December Campout - Wilderness Survival

 

Permission forms for the December Wilderness Survival campout at Worth Ranch are due at our November 28 meeting.

October & November Campout Forms -- DEADLINE for BOTH 10/17

October's Campout is at Lake Whitney State Park and will focus on Cooking.  October 21-23 Campout Permission form is attached and due 10/17.  Merit Badge worksheets available HERE

October Campout Form

November's Campout is at Tahuaya Scout Ranch in Belton and will be the Highland Games.  November 11-13 Campout Permission form is linked below 10/17 also, along with the additional fees required – slots are going fast to attend this campout, and we want to be sure everyone has a chance to sign up, so we are getting it out there as early as possible. There are extra fees to attend this campout (Troop is paying $20 portion of Scout fees in that regard).

and a HUGE

to Michael Hunt -- as we would not have been able to attend Highland Games this year without him!  He does an outstanding job as our Outdoor Activities Coordinator – most of his efforts are behind the scenes, so I just to say THANK YOU MICHAEL HUNT for all of your hard work for this Troop!

November Campout Form

Again -- DEADLINE FOR BOTH FORMS IS OCTOBER 17

September Camping

Permission forms for the September Climbing Campout at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch are due at our September 9 Troop meeting.  The Permission Form is HERE.

Please note to participate in this event, there is an additional $7 fee to be included with your Permission Forms as well as your money for food which is given to the grubmaster for your patrol.

A reminder to all parents and Scouts - electronics and/or phone are NOT allowed on campouts.  They must remain either at home or in the vehicle your Scout rode in on the campout. 

December Camping

Permission forms for the December Wilderness Survival campout at Worth Ranch are due at our next meeting on November 27. The permission form is HERE.

Permission forms and patrol food money will both be due November 27 (the Monday prior to the campout), so be prepared! Bring your $15 patrol food money to give to your grubmaster. Adults, you can give your $20 to the White Buffalo coordinator, Tim Farrar.

November Campout

November's campout is the annual Longhorn Council Highland Games at Camp Tahuaya (Belton, TX) November 10-12. Featuring professional Scottish Highland games weights, hammers, and much more. You will compete in fun and challenging Celtic tests of strength, endurance and skill. Highland Games is both an individual event and a team event for groups of 4-8 participants from Venture Crews, Teams and Troops at Camp Tahuaya.

There are 2 age classes for youth in all of the events. “Light Weight” are age 11-14 years, and “Heavy Weight” are 15 and older.” There is also a Venturers Class, an Adult Class, and an Adult Coed Class. Team and Individual Awards will be given in each class.

Competitions are “Toss” events that go for distance and “throw” events go for height. Events are Traditional Events with professional Highland Games Equipment, plus several NEW Events. We add a few Scouting touches for safety in some events, like helmets.

EVENTS

Turning the Caber. A caber is a 16-20 foot long pole that is tossed end-over-end. The object is to balance the Caber (pole) vertically over your head, run forward and toss it so that it flips end over end and lands vertically. We use a lighter variant of the 90 to 120 pound logs the Scots use but it’s fun just the same!

Sheaf Toss. What’s a Sheaf? A sheaf is a 16-20 pound bag of hay (10-12 pounds for the light weights). What do you do with it? Hurl it straight up into the air over an adjustable crossbar with a pitchfork. It’s High Jump with pitch forks. Highest toss wins.

Weight Throws. Pick up the weight in one hand, sling it from side to side to gain momentum and throw it the farthest … or as far as possible.

Clachneart. It’s a rounded stone and you throw it – like a shot put. You can spin if you want. Distance Counts.

Braemar Stone. What’s a Braemar Stone? Well, it’s like the Clachneart, except bigger and you can’t move when you toss it (no shot put moves). Again distance counts.

Hammer Throw. Now using professional Scottish hammers! Another throw for distance event. 

Farmer’s Walk. In the farmer’s walk, the competitor picks up two weights, each weighing up to 150 pounds and walks around a series of pylons. The winner walks the farthest. We’ll go a little light on the weight: you’ll use hay bales, bulky but not nearly as heavy. You get the idea… 

Pumpkin Slaying. Demonstrate your swordsmanship as you slay a pumpkin with a Scottish Claymore sword! . . . if you can hit it!

Battle Axe Throw. The battle axe was issued to the 78th Fraser’s Highlanders, a military regiment from the Highlands of Scotland. The axes were light enough to be used with one hand and heavy enough to dent or puncture armor. The axes used in the competition are lighter than the original weapons, but safer to throw. In competition, the axes are thrown at increasing distances towards a target. The winner is the individual who’s axe, thrown from the greatest distance, strikes and sticks blade first in the targets.

The Fell Race. The fell race gets its name from the hills of Northern England where it originated. It’s a non-traditional endurance test of running and cross-country skills over rough terrain. This cross country race typically features several natural and man-made barriers. This event is just for the Fit! 

Tossing the Wellie. Legend has it that this originated when Scottish husbands wore their muddy boots in the house. In retaliation, the wives threw the boots back at the husbands as they ran from the house to avoid the wives wrath. This game is all about distance and staying between the lines.

As you can see, it's one feat after another... all while wearing traditional Scottish kilts. We will be sending out registration information soon, but we need to get started on kilts right away.

Thank you to our volunteers who sewed the kilts for all who ordered them!  When you're done with it, if you don't want to keep it, please consider donating it to the Troop for next year's games. A Scout is Thrifty!

It's going to be a great time for all!

October Campout

The October campout will be at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch (SR2) October 20-22. Troop members will have their own activity during the day but during the evening the real fun starts!  They will staff the haunted hayride for the Cub Scouts who are attending the Fall Festival. This is always a lot of fun as we hide along the trail and within the scenes and backdrops to give the Cub Scouts and their families on the hay ride a little scare.

 

Have a favorite costume or mask you want to use?  Bring it!

Permission forms can be found HERE.  These are due:  October 9.