<![CDATA[troop642.org - Scout Blog Archive]]>Mon, 05 Dec 2022 11:09:48 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[June 11th, 2022]]>Sat, 11 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/june-11th-20222022 Summer Camp
We had a fantastic time at San Isabel Summer camp this year. Along with the refreshing cool mountain air, there was a lot of fun, rank advancements and a good time had by all.
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]]><![CDATA[Smitherman Ranch]]>Sat, 14 May 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/smitherman-ranch
]]><![CDATA[Campree]]>Sat, 02 Apr 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/campreeWe had Camporee this past weekend (April 1-3) in the Webb Ranch in Chapel Hill, TX. Camporee was organized by Mr. Cunningham. The weather was perfect and the landscape was beautiful including many blooming blue bonnets. Downside was that pollen and allergies were at their highest too.
First picture shows the morning assembly, with Mr. Cunningham welcoming the other four troops and introducing the events of the Day, as well as reminding everybody about the importance of Scout Spirit.
Pictures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the theme of this year Camporee: “Highland Games”. We had a friendly competition with the other Troops around games including the very popular “Tug of War”, but also the “Stone Put” and the “Lazy Stick”. Also offered but not pictured were the “Caber Toss” and the “Welly Toss”. One of the scouts from another troop even wore a kilt the whole day for the Scottish Games.
The last picture shows the gigantic Campfire set up by Mr. Turret, riding in like Mad Max with a flame thrower. The skits by the scouts from different troops were hilarious.
In summary, our Camporee was truly memorable and concluded a successful series of three organized by Troop 642. Hopefully another Troop will volunteer next year and we will have fun again!

​Grant W.
]]><![CDATA[Clinton Ranch Campout]]>Sat, 26 Feb 2022 08:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/clinton-ranch-campoutWe just got back from the February campout which was at the Clinton Ranch in Alleyton. The weather was not pretty. It was cold, damp, and rainy for most of the day and night, but it finally cleared right before the scout mass on Sunday morning. The weather lived up to the Rainmaker name. Some of the older scouts finished their cooking merit badge requirements. Some scouts thought it would be nice, and hiked with some WEBLOS scouts at a campsite where some WEBLOS were hanging out. This was one of the first times in many years when our scoutmasters couldn’t light the bonfire because the wood was so cold and wet. We are looking forward to the next campout in April which will be at Camp Bovay and multiple troops are coming to take part in the Highland Games, may the best troop win.
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Jake D.
]]><![CDATA[Wilderness Survival Campout]]>Sat, 22 Jan 2022 08:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/wilderness-survival-campoutWe just returned from the January campout, also known as the wilderness survival campout because many scouts complete Wilderness Survival Merit Badge.  They have to spend a night outdoors in the cold, away from the luxuries of the camp site – meaning no tents, no blankets, no sleeping bags.  This was also a feast camp out where many other scouts had to cook a feast for the Cooking Merit Badge – after getting their menus approved by Dr. Krell. 
When we showed up on Saturday, the temperature was in the low 30’s and in the 40’s during the day, but dropped to 31 degrees overnight – one of the coldest days to do wilderness survival this year!
For some FCE scouts, they did a five mile hike for a second class requirement and they finished in record time. For the first time in many, many years, we have a new bugler , Jack Hewitt. 
We want to thank Mr. Stocker, again, for letting us use his ranch for this campout. Stocker ranch is over 300 acres of beautiful land and forests.
 
Jake D.
]]><![CDATA[Webb Ranch]]>Sat, 13 Nov 2021 08:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/webb-ranchWe just went to Webb Ranch for the November feast campout. Webb Ranch which is in Brenham and home to our favorite ice cream…Blue Bell. This was the first time we ever camped at this ranch. This is the first out of 2 feast campouts (usually there is just one). Some people cooked turkeys in metal oven type boxes, trashcans, and even a beer keg. Some people cooked brisket, and one person even cooked a whole hog. One cook made homemade ice cream for their dessert. The weather was a nice, average was in the 60s during the day and a low of 39 during the night. The ranch had more than enough firewood to go around for all the patrols. This was one of the coolest campouts the troop has done because of great weather, a great ranch and great food. 

​J. Duggan
]]><![CDATA[Barker Ranch]]>Sat, 16 Oct 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/barker-ranch​Our October campout was at the Barker Ranch or the shotgun campout as we like to call it. There we were settled next to a lake where some cows were staring us down from the other side. We didn't have much wood, so Mr. Turret came by 4 times with a loaded, wood truck. The weather was a perfect 70s, the grass was so thick that it felt like a bed and it was so soft. After a little while some kids started a football game using bushes  touchdowns, it was really fun. Despite the lack of fire wood, the fires were huge and the cooking couldn't get any better. One patrol's cornbread was so good that adults came by for 3ds. Most patrol leaders are doing cooking merit badge. This was the closest campout to the scout house. That meant no stop at the big Buc'ees. Every hour you could hear more and more booms from the shotguns firing. Scouts, scoutmasters and parents fired shotguns and some scouts even earned shotgun merit badge. This was also the new Ranger patrol's, also known as leadership patrol's, first campout. They're meant to be a junior staff patrol.
J. Duggan]]><![CDATA[2021 High Adventure Tall Ship]]>Mon, 21 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/2021-high-adventure-tall-ship
]]><![CDATA[Crockett Ranch]]>Sat, 15 May 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/crockett-ranchEveryone started their day early at around 6:00 AM getting ready for the campout. At around 6:30 everyone got ready at the scouthouse and prepared themselves for the long 2 hour drive.Eventually we got there at 9:00 and set up 2 flys and our tents. It was a rather hard job setting up our tents because we were in such an enclosed space. For a few hours most people relaxed,played football, or ate. The younger scouts went on a nature hike. At around 12:00 a fall in was called and we were told we could start swimming. There was an awesome rope swing which was built last summer camp. The water was rather cold and muddy but everyone still had a lot of fun. At around 1:00 the lifesaving merit badge people were called and they worked till 5:00 on their requirements. The rope swing was open for a few more hours. When it closed the scouts went back to the campsite and started cooking. At around 6:00 the scouts served. Everyone cooked the same dish: Sophitia cheesecake, green beans, and lasagna. We had to cook on fire tables because of a fire restriction.During this time and the bonfire we cleaned. At around 8:00 a bonfire started. There were a lot of embers flying everywhere and people ran around avoiding them. We retired an American flag by burning it piece by piece. At 9:00 the bonfire finished and people played around till 10:00 or went to bed. We woke up early the next morning and made a delicious breakfast. Everyone packed up early because it was supposed to rain. We closed up the campout with a church service and cleaning. Then we sped along to home in our cars!
​Rohan N.
]]><![CDATA[2021 Camporee]]>Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://troop642.org/scout-blog-archive/2021-camporee​There are a lot of good campouts but this year at Bovay was one of the best with many activities such as rock climbing and orienteering hunts. This campout has all you can want. At this campout there was rock climbing, knot relays, cooking competitions, and more! Some of the big highlights is when the awards ceremony. 

Bouvay certainly had many things to do that were very enjoyable! - such as rock climbing, rappelling, shotgun shooting, and more. It was a good place to learn a lot of skills like knot tying and using a map and compass.

You would get there at around 5:00 on Friday evening and set up camp and go to bed. When you woke up on Saturday you got dressed for the morning ceremony at 7:00. After that you got back to your troops camp and set up dining flys. At 9:00 the activities started and almost everyone went straight to rock climbing (except for the patrol I’m in we were stuck cleaning the bathrooms.) For the first half of the activities most people completed the knot tying relay, rock climbing, and rappelling. At around noon everyone came back to our campsite to have a lunch of tacos. Soon after everyone went back to the activities but this time doing the orienteering course, stretcher relay, and tug of war. Soon after this all finished most kids hung out at their flys. At around 4:00 people started cooking dessert for the dessert competition.

People also cooked chili for the best chili competition. At 6:30 was the time for judging, many people didn't finish in time so they didn't get judged. At around 8:00 the bugle call played and another ceremony commenced. Most kids stayed awake till 10:00 but then everyone went to bed. Waking up to an extremely cold morning many kids were huddled around the campfire and were reluctant to leave the warmth to go to get a delicious breakfast of tacos. Soon after the bugle call was played and everyone headed to the awards ceremony which awards were handed out from stretcher relay to the knot tying relay. Soon after it was time to pack up and we got jamboree patches and zoomed home in our cars!
In the campout you would get there on Friday and set up tents and go to bed but on Saturday you would wake up early, get ready for the morning ceremony then start your activities after the ceremony. Most of the activities were friendly competitions. At around noon you would eat lunch then back to activities. In the evening you cooked dessert for a competition then you would eat dinner and talk with your friends till going to bed. Then you would wake up early, eat breakfast, go to the awards ceremony then pack up and go home. It was a very enjoyable camp. I would go far enough to call it my favorite!
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This is one campout you would not want to miss!

​Rohan N.
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