Camp 2011 - Day 8

Saturday - the breakdown begins.  Tent folding and gear packing has begun. Today we work on clearing as much gear as we can. We will sleep under the tarps or the stars tonight.

Much of camp is packed up now. We had pizza for dinner which was a hit with the boys. As a final trip we headed down to Shacketts; the local ice cream / grocery store.

Camp 2011 - Day 7

This the morning KP crew. The boys all work together to clean up the pots and pans from the breakfast prep. Some of these boys got KP because it was their turn, while others got KP because their tents were not clean enough.

The weather continues to be hot and humid. We wrap up all our classes today. Plans call for holding the Mile Swim tonight.

Camp 2011 - Day 6

Happy Birthday to Mike and Derek (tomorrow).

This is "canoe wars." The boys break into teams an work to be the last boat above water. It's a great way to spend a very hot/humid afternoon.

Behind the boats you can see Bell Island; a smaller island also used for camping.

Camp 2011 - Day 5

Here is JB working on his water skiing skills. He still has a little work ahead of him. Moments after this picture he had a great (but short) run. Bryan just finished his turn and did fantastic; crossing the wake several times and making good long runs. Joe comes up next and he feels this time he will stay up on his skis.

Right now the weather is excellent but it is supposed to get hot. Tomorrow's forecast calls for 95+ degrees. So far the weather has been perfect.

According to the sign: 

The small gorge through which the Cockermouth River flows at this place was shaped about 12,000 years ago at the end of the Great Ice Age. Rock debris, silt and sand carried in the melt waters were trapped and tumbled against the granite bedrock to carve the deep curves and potholes we see today

Camp 2011 - Christmas in July

We celebrated Christmas in July at camp this year on Wednesday.

When we got up the sun was rising with a red tint.


At breakfast the boys were greeted with a decorated kitchen, and their juice cups were holiday themed. Many scouts kept their cups for the remainder of the week.

The men in the kitchen were dressed in holiday attire, and Santas elf made an appearance.

Candy canes, and corn dogs, among other things, were the lunch fare, and were well received.

In the evening after dinner we held a CPR training class for all scouts.

Santa arrived, and each scout was presented with a commemorative shirt by Santa and his elves, Jonathan and Billy, and after roll call we watched Despicable Me.

Here are some photos!

Camp 2011 - Day 4

A breakfast of french test and hash for everyone (unless they prefer cereal). Today we tackle our hike over the Sugarloaf.

Mr Keenan's Forestry class

Camp 2011 - Hike

Every year we take a hike over the nearby Sugarloafs.  The pictures below were taken by Mr. O'brien during the hike.  Mr O'Brien also added some good captions to these.

Camp 2011 - Day 3

 Mr. Lantz teaches Matt M, Antonio, Nate, Dan, Jackson and Tom C. This is one of the many badges being taught during fourth period today. 

This a view from the beach at the state park. Our island is seperated from the park by a narrow channel about 150 feet wide. The cliffs are on the other side of the island.  Todays weather was warm and overcast with very brief and light showers. The forecast calls for warmer weather tomorrow.

Camp 2011 - Day 2

The gong was sounded at 6:30am to wake the boys for pancakes, bacon and fruit. 

Camp 2011 - Mr. Wallace and the Moose

This week at camp we saw a variety of wildlife. A mouse in the kitchen. A mole nearby. Two deer in the parking lot near the boat ramp. A duck family. Loons at night.

But nothing compares to Mr. Wallace's moose.

Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Wallace were headed to Walmart in Plymouth for groceries on Sunday evening, when we encountered a moose on the side of the road.

We got out to investigate, and as you can see by the picture below, we were able to get pretty close as the moose was below the roadway in a swampy ditch.

Camp 2011 - Day 1

The caravan from Weymouth took a break at a rest area and came across this truck.  

At the Tilton Diner

Troop 2's first recorded visit to Newfound Lake

Our first recorded visit to Newfound Lake was detailed in Mr. Pratt's diaries from the 1930's, when the troop stopped enroute to the White Mountains in July 1936. Two photos from that visit, taken on the Shore Road side, are below:

Camp photos from our archives - Wellington State Park

Here are two shots of the view from Wellington State Park Beach, looking out toward Cliff Island, taken at roughly the same spot, 50 years apart:

Directions to Wellington State Park/Cliff Island

Our Directions:

Take Route 93 North to Exit 23 (Route 104 to Bristol, NH)
Get off at Exit 23, (RT-104 / RT-132 toward Meredith / New Hampton)
Turn left at end of ramp onto SR-104 / SR-132 / Bristol-Meredith Rd
Follow Route 104 into Bristol, then take Route 3A. You should begin to see signs for Wellington State Park.

Follow Route 3A until you reach the Catholic Church, take a left, then take a right at the Ice Cream Stand and the park entrance will be on your right.

The Park is off West Shore Road - The last intersection is Browns Beach Rd. If you reach Lakeview Dr, you've gone too far

Formal address is

Cliff Island
Wellington State Park Beach
650 W Shore Rd.
Bristol, NH
Please note: This is the Ranger Station, the entrance is a few 100 yards before this address

Park Web Sites:  http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/wellington-state-park.aspx
                       http://www.nhstateparks.com/wellington.html

Google Maps: Directions From Weymouth to Cliff Island

Mapquest: Directions from Weymouth to Cliff Island

Please tell the gate attendant that you are with Troop 2. You will not have to pay for your brief stay to drop off your son.

You are welcome to stay while we unpack the trucks and move the troop equipment to the island. All footlockers and personal items are transported once the equipment has been delivered. At that time you can come across to the island to see the camp as we set up. If you plan to do so, please bring a lifejacket for yourself and all members of your party.

Camp Deadline - 7/11

Remember that scouts need to turn in the following on Monday:

• Payment
• Signed Code Of Conduct
• Health Forms (we don't need the parts concerned with Scuba Diving). form is available at: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34605_Letter.pdf

The Troop will be paying out Can & Bottle money on 7/11.  Every parent should already received a statement for their scout.

Camp is coming - things you should know

Some troop canoes at the Main Beach on Cliff Island

Important Dates:

• 6/27:  Scout Orientation - 7:30pm @ WHC.  All scouts must attend
• 7/9-7/11:  Troop Packing for camp 
• 7/10:  Adult Orientation - 7pm @ WHC.  All adults must attend
• 7/11:  Deadline for all paperwork and payments
• 7/16:  Camp starts
• 7/17:  Family Day at Cliff Island
• 7/24:  Camp ends

Important Info:

- A complete information packet will be sent home w/ all scouts.

- All Scouts and adults must submit new medical forms before camp starts (unless you have done so since January 2011). The Medical Form is  available at http://www.oldcolonycouncil.org/Documents/BSA%20Medical.pdf  .  We ask you to fill this out as  completely as possible, but we do not require a doctor’s  signature.

-The fee for scouts is $210/week.  Adults are $25/night (up to a max of $160).

-All adults must be in full compliance with BSA's Youth Protection and CORI requirements.

Camp 2010 - More pictures

The slide-show below is courtesy of Mrs Davis:

2010 Cliff Island - Unpack the Gear

Monday 7/26/2010

Sculptured Rocks

 The Troop met at the clubhouse to unpack and stow the camp gear.  A bunch or kids, some adults and a couple of hours of work and most of the work was completed.  

Camp 2010 is now complete - thanks go out to the camp coordinator Brian Chase and Scoutmaster Jim Kelley for making camp a success.  Further thanks go out to all the men who taught any of the many merit badge classes offered this year.  We also thank all the men who ran our kitchen during the week and those that helped them with the cooking, serving, cleanup and shopping.  Thanks go out to those men that did all the other jobs that needed to be done for camp to be successful; leading hikes, fixing equipment, towing trailers, loading and unloading equipment, serving as lifeguards, etc.  The 25+ men that were part of camp this year, made camp possible for our scouts.

Additional thanks go out to the Senior Patrol of Troop 2.  Eric and Billy and their Senior Patrol did a great job at camp and helped lead the rest of the scouts in making this year a success.

One last picture from camp:  what happens when a Senior Patrol Leader oversleeps and missed breakfast?  They get a personal wake-up call and a "quick wash".

That's Billy trying to hide under his pillow.

Below is a slideshow of pictures provided by the O'Briens

2010 Cliff Island - Day 9 Report

Sunday 7/25/2010

Weather: High 82, Low 65, sunny

We all woke to a thoroughly soaked camp.  Breakfast was whatever was still dry - some cereal or some pop-tarts.  On the mainland Mrs. Davis had kindly brought us some juice, munchkins and baked goods.  We completed our breakdown of camp and the boys swept the island for litter.  By a little after 9am we had completed packing the trailers and trucks and were ready to hit the road.

A small group of campers met up again at the Titl'n Diner for a late breakfast.  If you've never been to the Tilt'n Diner or never tried Shackett's fresh doughnuts - make plans for next year!

2010 Cliff Island - Day 8 Report

Saturday 7/24/2010

Weather: High 90, Low 68, sunny with heavy rain at night

Saturday's breakfast was french toast, bananas and blueberries. 

As soon as breakfast was over, the boys headed over to the park's main beach for the Mile Swim.  Every boy is encouraged to participate in this and see how far he can get.  Nate was the only rookie to finish the swim this year.  Paul and Bryan battled for first place, with Paul just pulling ahead at the last moment.  There were a couple of boys that completed the mile for the first time and others that completed the mile again.  Mr O'Brien and Mr Murphy also completed the mile.

For many boys today was the day to complete merit badge work; there were several speeches given during meals and some final attempts at completing skill merit badges like Swimming, Rowing or Motorboat.  Many Merit Badges were completed during the week and the boys will be receiving their badges in September at the Ham & Bean dinner.

After lunch the Troop busied itself with striking camp.  Tents were taken down and folded - scouts would be sleeping under other shelters tonight.  Everything but essential gear was packed and shipped to the mainland.  

Mr Kelley shows how to fold a tent

Packing the boats with gear

Lining up for last dinner on the island

Dinner was nuggets and assorted leftovers.  This was the last chance to clean out the refrigerator and pantry.  Tim and DJ put on a bit of a show by seeing who could eat the most nuggets.  Tim came out the winner.  

After dinner we all headed out for an ice-cream at Shacketts

A final fire was enjoyed in the kitchen area.  Cliff Island Jeopardy was a hit, Dan was voted rookie of the year, Billy won the biggest fish contest and songs and skits were performed.  The week was wrapping up and the scouts enjoyed this last hurrah.

Time for ice-cream

We received heavy rain that night, for about an hour.  The scouts were either in the island's lean-to or under the kitchen tarp.  It was very wet and windy but the boys came through it unphased.