Pack Meeting - January 30

We hadn't received any awards since the October meeting, meaning everything from Back to Brownsea, the Urban Hike, den meetings, and things done at home over the last three months were sitting in one bulging bag waiting to be awarded.  One Scorpion had over 70! awards.  Everyone was awarded several activity badges and various pins and belt loops.  The crowning moment was when the two boys who had finished all the requirements for the Emergency Preparedness Award recieved it and the parents pinned it on them.

A LOT of dates were discussed so here they all are again merged with upcoming den dates:

Feb 4 - Den meeting for Craftsman

Feb 5 - Scout Sunday 

Feb 6 - Night Hike

Feb 7 - Blue and Gold Planning meeting

Feb 10 & 18 - Scouting for Food 

Feb 10-12 - Camping at Brorein

Feb 13 - Troop 686 visit

Feb 18 - Final Pinewood Derby workshop

Feb 19 - Pinewood Derby

Feb 20 - Den meeting at the library

Feb 24-26 - Troop 11 camping

Feb 27 - Pack meeting

March 2-4 - Farewell to Webelos camping at Hillsborough River State Park

March 25 - Blue and Gold

Fort Wilderness - January 13-15

What can we say about Fort Wilderness.

As always, the Scavenger hunt was a blast, with various teams screaming around in golf carts at top speeds approaching 25 mph, in a race for bragging rights.

The chili cook-off was tasty, with almost 20 entries this year.  Just for the record, the slop bucket came in second.  For those who weren't there, the "slop bucket" consisted of one scoop from each of the other chilis.

The movie, a heartwarming tale of a handicapped dolphin who overcomes odds and heals the humans around him in the process, was lovely - but COLD!

Camping, again, was COLD!  I'm told it got down to 32 on Saturday night.

The geocaching scavenger hunt on Sunday was excellent.

But, saving the best for last....DRUM ROLL....Miss Jodi and Hunter version 1.0 made an appearance.  It was such a treat to have them back with us, however briefly.

Urban Hike and Leave No Trace

PLAN AHEAD  The Scorpions! met at Centennial Park in Ybor City on January 7 for an urban hike.   It was clear from the beginning that everyone had planned ahead.  Some boys had backpacks, all had water.  We had a route planned out and everyone was eager to hit the trail. 

STICK TO THE TRAILS  Although we stuck to the trails, clearly a non-scouter came before us who had never taken the "Leave No Trace" Pledge!

TRASH YOUR TRASH  We stopped at a large lot/park along the Nuccio Parkway and picked up trash for a service project.  We won't list all the things the boys found but let's just say the area looked much nicer when we got done.

Still sticking to the trails!

Although it was difficult and we thought elephant poop would be a very cool item for show and tell at the next Pack meeting, we LEFT WHAT WE FOUND.  Predictably, this was one of the high points of the hike.  It's hard to top giant poop bigger than your hand!  Actually, this is also a good example where someone didn't follow another point in the Leave No Trace pledge, MANAGE YOUR PET.  Most of the time, I'm all on board with that point but in this one instance, I'm kind-of glad they didn't.

Outside the historic Tampa Train Station

We lucked out at the Firefighters' Museum.  It wasn't supposed to be open, but as we peered through the windows, a gentleman came to the door and let us in.  The boys had a blast on the firetrucks and learned a little about how things used to operate in old firehouses.

Tampa Theatre - photo by Mr. Rowlette.

Before we headed to the final destination of our hike, we stopped off at Five Guys and got the boys lunch, courtesy of Popcorn Fundraising/den party.  Way to go rocking popcorn sales, Scorpions!

Our final stop was Curtis Hixon Park where we worked on the Art Belt Loop and a couple other things before heading in to an art class in the Tampa Art Museum.  Many of the boys were fascinated by this image and chose it for the subject of their painting.

Creating an art construction at the Tampa Art Museum

There is, of course, one final point of the Leave No Trace Pledge.  That is to RESPECT OTHERS.  I can definitely say that the boys followed this.  They were respectful in Sacred Heart Church, cleaned up after themselves in the Firefighters' Museum, and polite to others we passed on the street.    Scorpions! Scorpions!  Sting!  Sting!  Sting!