Muddy Cricket Hill Snow melted to create a cold January mudder for the cooped-up Scouts of Troop 79. Neither camping nor High Adventure – just simple running amok in the muck. It wasn’t clear which patrol won Capture the Flag after two hours atop the hill in the wind and fully masked, but fun was had by all and Hot Cocoa a welcome treat. As we commence weekly Zoom meetings, it was great to all be together again outdoors!
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The Stormchasers of Troop 79 were at it again leaving Friday night on the Chicago side of a squall only to drive around the lake to catch it on the Michigan side at Warren Dunes. Just in time for a 20 minute downpour while setting up our solo tents. Our second campout during Covid again called for individual tents (over 20!), masks, hand sanitizing, working in separate patrols, and using our common sense. Despite the excitement of setting up a campsite in the dark and rain – we did it no problem.
Saturday morning kicked off with patrol cooking and the adults doing their thing. Turkeys and Scouts headed out for the trails and dunes.
The afternoon was spent back at campsite for work on advancement, fire-building, tarp installation, and ensuring camp chairs worked properly.
Evening dinner pitted patrols against each other to create the best dinner in categories mostly just known to the SPL judge. In the end, the burrito dinner patrol won and were awarded the coveted Oreo prize. Adults were treated to gramma’s famous Hungarian Goulash recipe, salad, and pan-baked brownies for desert.
Saturday night campfire illuminated the darkness and entertainment programmed and MC’d by two Communications Merit Badge hopefuls.
Sunday morning forecasted rain provided enough motivation to rise early, eat breakfast, and head-out in time for rain in Chicago. Great to be out of our city cocoons and into the woods again!
Thanks to our PLC for organizing the events and the adults who made the trip. Hoping for one more overnight in Nov before we put the wraps on an abbreviated 2020 outdoor program.
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Hey COVID, can we camp already? Yes, but with precautions please. After a several-month long hiatus, Troop 79 finally got back to camping via Southshore Train for an overnight near the nation’s newest National Park in nearby Indiana. Had a train car to ourselves.
We pulled our packs from the luggage racks for the hike from rail to trail. Needed to keep up the pace in a race against the Doppler Radar blob on our tail. Motivated by an ever increasing misty drizzle, Scouts quickly set up their individual tents (solo for COVID) and site rain tarp.
Off for a vigorous scout-led hike up up up and over sandy forested hills…chatted with time traveling Voyageurs… summited all highest peaks completing the famous “Three Dune Challenge” thanks to the leadership of our SPL Andrew B, the committed Scouts, and over committed adults.
Another COVID precaution had us skipping close knit patrol cooking and instead enjoying a local delicacy after thorough hand sanitizing. The night was topped off by a drying campfire program lead by George H. complete with Scout skits, songs, and a traditional Owasippe roast.
Sunday morning glorious sunshine after a night of silly woodland noises, squawks, and always that mysterious rustling right outside your tent. Classic tent camping in a low marshy area of The Dunes.
After simple breakfast and campsite sweep for “itsy bitsies” it was packs on, group pose AGAIN, and back to the train, gang! Congrats to Oscar and Carter success on first campout as new T-79 Scouts!
Member of our Google group? Click here for more photos.
Troop 79 is well known for getting out of the City and into the woods! Scouts plan regular overnight campouts that could include backpacking, canoeing, hiking, biking or orienteering — all with plenty of satisfying outdoor cooking.
Every summer we set up camp at Owasippe Scout Reservation, Camp Blackhawk (Go!) in Michigan for a full week of fun, with opportunities for rank advancement. Owasippe is an experience not to be missed, especially for Scouts just joining the Troop. Also, each summer we select one of BSA’s High Adventure Bases and invite our high-school aged Scouts for a week (or more) of serious outdoor adventure. Past trips include:
Backpacking the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
Sailing the Caribbean on 40-foot boats from Sea Base St. Thomas, USVI.
Canoeing the remote wilderness of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park at Northern Tier.
Boy Scout troops are sponsored by community groups called ‘Charter Organizations.’ Troop 79 is grateful to have the Old Town Triangle Associationas our charter organization. They are best known for the Old Town Art Fair, one of the oldest art fairs in the United States started in 1949. Troop 79 is an active participant in this annual event.
Troop 79 has a long history of Scouting excellence, with many young men advancing to Boy Scouts’ highest achievement of Eagle Scout.
Troop 79 Scouts stay engaged from the day they join (by age 11, upon completing the 5th grade) through high school (up to age 18). Our older Scouts ages 14 to 18 train and mentor the younger Scouts who eventually do the same for the next generation.
Using the traditional Patrol Method envisioned by Scouting’s founder, Lord Baden-Powell, our Scouts are the “Leaders” managing most aspects of troop operation with the guidance of our adult Advisers.
Troop 79 provides the leadership opportunities for Scouts to become our nation’s future leaders!
