Troop 79 enjoys a wet & wintry spring weekend in IL

When you think spring in Chicago, I guess you need to be prepared for rain, wind and temps near freezing. Regardless of what the calendar says, it sure felt like winter just couldn’t let go of its icy grip on this place.

Thankfully the good folks at Camp Dan Beard in the Cook County Forest Preserve have recently upgraded the property to include a covered pavilion, complete with fire pit and yes, electric lighting.  Now before anyone makes any unkind comments about Scouts having lost their edge, remember everyone was still sleeping on the ground in tents.  But it sure was nice to have a roof over our heads for cooking & hanging out!

And while not hunkered down under cover, the Scouts had an ambitious agenda.  This included a rather muddy ~3 mile hike out to the DesPlaines river and back, a 1 mile orienteering course and an impromptu scavenger hunt.  Don’t ask what they were looking for…

Dinner was prepared and served patrol style, meaning the Scouts do their own grub.  And while it may not be as delicious as mom’s home cookin’, food always tastes better when you’re chilly and damp after an afternoon exploring the drizzly woods.  Dutch oven pineapple upside down cake, making its third appearance in as many overnights, capped off the menu.

No Scout overnight is complete without the usual camaraderie around the campfire, which was fueled by the remains of Mr. Boyle’s cedar fence and some free seasoned hardwood.  A Scout is thrifty!  This weekend’s entertainment included a presentation of meme-themed charades and an impromptu chorus of “Hail Owasippe” to break up a particularly silly chain of conversation.

Many thanks to Mr. Keats for his camp stove, cheerful and patient leadership, and to Elijah and Edward for running the show.  Very glad we decided to press ahead with this one despite the forecast.

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[PHOTO] Camp Dan Beard @boylesfour