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Again this year our trip to camp was without significant difficulty. We had one tire go soft on the road into New Mexico that delayed us only a short time. (The tire was fixed before it went flat.)

The Troop traveled a bit slower than planned the first day, yet despite the long hours the Scouts were well behaved. We arrived at our first camp in Questa (about 60 miles above Taos) at midnight and quickly set up. The next morning we awoke to find ourselves in a beautiful campsite at about 8,000-ft. The Troop ate and hit the road for a tour of Philmont Scout Ranch about an hour away. Philmont is the largest youth camp in the world and is the home to the B.S.A. National Volunteer Training Center. The Troop had lunch at the Ranch and was back to our campsite by dinnertime. The next AM we were up early and on the road to Colorado. We made much better time the second day and arrived at Camp Alexander on time. Two brief stops, one for a touch of car sickness and lunch just outside of Colorado Springs. At the gate to camp we hit another quick bout of motion sickness and an afternoon shower that welcomed us to one of the most beautiful camps we have attended.

Once at camp we set up our campsite and were off and into the Alexander program. The camp is located in a valley between two ridges mostly sloped yet with some significant uphill grades. The assembly area of the camp was large and hosted a flagpole for each Troop flag of the units there that week. The dining hall was old (traditional) filled with the memories and memorabilia of 50+ years of scouting. Our days started early 6:00am with wake up and the hike to assembly and breakfast.

The Scouts participated in a variety of programs and just good OLE fun activities during the day. (The lake was a big hit with those interested in fishing.) As a result many of our Scouts earned progress toward rank in the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class (Trail to First Class) program.

The Troop earned over 80 merit badges in nineteen areas; the merit badges were earned in a variety of program areas:

Basketry 10

Canoeing 1

Camping 5

Climbing 1

Geology 1

Lifesaving 7

Rowing 2

Swimming 1

Pottery 5

Pioneering 7

Woodcarving 3

Mammal Study 1

Environmental Science 1

Leatherwork 7

Weather 1

Forestry 9

Fishing 5

Fish and Wildlife 7

Wilderness Survival 8

Four Scouts completed the very difficult BSA Lifeguard course-congratulations to Michael Bohanske, Zach Harmon, Stewart Shulman and Robbie Fedde, five scouts finished the BSA Snorkeling patch and nine members of our troop completed the Mile Swim Award.

One of our Scouts, Kenny McElwee, was presented with the Camp Alexander Camp Directors Award "…behavior and participation in camp that best exemplifies the true spirit of Scouting, as chosen by his troop."

But that’s not all the Troop did. We attended two campfires, the first put on by the staff of Camp Alexander and the second put on by the Troops in camp. The Troop also served as Color Guard at camp assembly (our last night at camp) and we served as dining hall food servers.

Yet this is not all Troop 30 did…. 19 members of the troop participated in Polar Bear (it wasn’t what we were used to, water too warm), 15 took a "Bike Hike," and 18 took a five mile hike in some great country.

On the last day at camp the troop entered a team in the camp wide Iron Man games, a contest of shooting skill, mountain biking, running, swimming and canoeing. Yes we did take FIRST PLACE due to great efforts from Jason Bohanske (range), Stu Shulman (pool) Jacob Harmon and Jayson Tackitt (mountain bike) Brett Erman and Josh Walvick (runners) and Michael Bohanske and Zach Harmon (canoe) and all the spirited cheer leaders and supporters on the trail. For the leaders in camp there was a less ambitious event. The adults entered a team in the "Leader Shootout". Demonstrating both skill and teamwork, Joe Harmon and Ed Cocca took home First Place, making it a clean sweep for the Troop.

Needless to say the Troop was active, active in all parts of the program. Saturday came very fast and it was time to leave camp. Our trip home was without difficulty. We drove up and over the Rockies and down into New Mexico where we made a quick stop at FOUR CORNERS (a photo op) Then on to Canyon De Chelly where we set up camp had a great dinner and attended a lecture on the canyon and traditional primitive tools (flint mapping). The next AM we were out to view the Canyon and ruins before our final leg home. After 10 days and 1800 miles we arrived within 30 minutes of our plan, and as you might expect we had some tired Scouts and Scouters. We did have a cut or two, a scraped knee and a touch of homesickness here and there (and a lot of bug bites), yet weathered the trip well.

We could not have the outstanding Troop summer camp program without the help of those Scouters and parents who support our efforts. It is not only those who spend a week in camp with the Troop but those who help pack and send off their son to yet another Troop 30 adventure. Special thanks to Deb Harmon and Sharon Upham who provided each Scout with a hand- made neckerchief slide to go with the traditional Troop 30 summer camp neckerchief; Toni Erman, summer camp accounting and who was the at- home contact to monitor the Troops progress and van rental; Deb Thompson who tracked paperwork for the trip as well as the Troop medical book. Rick Erman who coordinated the van rental, trailers and was our trail cook. Kim Connors our advancement monitor and camp "Nurse", Dave Walvick Troop Photographer and Web Master. And our very own MULE TEAM Shawn Connors and Tommy Melton.

A special thanks to those adults ( Scouters ) who took from their family vacation time to spend a week at Scout camp and assure that the boys had a fun and quality experience:

Yes !!!!! plans are in the works for next years adventure to Treasure Island, the first Scout Camp in the United States (outside of Philadelphia).

Treasure Island is also the birth place and traditional home of the Order of the Arrow (the honor society in Boy Scouts). The summer of 2000 will be the 85^th anniversary of the Order. We must start our plans very early this year as we will be looking at a significant cost in travel. (The camp fees are cheaper than local or this past year.) We are reserved for the week of July 9^th to the 15^th and will be working on trip details over the next few months. As there may be scouts and scouters that will not attend Treasure Island we will also plan a second summer camp week at Raymond Scout Reservation (outside Williams, Arizona) planned for June 19-24^th . Yes! scouts will be able to attend both if they would like.

Scoutmaster

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