Boy Scout Summer Camp

Because regular BSA camp is too pricey for most of the boys in our Troop, and because some of our parents won't allow their boys to attend Council camps, combined with we are not allowed to do fund raisers, our Troop committee set up our own summer camp on a local farm. Instead of the traditional $225 per boy at a Council camp, our Scouts paid $50 each. We offered many of the traditional merit badges along with several Eagle required ones. 

Shotgun MB was popular among the older boys. We had two shooting stations with one adult and an Eagle Scout behind each station to ensure safety and to coach the boy shooting.

K7 was the acknowledged top shooter. He earned his Shotgun MB years ago in Texas, but he hasn't forgotten how to do it well. He busted all of his clay pigeons.

He also personally coached the other boys so they could earn the MB. Everyone passed the class and earned the MB.

K8 had not previously taken Shotgun class, but he was the 2nd best shooter right behind his brother. The boys all took turns rotating from throwing clay pigeons, to shooting, to watching, then switch stations and repeat using a different type of shotgun.

Our camp also offered some unusual merit badges that our boys loved, and which will prove practical since most live on farms - Welding and Farm Mechanics. K8 earned both...and I donated our tractor for them to work on, so we got some maintenance on it.

Three boys were welding at a time under the supervision of our Scout Master, using different type rigs.

The boys had fun in a large pond every afternoon on kayaks. K8 is 2nd from left, standing on his boat. It got even more fun when they learned how to play kayak rugby. Weak swimmers were not allowed on the water without a life vest. The younger boys also earned their Fishing merit badge around this pond earlier in the day.

K8 and some of the older boys finished the Wilderness Survival MB by building and spending the night in home made shelters. This was K8's. I was really hoping it would have rained that night, but no luck. He was still in bed when K7 and I arrived early next morning with the pellet rifles for Rifle Shooting MB class. Camp was very successful - nobody got hurt, everyone had fun, and everyone earned lots of merit badges. K8 earned a total of 5 merit badges last week, which brings him up to about 30 total...just a few behind K7. K8 is scheduled to do his Eagle Project in September.