2017 Summer Camp Highlights

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06c8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B>Member of </B><B>Buckskin Council #617</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Charter</B></div> <div> <B>March 29, 1917</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Founder</B></div> <div> <B>Don B. Lowe</B></div> <div> <I><B>1891 - 1975</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Scoutmaster</B></div> <div> <B>Tom Dukas</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boy Scout Troop 3 in Parkersburg, West V"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06d8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Boy Scout Troop 3 in Parkersburg, West Virginia </B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boy Scout Troop 3 in Parkersburg, West V"><U><I><B>Home</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2008 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2008 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2009 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2009 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2010 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2010 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2011 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2011 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2012 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2012 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2013 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2013 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2014 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2014 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2015 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2015 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2016 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2016 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <B>2017 Summer Camp Highlights</B>   |   <A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2018 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2018 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2019 Troop 3 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2019 Troop 3 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2020 Troop 3 Summer Camp Highlights"><U>2020 Troop 3 Summer Camp Highlights</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=360 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06d8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>2017 Summer Camp Highlights</I></div> <bR> <div> Although Troop 3 follows the same daily program at its annual wilderness summer camp each year, thanks to the weather no two camps are ever the same. Last year, while the first day of camp was blessed with a nice, sunny day, this year was a much different story.</div> <bR> <div> The 99th Troop 3 summer camp, the 53rd at Camp Smitty, got off to a rather damp start on a cloudy, humid Sunday morning in late July as the Scouts of Troop 3 and Troop 41 of Brookfield, Missouri hiked a mile and a half from the nearest road down a rather soggy trail to where they'd be camping for the next few days. After a wet week everything was damp to the touch and with the forecast calling for more rain by noon everyone was apprehensive about the weather.</div> <bR> <div> This year the Scouts of Troop 41 had chosen once again to travel over 700 miles to join Troop 3 at Camp Smitty. For the leaders and some of the older boys it was their third consecutive year to journey to the wilds of Wirt County, West Virginia, to rough it in a genuine wilderness setting, and they simply loved it.</div> <bR> <div> With the threat of rain camp was set up in record time with everyone's personal gear safely stowed in his tent shortly after lunch. Once everything was under cover it seemed as though the rain had lost its enthusiasm to ruin the first day of camp. Or, maybe it was the magical spirits that always seem to prevail over Camp Smitty when Scouts are in camp that kept the rain away.</div> <bR> <div> No account of the first day of camp can be made without mentioning this year's bumper crop of yellow jacket nests that seemed to be everywhere. One veteran camper said he could never recall a year when there were so many of the buzzing critters flittering about to sting unwary campers. As each nest was discovered the leaders quickly responded to eliminate the threat.</div> <bR> <div> Nevertheless, as the day wore on the Scouts built a campfire for use later in the evening and they began securing and splitting firewood for their morning meal. As the day wound down the normally tranquil nearby Hughes River was rampaging at flood stage. While the thought of not being able to swim, or use the canoes or kayaks, until it was safe to do so was a downer, the campers' spirits were heightened by the thought of having nice weather for the next few days.</div> <bR> <div> After a night that had seemed all too short the Scouts were awakened by "first call" as the dew gently dripped off the trees onto their tents. Unseen birds chattered in the nearby trees as an Osprey cried out as it circled high over the nearby river. The rising sun bathed the horizon in soft hues of red and orange as a light fog draped the nearby river like a woolen blanket pulled up from the cool night before.</div> <bR> <div> At first it was so quiet that the only sounds were the ones made by the boys rising from warm sleeping bags to get their breakfast cooking fires underway. As smoke from the wood fires slowly circled upward through trees the bugler called everyone to assemble at the flagpole to get the of first full day of summer camp underway.</div> <bR> <div> Following the morning flag raising ceremony the camp staff reviewed the program for the day and then the boys were dismissed to begin cooking a hearty breakfast. As I said last year, and it again bears repeating, ever since the troop started camping in 1919 it has been up to the boys to cook their daily meals by Patrol over a wood fire. </div> <bR> <div> Over the years the boys have learned how to cook Swiss steak, fried chicken, pork chops, kielbasa, beef mulligan, spaghetti, various breakfast items, and other dinner entrees too numerous to mention. Since it has always been the rule that each boy has to cook at least one meal at camp this means that no first year camper is ever denied the opportunity to develop his culinary skills over a wood fire. </div> <bR> <div> After the breakfast dishes were done the daily rhythm of camp got underway with morning work details, daily inspection of the Patrol areas, and Scout craft sessions.</div> <div> After lunch the first year campers hike took place to make sure everyone was properly oriented to the Camp Smitty landscape.</div> <bR> <div> Later in the afternoon the first of many stringburning competitions got underway. This particular session was quite challenging because the dead sticks gathered off the nearby trees were still damp. After many tries the contest was declared a draw with the promise of another to follow on Tuesday when conditions promised to become much drier.</div> <div> The learning from today's string burning contest was it's much easier to watch someone do something, but it's quite different when you have to actually do it yourself, especially under less than ideal conditions.</div> <bR> <div> Then it was on to the evening flag ceremony and dinner, followed by a loud and energetic evening campfire program.</div> <bR> <div> The campers awakened to a bright sunny day on Tuesday and a full schedule of activities that would keep them busy from sun up to sun down. In addition to following the normal daily camp routine the highlight of the day was an athletic contest that involved every boy in at least three events. It would be an understatement to say the competition was quite spirited. </div> <bR> <div> After a couple of hours the athletic contest ended with three of the junior leaders challenging the winning tug-of-war team to a pull-off. Despite the best efforts of the winning Scout team the junior leaders defeated them after much grunting that brought howls of laughter from the surrounding onlookers.</div> <bR> <div> Down at the waterfront, while the river was quickly receding, it was still deemed too high to safely swim or boat. However, based on the steady decline of the river level towards pool stage, Wednesday afternoon looked to hold the promise of being able to get in the water for the first time at camp.</div> <bR> <div> With the forecast suddenly changing to call for rain on the last full day of camp the annual treasure hunt was moved up a day.</div> <bR> <div> Wednesday morning dawned to a clear blue sky with the sun shinning brightly through the trees. After lunch the annual treasure hunt got off to a quick start with a string-burning contest to separate the contestants departure from camp in their quest to find the treasure.</div> <bR> <div> After a three-hour five-mile scamper following various clues through the woods, that tested their Scout skills, the winners finally dug up the treasure after successfully negotiating a compass course in back in camp. After the treasure hunt was over the campers were told to get on their bathing trunks because the river was now safe for swimming and boating. This was welcome news because everyone had wanted to swim since the first day of camp. </div> <bR> <div> While the campers were swimming the leaders got the kayaks off the boat trailer and carried them to the waterfront for use later in the evening.</div> <bR> <div> As the last full day of summer camp got underway everyone's attention was focused on the annual Patrol inspection contest. Recall, that in 2016 Troop 41 narrowly edged out the Troop 3 boys who were determined to not let history repeat itself again this year.</div> <bR> <div> After a long and exhausting inspection of both Patrol areas, which resulted in near perfect scores, the winner was declared to be Troop 3 in one of the closest inspection contests in Camp Smitty history. </div> <bR> <div> And then it was off to an afternoon of swimming, boating, and the annual watermelon scramble at the waterfront. Although a light rain had set in during the afternoon it was not enough to deter the Scouts from having a great day in the river.</div> <bR> <div> Following the evening campfire the rain began to intensify throughout the night. And, it continued throughout the next morning as the campers broke camp. Despite the heavy rain, as the last tent was being taken down, folded up and placed on the truck to be hauled to town, Troop 41 was already talking about returning to Camp Smitty again next year.</div> <bR> <div> Getting out of camp this year was made quite difficult by the slippery, muddy camp road. For the first time in many years tire chains were placed on the troop truck to prevent it from becoming stuck on the long, steep hill out of camp. </div> <bR> <div> Despite these less than ideal conditions everyone was safely out of camp by noon and on their way back to town. Before the weekend was over Tom Dukas and Bill Peters, with the help of Nathaniel Moyers and Michael Dukas, had unloaded the wet canvass from the troop truck, spread it out to dry on the church parking lot, and then re-folded it and returned it to storage in the Don B. Lowe Scout House.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Looking back, I can't help but smile and take great satisfaction in once again observing that the principles, values, and experiences at Troop 3's annual wilderness summer camp are relevant, and valued, in today's world. Since its' founding, in addition to providing boundless opportunities, Troop 3 has always provided a magnificent journey of self discovery at its annual summer camp that has stretched the horizons of its members.  Thanks to the wonderful learning opportunities the boys experienced this summer I am convinced that each one left camp with an enhanced level of self-confidence, self esteem, and leadership qualities that'll help them achieve success in their adult lives.</div> <bR> <div> Following the Troop's 100th Anniversary Reunion on August 26th, Craig Wheeler who was a member in the early 1950's wrote, "After returning home I've had a chance to gather my emotions and thoughts concerning the fantastic reunion and I started to realize how important the lessons from my Scouting experiences were in molding my thoughts and shaping my character as an adult. My rock has been the Scout Oath and Law and I wish every young man could have the opportunity I had to build his life on this foundation.</div> <bR> <div> Like Craig Wheeler, the young Scouts who joined us at summer camp this year no doubt went back to town having experienced some important lessons in teamwork, learning how to live and get along together that'll stand them in good stead as they strive to build their lives as successful adults. In doing so they'll be more self-sufficient and even able to help others when the need arises.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>