Back working with the Scouts again

[Dave951]

This summer, we're working 2 Scout camps- Raven Knob and Bud Schiele in muzzleloading. My usual photographer (my 89yo dad) hasn't been fit enough to come along so far this summer. He took a nasty fall recently and is still recovering. So these are the only two pix I have to date. There are more promised from other participants who were there. Naturally, we're pretty busy with the kids and range activities so we can't get any ourselves. But here's what I have so far.

First pic- Ord Sgt Boolba aka "Teddy" in USMC period attire on the left. I'm on the right in a balmoral. We're helping the kids load and fire Civil War muskets. The ones who listen get quite good at it. Our target materials are all reactive- apples, taters, bananas, dry wall squares. A hit from a 58cal on a tater is impressive and the kids get a kick out of it.


This is from the Friday evening campfire at Camp Raven Knob- the "Scottish" contingent. Left is one of the kids who's aged out of Scouts but still is working in the camp this summer. He's a very competent and thoughtful young man. I'm the mug in the middle. The guy on the right is one of the Scoutmasters who dropped in for the fun. Part and parcel to any program being successful is PR. This is part of our direct contact with the entire camp at one time so we dress the part and shamelessly plug the program.

 

[Windini]

Great work and I hope your photographer makes a quick comeback!

 

[Pbj ak]

I use to go to Raven knob as a boy 20 something years ago. Troop 333.

The last time I was there (5-6 years ago) was in the off season and my wife and I were riding around and happened to find the front gate. Just so happened there was a man out front and after talking to him for a bit he was happy to let us ride through and even hike to the knob. Man how that place had changed. If I had boys I’d definitely have them up there.

Good on you op those boys will remember those summers for life.

 

[Radar]

Raven Knob is a blast! I went there two times. It was so much fun except for it felt like you walked up hill both ways lol.

 

[Pbj ak]

My scout master always requested camp site crazy horse (I think it was) because it was the farthest away from the mess hall and everything else for that matter.

 

[Dave951]

Back when I was ASM with my sons' troop, we always stayed at Kiowa. It was the highest camp site in the camp at the time and always had a nice breeze. Downside to that, to get back to our site was a serious uphill hike. Upside, it was a downhill stroll every morning.

The muzzleloading range is currently at Cripple Creek, the "mountain man" area of camp where kids get to participate in 19th century lifestyle activities like forging, leather work, muzzleloading etc. Cripple Creek is over a mile removed from the main camp and the kids in that program don't generally interact with the main camp till campfire ceremonies.

 

[Dave951]

Great work and I hope your photographer makes a quick comeback!

Thanks. Dad recently fell when stepping off his porch and while no seriously broken bones, he did have a couple bulged discs in the lumbar area and a compression fracture of L1. Injuries like that take time to heal and in the elderly even longer. He's been complaining about not being at camp for the fun. When the kids aren't there, he gets in a few shots with his musket.

 

[Radar]

Back when I was ASM with my sons' troop, we always stayed at Kiowa. It was the highest camp site in the camp at the time and always had a nice breeze. Downside to that, to get back to our site was a serious uphill hike. Upside, it was a downhill stroll every morning.

The muzzleloading range is currently at Cripple Creek, the "mountain man" area of camp where kids get to participate in 19th century lifestyle activities like forging, leather work, muzzleloading etc. Cripple Creek is over a mile removed from the main camp and the kids in that program don't generally interact with the main camp till campfire ceremonies.

It’s that campsite section the one past the regular camp way back in the woods?

 

[Dave951]

It’s that campsite section the one past the regular camp way back in the woods?

Kiowa where we used to camp is up behind the arena and the OA lodge and somewhat overlooks the lake. To get there by vehicle, you'd go past the arena and take the first right off the main camp road and drive to the top. To get to Cripple Creek, just stay on the main road along the lakefront and go till it ends.