Following holiday celebrations with their families, 12 scouts and 6 adult leaders from Troop 285 headed to Myers Park in McKinney from December 28th through 30th. For three days and two nights, they camped in sub-freezing temperatures and learned life skills through a variety of merit badge classes.
Day 1: Camp started off on a high note for the scouts: as a reward for a fundraising competition, several scouts had the luxury of not having to pitch their own tents, and instead got to have an adult leader set up their tents for them. After enjoying this reward, the scouts were off to start classes, where our merit badge counselors taught the scouts about Cooking, Camping, Electricity, Engineering, Geocaching, Chess and how to be a better Citizen in Society and in the World. To develop their skills in cooking, the scouts had already planned out menus for the entire camp, and were set to prepare all of their meals and snacks and even packed up portable stoves for some hot meals during a trail hike.
Day 2: The scouts kicked off a second day of classes (and a lot more cooking). When classes wrapped up, the scouts learned the history of the Chisholm Trail and did a historical reenactment. Mounting their trusty steeds (Philmont, Shadow Heartly, Pokey, Rudy and Lil Silver), the scouts simulated the cattle drives that once went through this part of North Texas, through the Chisholm Trail and into Kansas. Then (as is Troop 285 tradition) on the last night of camp, the scouts hosted a Family Night for parents and siblings to experience an evening in the life of a scout. The scouts prepared the main course, and their families brought potluck sides as we enjoyed a great meal with great company, followed by Dutch Oven cobblers and S’mores by the campfire. After dessert, the scouts held a flag ceremony, sending off over 30 flags that the city of Plano and surrounding communities had asked the troop to retire.
Day 3: after an early rise and a warm, scout-prepared breakfast, the scouts from the Geocaching merit badge set up a course for the whole troop to enjoy, with treats at each cache and a prizes for the first finishers. After packing up camp, the scouts were ready to head home.
Troop 285 scouts spent three days at camp learning new skills and eating very well. It was cold but the well-prepared scouts made it a huge success!