On March 5th Troop 581 went to the Northern Virginia Lions Youth Camp in Boyce, VA for a weekend of camping and had a blast! The Scouts went back to basics for this campout, focusing on scout skills such as first aid, lashings, and cooking. After Saturday morning breakfast, Scouts were taught the basics of orienteering in a fun way. The Scouts would take bearings and then follow them to a piece of a first aid kit. Once a Scout completed the entire course, they had a complete first aid kit assembled. They then learned first aid skills including the use of their new supplies. They ran through multiple scenarios like being on Mt. Everest and breaking a leg. They were taught how to splint the leg, and how to create a sling to carry the injured person back down the mountain.
After lunch Caleb Young led the Scouts in a full clean out of the chuck boxes that contain each patrol’s cooking gear. Next, they were learning lashings including the clove hitch, timber hitch, diagonal lashing, and shear lashing. These were used to construct an A-frame. The Scouts then had dinner and the troop campfire, to warm themselves up, as it got down to a chilly 19 degrees overnight. On Sunday morning, Clayton Randlett led the Scouts Own service to finish up the camping trip.
This Lions Club camp is quickly becoming a favorite for Troop 581 for is great amenities, open spaces, and its ability to host a large troop such as ours. I’m sure we’ll be back for another visit soon.
Submitted by Carter Warren, Troop 581 Historian