p: Scout Day at Atlanta United soccer game at Mercedes Benz. We are participating as a Troop to end this busy day with some fun. Please RSVP ASAP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488166 so that we can get a final count and purchase the tickets. Atlanta United has given Scouting a heavy discount for tickets on that afternoon. Should be good fun!
8/7 & 8/14 from 3:30p to 5:00p: Citizenship in Society MB Class. This is the newest MB and also an Eagle-required MB as of 7/1/22. This MB is intended to be facilitated and conducted in small groups at the unit level. If you are interested, please RSVP now at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488067. We will have either 1 or 2 groups of 6-8 depending on the interest level. A separate email will detail the prerequisites as well as the commitment needed to participate.
8/8: Troop Committee Meeting. Meeting is required for all Committee members. However, anyone is welcome to attend.
8/9: Welcome Back/Kickoff Party: Rather than jump right into our regular meeting format, I am hosting the Troop and families to my house for an informal gathering with swimming, games, and most importantly, dinner! We will start at 6:30p on this evening. All Scouts and families are welcome. We will also invite potential new Scouts and we encourage any Scout to invite someone who might be interested in joining our Troop. RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488028.
8/14: Annual Swim Test & Medical Forms. As we did last year, we will be conducting annual swim tests — required for all of those wishing to participate in water activities this year, including the August tubing outing. We are still working to locate a place to host us, so more details on that forthcoming. Please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488043
8/16: Troop Meeting & Parent Orientation. Our first formal meeting in Haygood UMC Fellowship Hall will be on our regular schedule, Tuesday from 7:30p to 9:00p. Simultaneous to the Scout meeting will be a mandatory orientation for all Parents, whether new to the Troop or elder statemen and stateswomen. There is a lot of important information to convey for the Scout year and how we will need your assistance. Please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488055
8/21: Zach Strange Eagle Ceremony. All of the Troop 455 family will be invited to celebrate Zach on achieving the highest rank in Scouting. More details will be sent out by Zach in the coming weeks. But please hold the afternoon of 8/21, time TBD.
8/23: Troop Meeting & Parent Orientation. Our second formal meeting in Haygood UMC Fellowship Hall will be on our regular schedule, Tuesday from 7:30p to 9:00p. This meeting will focus on final planning for the August Tubing Outing and is required for anyone attending that trip. We are also hosting a second Parent Orientation for those who are not able to make the one on 8/16. Please RSVP at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488093
8/26-8/28: Tubing Outing in Helen, GA. This outing is always one of the Scout’s favorites each year. It is an easy, relaxing and fun way to engage newer and older Scouts. It is also a perfect and easy outing for parents to join — please join us! Again, more information on this outing will be forthcoming in the next week via email, Scoutbook and at www.troop455.net. Please RSVP if interested at https://scoutbook.scoutin…ID=4488105.
Other To-Do’s:
* Update Medical Forms: Each Scout must have a current medical form on file. While only parts A&B are required for most of our outings (less than 72 hours), we encourage families to complete all parts of the form. Part C is required for Winter and Summer Camp as well as any High Adventure trip. It is easiest to get it done all at once. Medical forms are good for one year. Medical Form ABC
* Update Scoutbook Profile: We need to make sure that all of our records are current for all Scout families. The best way to do that is to go to your SB Profile, both for the Scout as well as the Parents/Guardians. Please update, where appropriate, your contact information, school and year, notification preferences, etc. We really rely on this information being accurate so that we have the best way to communicate as well as reach folks in emergencies. If you need a refresher on navigating Scoutbook, my.Scouting.org, or other Scout tools, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
* Share Advancement Progress: I know that many Scouts have been busy over the Summer. We want to make sure to record all of the good work which Scouts have done. If you joined us for Camp Rainey Mountain, your records are already loaded in SB. For those who attended Scout camp with another troop as a provisional and/or completed other advancement, training, service work, etc., please make sure that you share your work and documentation with our Advancement Chair, Mr. Moore at dmoore@landadvisors.com. We want to make sure to recognize all of this good work at the Sep 20 Court of Honor.
I warned you that I had a LOT of information to share — thanks for hangin’ with me! We have a great Program year planned and look forward to sharing the year with all of you!
Yours in Scouting,
Brady Lum
Scoutmaster, Troop 455
Hello Troop 455,
I want to first off thank everyone who has participated in any way to help complete my Eagle Project. It turned out amazing and that is all due to your help. Thank you all so much.
There is however one more step that needs to be taken which is funding. We still need to supply the costs for the building materials. Any donations would be greatly appreciated and if you would like you can share this outside of the troop. There is a donation link below where you will be taken to a PayPal site to donate right to the troop.
Also, if you would like to support this cause more, you can always donate to the church that is going to be running the food pantry at: https://www.eastsideatl.org/support/ or by donating food to them directly.
Thank you all for your help and support,
Sawyer Miyake
Hi Troop 455 Family,
I know that many of you are attending Scout camp, embarking on High Adventure outings to Philmont, SeaBase, or otherwise enjoying some creative time at home. While we don’t have any Troop meetings this Summer, many opportunities for learning and exploring merit badges exist. Summer can be a great time to get ahead without the normal demands of school and other extracurriculars. I wanted to draw to your attention a few upcoming and ongoing opportunities.
Jul 17: BSA STEM Merit Badge Workshop thru CodeEasily
This Workshop is 10a to 3p EDT on July 17, 2021. In one five hour session, Scouts will complete 3 merit badges — Animation, Digital Technology, and Programming!
Learn more about it here: https://www.code-easily.c…e-workshop
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co…orgprofile
July Online MB thru Central Florida Council
The following MB’s are offered online: Astronomy, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Digital Technology, and Space Exploration. These classes meet once per week for one hour for four consecutive weeks. Specific days and times vary.
Register Here: https://scoutingevent.com/083-OnlineMB
Aug 7: Automotive Maintenance MB at Porsche HQ
This is a very popular program and will sell out quickly. If you are interested, I would recommending registering ASAP. Unfortunately, it is only open to Scouts 16+, so it is a great opportunities for our older Scouts.
Register Here: https://www.atlantabsa.or…tbadgedays
All-Summer Virtual Opportunities thru Daniel Boone Council
This Council has an extensive list of weekly MB opportunities — most meeting twice in a given week. These virtual opportunities have been very popular during the pandemic and are a convenient way to explore some new MB’s.
Register Here: https://www.danielbooneco…rg/virtual
Chattahoochee Nature Center
They do an excellent job teaching merit badges at a wonderful location.
Environmental Science Merit Badge: August 14 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Register Here: https://www.chattnaturece…t-badge-2/
Canoeing Merit Badge: August 22 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Register Here: https://www.chattnaturece…t-badge-2/
Aquatics Weekend – Northeast GA Council
The Aquatics Days at Allatoona can be great, but they are almost too great and have completely sold out for the entire summer and early Fall. We are working as a Troop to see if we can arrange something special and additional within our own Council. That said, there are some nearby opportunities in NE Georgia — two Aquatics Weekends
Weekend #1: July 30 – Aug 1
Weekend #2: Sep 3 – Sep 5
Register Here: https://www.nega-bsa.org/AAW
In addition to these, we have a great cadre of Merit Badge Counselors within our Troop and access to many others. If you have an interest that you would like to explore, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.
Yours in Scouting,
Brady Lum
Advancement Chair
Dear Troop 455 Family,
Two Key Leadership roles have been filled for the upcoming year of Scouting. Our Charter Organization, Haygood UMC, has appointed the following interim Troop leadership posts:
Scoutmaster – Pierce Pape
Committee Chair – Chad Polk
Thanks again to Todd Sharp and Dylan Miyake for their leadership, commitment, and deep contributions to the Troop.
Additionally, to add support to the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair, the following people have been asked to fill the indicated positions for the following term. Both positions are appointed by the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair, respectively.
David Moore – Troop Advancement Chair
Brady Lum – Assistant Scoutmaster
Brady and David will transition the Advancement work over the Summer in time for the new school/scout year. Over the Summer, Brady will continue to serve as Advancement Chair and Scouts should continue to forward their advancement work and questions to Brady.
Operating a Troop like ours requires a number of additional adult volunteer leaders — your participation is welcome and needed! If you have an interest in serving our Troop, please reach out to Pierce Pape or Chad Polk through Scoutbook. In late August, we will host a more detailed parent and adult orientation to learn more about these leadership and volunteer opportunities. But we welcome anyone who would like to jumpstart the process. We have much to prepare for the upcoming year!
Yours in Scouting,
Troop 455 Committee
Yesterday was another busy day of SUN, FUN and advancement (but yes, one brief shower to remind us that we’re at camp). Merit Badges are going along well, and many of our boys are finishing at least one Merit Badge. The Rawhide campers will have accomplished much!
After feasting on corn dogs, chips, and pudding at our campsite for lunch (can’t remember the last time I actually ate a corn dog), the boys headed back out to finish up their afternoon merit badges. Much discussion at lunch about the various requirements and finishing up the “homework” for the various courses.
After lunch, we had our second campsite inspection, where the SPLs (Zack and Anderson) did the math and realized that honor troop was still a possibility if they got their act in gear quickly.
So, the afternoon was spent then re-arranging the bike garage (so it wasn’t right in the middle of camp), adding a camp “entrance” (flagpoles moved to indicate the front entrance), building a camp “gadget” (a trash can holder), cleaning and stowing personal and troop gear, and ensuring the litter was picked up.
As a well-known neat and control freak, it warmed my heart to see the boys working to neaten up the campsite. And if I’m completely honest, lowered my blood pressure a bit as well (although I’m not sure why the cooler was stowed in the Adirondack shelter and the rest of the camp food all the way on the other side of camp, but small steps).
The rest of the honor patrol criteria is doing a flag ceremony, check; cleaning a shower house, (hopefully) today at lunch, attendance at SPL and Scoutmasters’ meetings, check; camp duty roster (check), campwide duty roster (ooops, we’ll add that), attendance at adult training, check. There are probably a few more, and definitely some confusion around the fact that you need 7 of 9 criteria to get the ribbon, but there are 12 criteria listed… Somehow I think these math mistakes are on purpose.
Last night’s dinner was meatloaf, gravy, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and chocolate chip cookies. And while the campers were finishing up merit badges and resetting the campsite, I worked on re-seasoning cast iron in the campfire.
Zack and Anderson have been doing a good job leading the troop here at camp and, in the process, getting a lot of “on the job” training on how to motivate their peers to get things done. Some successes, some failures, but definitely progress.
One of the things I mentioned earlier was the idea of “troop cohesion” and the desire of the SPLs to have the troop walk to flags together, in Class A uniforms, and arrive all together. This was accomplished last night, completely by the boys, and it was great to see. Small steps, yes, but convincing older boys to get engaged while still keeping younger boys focused is no small feat for a seasoned Scoutmaster, let alone a teenager who has to lead his friends and peers.
Cracker Barrel last night was delayed due to a “star gazing night” on the front lawn at 9pm in front of the flagpole, so after a few aborted attempts at making popcorn on campfire, I called an audible and switched over to rice crispies treats. Everyone was definitely running on fumes last night, and it was our earliest bedtime yet.
This morning, the boys enjoyed French toast sticks and sausage while the camp put together the “Scoutmasters’ Brunch” featuring bacon, sausage, grits, eggs, waffles, and a lot more. It was another nice touch from the camp and a way to say thank you to the leaders who are volunteering their time to bring their campers to Bert Adams.
As I type this up, the boys are out finishing up their merit badges (hopefully not too many partials this year). We’ll then double-check the records tonight right before campfire with all the program directors (aquatics, shooting sports, handicrafts, etc.) to make sure the boys get credit for what they’ve done.
Today at lunch Lissa and I will distribute patch grab bags (from the store at $1.50 each) to all of the boys and encourage them to trade and start their collection. We’ll then send them off to campwide games and (weather permitting, the weather rock was less optimistic today) run around and observe.
Finally, one of the great traditions here at Bert Adams is the “friendship neckerchiefs.” Each one of the staff members here at camp gets an orange neckerchief tied with a “friendship knot” that they are then supposed to distribute to a camper. So, by definition, not everyone will get one, but so far, there have been four distributed to boys in the troop. If your son comes home with one, please ask him what it’s all about and how he earned it.
So there you have it — another successful and FUN week at Bert Adams. If you’re one of the drivers who have signed up to help shuttle us back, please be at camp around 7:30am. We’ll have coffee and a continental breakfast for you. And if your son is getting shuttled back, we should probably be back at 1295 North Morningside (same as drop-off) by around 9:00am.
If all goes according to plan, we’ll drop off your boys tired, dirty, and (hopefully) looking forward to many more Scouting adventures together.
Incredible news! The weather rock was good to us yesterday and we got 99% of the way through the day without any rain. (A small sprinkle at 11:00pm reminded us that we were still at Bert Adams). The clear day allowed the scouts to get out a bit more and explore the camp and reinforced the need for sunscreen and hydration. (What? Hydration! What? HYDRATION!) We’re quickly going through the 160 Gatorade mix-in packets that we have at the campsite which means the boys are actually drinking water (and replacing electrolytes).
Lunch yesterday was chicken sandwiches, chips, and cookies. The boys all know to come back to the campsite now for lunch and there was a lot of negotiation around how to split up the cookies in an equitable fashion. It was great to see them realize the issue up front (there was no way to split the cookies evenly) and work out a solution.
After lunch, back on the bikes and over to afternoon classes. Many of the boys have different classes for yesterday and today in the afternoon – for example, Hudson and Walter were in First Aid on Monday and Tuesday, and Small Boat Sailing yesterday and today. No afternoon classes on Friday, since it’s campwide games, where there are competitions set up across the camp (riflery, archery, fire building, chess, nature, code breaking, you name it…)
Dinner last night was lasagna, garlic bread, broccoli, and BROWNIES! (The salad bar was also out but they were more focused on seconds on lasagna than the salad bar). Jabir Donaldson and Ben Luedloff (our District Executive and Director, respectively) joined us at our dinner table and took selfies with the boys.
After dinner, almost everyone took advantage of the warm weather and clear skies and headed to the water obstacle course. Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I’ve attached a video and a few photos of the fantastic chaos of happy campers at the waterfront. Please ask your son about this. It’s definitely been a highlight of the week. Here’s the link to the video:
Once seventh period was over, the troop split up and attended two different evening programs. The Order of the Arrow (Scouting Honor Society) members went to their rededication ceremony and the rest of the troop went to the flag retirement ceremony. At the flag retirement ceremony, each of the boys had the opportunity to reverently retire a flag in the bonfire.
The OA rededication ceremony was followed by an ice cream social cracker barrel, while back at Grant (our campsite), we did a make your own ice cream cracker barrel. The boys had a great time making their own ice cream with either Ziploc bags filled with half and half, sugar, vanilla, and mixins (M&Ms, etc.), or using some cool ice cream making balls. They were able to learn a bit about the importance of salt to accelerate the freezing process – bonus! The light sprinkle mentioned in the first paragraph was the signal to go to bed, so we doused the lantern and the camp was silent within minutes.
Reveille came early – perhaps too early – today, since we were on call for morning flags today. We’re starting to get into the groove here, and last night the boys put together the playlist of the music that they would like to be awaked to. Much discussion about whether lyrics are scout-appropriate (prompted by the boys, not the leaders) ensued, and they ended up with their playlist (see attached photo for their choices).
Morning flags meant that our honor guard (Anderson, Gavin, Hudson, and Josh) was responsible for raising the American and Bert Adams flags. They also got the opportunity to march in with the staff and, most importantly, be first in line for breakfast! Apologies for the vertical video here:
Breakfast today was sausage, biscuits, and gravy. The biscuits are always a big hit, but there was an element of mystery about what exactly was in the gravy. Some of the boys thought it was sausage, but since there were sausage patties on the side, others thought it was just lumpy. You can ask your son which side of the debate he fell on.
After breakfast, the boys were off to class and the mentors (Lissa, myself, and our newest member, Alan Strange) went to our daily Scoutmaster’s meeting. Overall, things are going well in camp and the boys are having a great time. The weather rock predicts a high of 85, a low of 75, and a 50% chance of rain today. But the boys are old hands at handling rain by now… (Please note: you will probably need to launder their clothes multiple times).
Finally, if you are interested in joining us for dinner and the closing campfire tomorrow night, please let me know so the kitchen can prepare a meal for you. I only ask that if you do attend dinner and the campfire, please do not take your son home on Friday night. We all need to pitch in together as a troop and help clean the campsite together on Saturday morning so the next group of campers can enjoy our campsite starting on Sunday.
Yesterday afternoon was full of fun activities and merit badge work at the pool, waterfront, handicraft lodge, field sports, and across campus. The boys are making progress on their merit badges and rank advancements and are generally getting into the swing of things here at camp. They’ve also fully figured out when the trading post is open for snacks and slushies, but somehow still need to ask when classes start. I wonder what that’s all about…
It was “Taco Tuesday” at the dining hall last night, which means nachos with beef and cheese and beans. But the camp put on a special “Scoutmaster Steak Dinner” for those of us mentoring scouts here, so the adult leaders peeled off after flags and enjoyed a sit down dinner of steak, baked potato, rolls and salad.
After dinner, the adage that “man plans, and God laughs” was out in full display. After a day where it alternated between dark clouds in one half of the sky and bright blue in the other side, we had a thunder, lightning, and downpour that led to the SPLs deciding to (again) take hard shelter in the shower house to ride out the storm.
So, the boys took down their hammocks, sealed up their tent flaps, moved most of the stuff that could get wet under the tarps, and generally “battened down the hatches.” We still ended up with some wet towels and chairs (and I found yet another way for my tent to leak), but overall they did a good job of securing the camp.
After the worst of the storm passed, we moved our watermelons from the campsite to the covered landing in front of the shower house. The boys had an impromptu game night, snacked on watermelon and Bugles and wondered when the storm would end. So, the Scout Jeopardy will be saved for another night…
We got back into camp around 10:30 and it was quiet by 11:00pm. Lots of running around plus the excitement of the storm left the boys (and us mentors) exhausted. Everyone collapsed into bed and feel asleep instantly, if not faster.
My day began early today as usual with my phone alarm at 5:45 AM, mostly to be fully ready for the boys when they begin the wakeup process around 6:15, and also to get some coffee and check out the campsite before all the boys are up and running around.
The wakeup music again was AC/DC, but now there are complaints that there’s not enough variety. Feedback is a gift, right? 😉 There are some deep sleepers in our group. Not naming names, but one scout was able to sleep through AC/DC blaring at full blast next to his tent. Your son?
Breakfast this morning was biscuits, eggs, and bacon (MY FAVORITE! – ask your son). We’re starting to get into the routine of having buddies to travel together with, bussing dishes and wiping the tables if you’re on KP, etc. Some of the scouts have new classes for Wednesday – Thursday, so there’s a little bit of schedule adjustment, but they seem to have worked out how to get around camp by now.
The weather rock this morning predicted an 85% chance of no rain (looking at the positive side of things), which I hope means the boys will get a chance to spend the entire 7th period (7:00pm 8:30pm) on the waterfront obstacle course. There’s also a flag retirement ceremony and some OA special events tonight. I’ll recap those in the email tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, Lissa Smith-Cote will be sitting down with the campers and going over their requirements so that they understand what they have completed at camp and what they still have left to do. “Partial” merit badges from camp are a way of life, but at least we can help remind the scouts of what they need to finish. We make recommendations, they make decisions…
And, as they say here at Bert Adams, “It’s always a great day in Scouting, where every day’s a holiday, and every meal’s a feast…Thank you Lord Baden-Powell!”
Lunch yesterday was a little delayed due to something new they’re trying here in camp – delivering lunches to the campsites instead of making the scouts stand in line in the hot Georgia sun to get into the dining hall. But with all new things, there were a few kinks – we didn’t get our lunch (hot dogs, chips, apples, and granola bars) until 45 minutes late or so. Fortunately, the “snack bar” was in place and we were able to tide ourselves over until it arrived.
After lunch, the boys got back on their bikes and back out to class and to explore the 1500+ acres of Bert Adams Scout Camp. And thank goodness Bert Adams is a “bike friendly” camp – our campsite (Grant) is probably a 20 minute walk from the dining hall, but less than a 10 minute bike.
After a fun day of classes, the troop gathered back at the campsite to change into “Class A” (i.e., formal) uniforms and we walked over to field for flags and dinner. Flags were unfortunately cut short due to rain (again). But we feasted on baked spaghetti, broccoli, garlic bread and the “deluxe” salad bar (which some of the boys are actually eating from!) And dessert showed up – ice cream cups.
After dinner, the boys scattered across the camp for optional activities and/or classes. But the biggest hit seems to be the 75-yard water obstacle course down at the waterfront. The camp has set up a course with trampolines, climbing structures, and all kind of other things – all inflated, all in the water. Thank goodness we all were cleared as swimmers! Unfortunately, the scouts didn’t get to enjoy the waterfront for the whole 90 minutes, since there was thunder off in the distance that kept resetting the 30 minute safety times.
That evening, we headed back to the campsite for our first evening cracker barrel. The theme last night was fire building and cake / cobbler tasting. The troop split up into two teams and it was a race to see who could burn the string that was about 30” over the fire pit. It was really fun to watch the two different approaches they went with – one team piled their pit high with leaves (and then got smoked out), and the other team built a teepee fire. Bit in the end, it was almost too close to call, with one team squeaking out a victory by maybe 10 seconds.
But since the cake and cobbler were supposed to be cooked over the fire, and the fire building contest took a LOT longer than we anticipated (lots of rain = lots of wet wood), the dutch ovens didn’t go onto the fire until late and the boys were only able to enjoy the peach dump cake last night. But we let the cobbler finish cooking overnight, and enjoyed it as a pre-breakfast treat this morning.
Apparently, my choice of music to wake the boys yesterday (Bruce Hornsby, I figured it would drive them out of bed) was NOT appreciated. So, by popular demand, the Troop 455 2021 wake up music is now AC/DC. And my DJ rights have been permanently revoked. “Back in Black” was therefore rousing the boys this morning.
After breakfast of waffles, sausage, and LOTS of syrup, the boys headed out to their classes. There are scouts here from all over the country. Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana…. The Atlanta Area Council welcomes scouts from other Councils, and it’s fun for our scouts to meet scouts from other states. And countries!
Our first year campers at Rawhide are busy tying knots, learning about safety in an axe yard, and eagerly working towards earning their privileges to safely (and “legally”) carry a pocket knife on their person (Totin’ Chip). They are also looking at various trees, identifying leaves and bark. They’ve been learning about safety for woodpiles and axe yards……so be sure to ask your young scout what a “blood circle” is when he gets home.
Some of our campers are busy on the waterfront. Swimming, Canoeing, Kayaking, Sailing, Motor-Boating, etc. Is the water warm? YES IT IS! So no worries about that…. And water sports are particularly popular here as it’s a great respite from the heat.
Lunch was delivered on time today (I actually went down to the kitchen to pitch in this morning with some assembly, since they are both understaffed and trying something new). There were scoutmasters there from Alabama, South Carolina, and even our neighbors at Trinity Baptist in the kitchen with me helping out.
So, since food arrived before the scouts, we had a nice leisurely lunch here at camp (hamburgers, granola bars, fruit cups, and chips that were left over from yesterday). The scouts left camp ready to tackle the afternoon activities and I think I’m just about ready to tackle a nap.
The SPLs biggest goal for this week was to build troop “cohesion.” I’m not really sure they knew exactly what that was going into the week (I definitely didn’t know what it was), but over the past few days, they’ve decided that they want the troop to travel to meals together and arrive at morning and evening flags together. It’s nice seeing them figure out what they want and trying different ways to make it happen. And while it’s a work in progress, it’s nice to see the boys come back into the campsite, hang out with each other, and nudge each other to get into uniform, etc. The provisional scouts are integrated into the troop now and it’s great to see them all having fun in the woods.
It’s also really nice to have the enthusiastic younger scouts (Hudson and Walter) with us, since they’re learning new skills in Rawhide and can then come back and “show off” to get “sign off” in their handbooks. Both Wiley and Jack Pilger sat down today with Walter and Hudson to review and sign off on some of their Scout rank requirements. And Will Brooks took time with Alex, one of our provisional scouts, to help him with his bike riding.
Well, the weather rock continues to report highs in the 80s, lows in the 70s, and 65% chance of rain (which I think it means it wills rain or be threatening to rain about 65% of the time). But, just like yesterday, I’m sitting here in the quiet camp and the sun is peeking through the clouds. We’ll have to see what the weather rock reports tonight.
A HOT AND HUMID DAY AT BERT ADAMS!! So, far Bert Adams is living up to its reputation… like the Peachtree Road Race – Heat, Hills, and Humidity! We arrived yesterday afternoon and immediately were welcomed by our Camp Guide Ryan who took us on a tour of camp and escorted us to our swim test – everyone passed as swimmer! (Which means that they can play on the super water obstacle course, which looks fantastic!)
We then headed over to the dining hall, had our first meal at Bert Adams – chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and the always missing dessert. Wonder where that goes…?
After dinner the SPLs (Zack and Anderson) went to their SPL meetings while the rest of us explored the camp and finished unpacking. We then headed over to campfire, which was great – until it was interrupted by thunder and lightning! The scouts doing add drop scrambled to the dining hall to adjust their schedules, while the rest of the troop ended up sheltering in the pool locker rooms for 30 minutes, making new friends.
Speaking of new friends, we have three provisional (i.e., guest scouts that aren’t here with their own troops) with us. Freddie, Harrison, and Alex are all new friends and are proudly wearing their 455 red (they’ve nicknamed them “jolly rancher red”) shirts. So, yes, the colors were a little brighter than we anticipated…
When I got back to camp after most the rain had passed, I realized my tent was not tied properly, so my entire cot was drenched. Lesson learned (the hard way): Check your tent. Most scouts were better prepared for the rain than I was, which is a good thing.
In any case, if you are wondering how your Scouts are doing…..the answer is ALL FINE! I will try to write a quick Note-To-Home each day, since most of your sons won’t tell you much. This is typical:
Dad: So how was Summer Camp?
Scout: Fine!
Dad: What did you do?
Scout: A lot of things!
Dad: Did you meet any new friends?
Scout: Yeah
Dad: How was the food?
Scout: OK
So…. if you son is a “man of few words,” perhaps my little musings will bring you up to speed about some of the things that we enjoy here at Bert Adams Scout Camp.
We got here yesterday a little before 1PM, no drama on the checkin and we sailed through Health Forms check-in without a hitch. So THANK YOU to Laurel for wrangling those forms and thanks to all of you for cooperating.
We’ve also enjoyed seeing members of Troop 455 around camp on staff. Nick Anthony, Jack Murlin, and Benne Ackerman are all here on staff in different roles. It’s great for the younger scouts to see the older scouts teaching and leading at camp.
Our SPLs are at work getting us together for the week….. we’ve posted the schedules for classes, maps, the duty roster, camp inspections, and more. Lots of things to remember, but the older boys are doing a good job of taking the younger scouts under their wing and getting them to where they need to be.
The boys are still working on setting up the camp, and hopefully they will be able to finish their camp gadget and “entrance” sometime today (it’s part of the daily camp inspection, which is an important part of getting the honor troop ribbon for the troop flag). Distractions and short attention spans abound, but the SPLs are trying to keep them focused while still letting them have fun. An important balance that if they figure out, I’ll ask them to teach me!
We’ve also set up a little “snack bar” at camp (this year, lunches are being delivered to the campsite), with water, ice, and Gatorade packets (to help encourage hydration). Also available are some snacks like chex mix and granola bars, etc., to tide hungry boys through an active day.
The boys are also planning nightly cracker barrels (informal troop get-togethers with activities, campfire, and snacks) for each night. More details on those when the details emerge (the SPLs have plans, but planning vs. reality is something they are learning to deal with).
Today started cloudy, then we had a little rain, and as I sit here in the campsite typing this up before lunch is delivered, the sun is starting to peek out. I’ve avoided the weather report on my phone and have just been relying up on the “weather rock” here at Bert Adams for my forecasts (ask your son).
Breakfast this morning was pancakes, sausage, cereal, juice, with lots of “swapping” going on at the tables. Cereal and milk are always available as an “extra” and granola and grits are there as well.
Speaking of food….. you will hear a report from me about what we eat each meal but PLEASE don’t worry that your campers are having a high-carb-high-fat week. They are….mostly….but that is because BASC HAS to feed them food they will eat. And most hungry scouts will eat potatoes, mac n cheese, rolls, PBJ, etc. The organic and healthy routines can resume next Sunday at home.
For the time being, we are making sure that they are “fueled” and “hydrated” and that is one of the most important things. They need sustenance for the amount of energy they expend during the day. Personal Fitness is more strenuous than Social Studies, and Scouting is HUNGRY WORK!
The boys are off to their Merit Badges this morning, and there was a lot of excitement as they trotted off to “school” on their bikes, with their day packs and water bottles (and hopefully rain gear).
Our first year scouts will be participating in Rawhide, which is a wonderful opportunity for learning all things a first year scout should know. They divide up into “patrols” there, and this gives our T455 scouts an opportunity to meet scouts from other Troops. If your scout is here for the first year, you can be sure that he will learn a LOT in Rawhide. If you ask him what he learned, he will probably say “Nothing” or “Not Much…..” but you should KNOW that’s not true!
So perhaps these daily “check-ins” with you will give you a small glimpse into the window of the wonderful world of all things Bert Adams.