Features
Camp Cullimore/Morrison Report
This summer, thirty-three scouts, divided into the North, South, East and West patrols, and eight adult leaders went to Camp Morrison, a beautiful camp near McCall, Idaho. The weather was beautiful all week long…
For the whole story, click here.
Salmon River H.A.B. Report
I woke up today at 4:00am. The group met at the airport sometime around 5:30am; it was too early to think about checking the time. Our flight disembarked around 7:00 and we arrived at the midpoint Las Vegas around 10am…
For the whole story, click here.
Nov 11 : Advancement session
Just for Adults, Dec. 6: troop committee meeting
Eagle Scout Projects
Mark Steinhubl collected clothing for CCSC.
Nick Bayer restored a plant species at Herman Park.
Click here for these two write-ups.
Merit Badge Opportunities
April 26, 2008 : GAD Merit-Badge Fair
Be Prepared
You might know the Outdoor Code, but do you know what it means? Click here
Volunteer Opportunities
Urban Scout Campout:
Nov. 9-10, Camp Strake
For more info email Mr. David Grizzle at david.grizzle@yahoo.com
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Camp Cullimore / Morrison Report
June 16-23, 2007
This summer, thirty-three scouts, divided into the North, South, East and West patrols, and eight adult leaders went to Camp Morrison, a beautiful camp near McCall, Idaho. Don Treat drove all the way from Houston, and brought the essential troop gear. The weather was beautiful all week long. Mornings were chilly and afternoons were warm. Deer wandered through the campsite each day and lots of other wildlife was seen as well. On the first day, Daniel Treat got a cut on his hand that required five stitches. While there, the scouts earned an incredible amount of merit badges. Cathy Steele, an adult leader in troop 55, helped with getting the boys registered to take them. Not only did the scouts earn merit badges, but they participated in activities such as rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, tomahawk throwing, black powder rifle shooting, and climbing up to Boulder Lake and camping there for a night. In addition, the boys spent many service hours clearing dead trees and helping with landscaping.
As a troop, they started out as a group of individuals, and there were some difficulties getting things done punctually and well. During the week, however, things came together. By Tuesday night, the green-bar and youth leadership convinced the adults to let the boys take charge of the operation.
Two of the goals that they set for themselves were to obtain Woodsman Honor Troop status, and to win the Bull of the Woods Award, given to the best troop in camp. The boys worked hard at these goals all week. At the closing campfire, Troop 55 won many of the individual awards and won the Bull of the Woods trophy! The north patrol, led by Noah Schwartz, won the Honor Patrol for its scout spirit and accomplishments. All eight of the adult leaders earned the camp director’s Scoutmaster Merit Badge, and three of the adults took the course and completed all of the requirements to become fully-trained scoutmasters during the week!
The camp staff made a point to let us know how impressed they were with our troop, and that they would have no qualms about inviting us back.
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Salmon River High Adventure Base: Day by Day
Sunday, July 15th
I woke up today at 4:00am. The group met at the airport sometime around 5:30am; it was too early to think about checking the time. Our flight disembarked around 7:00 and we arrived at the midpoint Las Vegas around 10am. The Las Vegas airport is distinct because of its eccentric variety of shops and stalls such as jewelry stores, chocolate and candy shops, an oxygen bar. There must have been 100 slot machines at the C terminal alone! We boarded the plane to Boise and arrived late afternoon. We ate dinner at Red Robin and pulled into the Salmon River High Adventure Base at midnight.
Monday, July 16th.
Today, we woke up at 7am. We packed up and finished breakfast by 9am. We traveled by bus to our backpacking destination, stopping at an ancient trading post complete with an old style gas pump, never opened 50-year old Cokes, and knives! We ate lunch at 2pm. This was the day the toughest day of backpacking. We hiked 13 miles over mountains, and crossed enormous fallen trees, and small streams. This was a difficult hike for us, and when we finally arrived at our camp-site around 9pm, we fixed a dinner of soup and exhausted fell asleep at 10pm.
Tuesday, July 17th
Today was easier; we only hiked six miles. We hiked along the river on flat ground, stopping for a 3-hour lunch, soup again. During which we took a dip in the cold Salmon River. Cameron Steele tried to jump on fish, unsuccessfully. After hiking a bit more, we arrived at the campground at 6pm. We had a lasagna dinner and lights out was at 10pm.
Wednesday, July 18th
Today we had a refreshing break back to civilization. We woke up at 6:30am; left camp by 9am and within 30 minutes hit the first sign of civilization: roads! These were real roads and we traveled them downhill all the way and saw three houses. We arrived back at base by 11am, refilling on food and supplies. We then disembarked and after a one hour car ride we stopped at Ridley’s supermarket and had some ice cream. We drove for another hour, high into the mountains, Mr. Alexander’s car broke down, and after that we hiked for several miles. We saw two lakes along the way. This hike was better than yesterday’s because the trail was better and there were bigger trees. We arrived at campsite at 6pm and finished eating by 8pm. As usual bedtime was at 10pm.
Thursday, July 19th.
Today was the best day so far because we did not do anything!
We woke up at 8am or later, ate breakfast, and after that most of our group made a raft. It took a long time to build and sunk with 7 people, but it was really cool! We had lunch soon after and Cameron, Chris, Brandon, Garrett and I, went tree catapulting. Henry would bend back a five to ten year old tree, someone would get on, I would take pictures, and Henry would let go. We hurt many and killed one tree this way.
I took a break, but soon the group went log swimming (getting on logs while swimming). Phillip caught a fish soon after lunch, a rainbow trout, gutted it, cooked it and ate it. He buried the fish’s bones in the Fish Memorial. We ate dinner and went to bed at 10pm.
Friday, July 20th
Today was a great day. We woke up at 6am, got out of camp by 7am, and were in vans by 8am. We arrived at a waffle house called Pancakes and More at 9am. I had a Hawaiian waffle (coconuts, pineapples, etc.) The waffles were fantastic and all the scouts got a case of flatulence. We were out by 10am. We arrived at the base by noon and were supplied with lunch. We went rafting on Salmon River at 1pm; this was a fun experience, although there weren’t many rapids. We rammed the rafts into each other often and threw the members of the opposing raft over board. This happened many times and all of us got soaked. By 6pm, the trip was over and we put-in on an extremely steep beach. We had an excellent dinner of chicken sandwiches and played ultimate frisbee against the staff. Although outnumbering the staff two to one, we lost twenty points to five. We went to bed at 10pm.
Saturday, July 21st.
Today was even better than yesterday. We woke up at 6:30am, finished packing by 7:30 and ate breakfast at 8:30am. The geezers had to go to Riggins and didn’t get back until 10:30. We went rafting over many semi-white waters; we even swam in a few. We stopped near the Nez Piece NF campground for lunch and picked some apricots nearby. We played many war games, one of which our guide Nate participated in. At 5pm or so, my dad finally decided to try to swim a rapid. He went for fifty feet, but was sucked into an eddy and couldn’t get out. Fortunately, a tourist raft came to his rescue. We stopped at a beach at 7pm and camped. We ate dinner at 8:30pm and were in bed by 10:30pm.
Sunday, July 22nd
Today was overall the most fun day. We woke up at 6am, were packed by 7am, finished eating by 8am and were on the road by 9am. Today we hit quite a few rapids, one of which our guide Nate fell. We got into ward again, in which Blue ultimately won. We went through a time zone and were done by noon. We went to Riggins and stopped at the Back Eddy Grill where we had the best milkshakes. They must have come in 20 different flavors. We left and entered Camp Morrison by 4pm. We set up our tents and went back to McCall by 6pm, eating at “My Father’s Place”, a burger joint. We had a chapel service at 3pm and were in bed by 10pm.
-Darius Altman
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Camp Hale: Day by Day
Sunday, July 1:
The bus was to come at midnight. Instead, it came at 1:15am. As we packed our packlines and sat in our seats, something unusual happened: the bus hums were louder than the people, save the rabid howls of the Midnight Moms, wishing to send their once nutty but now exhausted sons to the middle of nowhere at one in the morning. The day began with none awake, none asleep, instead some impossible compromise.
Sunday, July 1st
Despite going to bed at 2am, every one was awake by 7am, when we ate a good, but blubber bellying breakfast buffet in a Golden Corral, conveniently located somewhere in Texas. One hour or so after leaving the biggish buffet, we crossed the border without a passport. Into Oklahoma. We had lunch at 11am in a sub-par buffet, but made it to Hale soon after. Once at Hale, we were given a 120 minute hour tour, showing us the extensive campgrounds. Dinner was served to a stampede of scouts, merit badge-equipment was bought by a stampede of scouts and a stampede of scouts and their tents were soaked by a stampede of rain. All were in bed by 10pm.
Monday, July 2nd
It rained in the morning. The rain stopped by 8am and after a good breakfast, the merit badges began. For me, my first class was Metalwork. The counselor trained us in metal work safety. Troop Scouts present were Phillip Appeddu, Zack Wella. Next was Canoeing, near the lake. After reviewing paddle moves, we went canoeing. Fellow scouts were Brant Minor. After lunch, classes resumed with Lifesaving. At Lifesaving, we had to swim 9 laps. Fellow scouts included Austin. After that it rained. Because of lightning, the staff held us at the Dining Hall until the storm lessened. As a result, I missed most of Capming, in which no scouts were present. After dinner, there was free period. Since the lake wasn't usable, Phillip Appeddu and I went skiing. This was a peculiar sort of skiing, with water soap and a weird astroturfy stuff instead of snow. Although it was funky, I stayed there an hour. The day ended with a big campfire.
Tuesday, July 3rd
This morning, I head the funkiest breakfast ever: pancake-sausage corndogs! In Metalwork, the counselor gave a cool demonstration. In Canoeing, some swamped their boats and some saved boats. In Lifesaving, we saved people. In Camping, we did nothing fun. Nothing happened at night.
Wednesday, July 4th
Today was both unusual and familiar. Like other days, we had the same classes, same mediocre food, and same stuff. But today was SLIGHTLY different. Today, the TROOP did a flag ceremony. The food was more edible and counselors happier. At night, a few members of Troop 55 auditioned for Friday night performance. We did a good version of “If I were a Boy Scout”. I did Motivational Speaker: “Feel good, feel good, have a HAPPY mood!” After that, I did “Dick Cheney Gangsta Rap” with Wheat providing the beat. Auditioners: John Zook, “Wheat”, Clay Nickens, and others.
Thursday, July 5th
On Thursday, we began to complete our merit badges. Finally, the sun was shining after days of rain, putting everyone in a much better mood. John Zook led prayer at breakfast. He asked God for completion of merit badges, good food and curing of homesickness – all wishes were granted!
Friday, July 6th
Today was the last day at Camp Hale. We completed all our merit badges today. Tonight was a great campfire. Our troop displayed a memorable skit – “If I weren’t a boy scout”. After the skits, there were large and beautiful fireworks that lasted through several songs. We went to bed late.
Saturday, July 7th
Today, we were going home. We packed our bags and had breakfast. After cleaning up our campsite, our SPL, Zach Jewel, did a memorable feat – he threw a marshmallow 53 ft. into an awaiting mouth. I videotaped this. We got on the buses and we left Camp Hale in time to have another mediocre lunch buffet at Pam’s Hateful Hussy diner. After this, we left for Dallas. As we went to Dallas, we crossed the Texas border. Immediately, the place seemed richer, prettier and more populated. We arrived in Dallas by 4pm. Many of the neighborhoods looked strikingly similar to my own neighborhood of West University. Ten of us, including myself, went to Love field to fly home in time for dinner. The rest went to a Rangers game and come home early the next morning.
-Darius Altman
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Be Prepared: Know the Outdoor Code!
As an American, I will do my best to -
- Be clean in my outdoor manners.
I will treat the outdoors as a heritage.
I will take care of it for myself and others
I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways. - Be careful with fire.
I will prevent wildfire.
I will build my fires only where they are appropriate.
When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out.
I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire. - Be considerate in the outdoors.
I will treat public and private property with respect.
I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.
and
- Be conservation minded
I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy.
I will urge others to do the same.
Head Adult Advisor-Mark Lum
Adult Advisor-Clare Teas
Adult Advisor-Andy Dearwater
Editor-in-Chief-Sterling Burdine
Contributing Scribe-Darius Altman
Contributing Scribe-Ryan Reza
Contributing Scribe-David Sunde
Contributing Scout-Mark Steinhubl
Contributing Scout-Nick Bayer