April 2011 Campout - Pictures

Some pictures from the April Campout - thanks Mr. O'Brien



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VP April 2011

4/16/2011 Valley Pines Campout - a Recap

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100th anniversary campout. Ice cream sundaes around the campfire. We always have ice cream when we pass another century of scouting.

In this picture (roughly left to right): Ben, Chris D, Andrew, Joe, Josh, Matt M, Derek, Mr Kelley, Nick, Taylor, Mr Chase, Jackson, Tim J, John, Jordan, Dan, Nate, Pat, Mr. Wallace, Mr McCabe, Mr Jeanjaquet & Mr Murphy.  Not pictured: AJ, Mitchel, Matt W, Mr O'Brien & Mr Keenan.

Saturday was a great day - cool but dry.  The campout included hikes, mini geocache hunts (day and night), games, and stories around the campfire.

The cooking for this campout was excellent.  There was some simple fare like hamburgs and hotdogs but there was also more complex meals.    Tim J cooked up some great Sloppy Joes from scratch.  Nick cooked homemade pizza from scratch using a dutch oven and then followed it up with some dutch oven corn bread.  Josh cooked up some dutch oven Chicken Fricassee with baked potatoes.

The forecast for the night called for 90% chance of heavy rain.  Based on this we all bunked in the cabin for the night.

Thanks to all the boys and dads that made the event a success.

Valley Pines Campout - 4/16/2011

Event:  Campout

When:  Saturday 4/16/11 9:30am - Sunday 4/17/11 8am

Where:  Valley Pines (505 Grove St., Norwell, MA)

Who:  All Scouts

Bring:  Camping gear, food and cookware

This should be an enjoyable campout - Mr Kelley and Mr Chase have some good activities planned.

Please review the Troop guidelines and policies for Valley Pines on our Valley Pines page. You'll find a complete list of what to bring (and what not to bring), as well as directions, contact numbers and more.

• Please be sure to pick up your scout by 8am on Sunday.
• All boys must check out with Mr. Kelley before leaving Valley Pines

New Years Campout - Now a Campin

Due to the snow and difficulty in accessing Valley Pines, we will be changing the plans for this event.  Instead of canceling, we are changing the venue to the Weymouth Heights Club.  Here are the specifics:

When:	1/1/2011 4pm - 1/2/2011 8am
Where:	Weymouth Heights Club
Who:	All scouts are welcome, as are registered adults
What to bring:	Cot sleeping bag change of clothes toiletries a snack a drink some dessert to share a good movie

The boys will be sleeping in the clubhouse and will not be allowed to leave the premises until picked up by an adult.  There will be no trips to 7-11 once a scout has been dropped off.

The troop will provide pizza for dinner - kids should bring a drink and a dessert to share.

We hope to offer a merit badge class during the evening, but that is tentative.

The boys will be entertaining themselves.  We will provide a TV for movies the kids bring (must be appropriate).  We will also provide a TV for video games, if someone would like to bring a game system and some appropriate games.  If a boy would like to work on other advancement, he should bring his work with him and we will work on helping him.

Photos: Flag Retirement and Dinner

Thanks Mrs. Davis for these pictures

Valley Pines Campout Cancelled

The campout planned for this weekend, 12/11, has been cancelled.

Instead we will be working on rank advancement requirements - lashing, fire starting, patrol cook, etc - at the clubhouse from 9:30 to 12:30.

WHC Turkey Dinner

Tomorrow (11/13) is the annual Weymouth Heights Club Turkey Dinner at Valley Pines.  Scouts and their family are invited to join us for a turkey dinner with all the fixings.  This is also an overnight campout for all our scouts.

Families should bring folding chairs and non-alcoholic drinks (we will have water).  Parking is always an issue for this event, so carpooling is encouraged and appreciated.  Families can arrive any time after 11am.  Dinner and the Flag Retirement Ceremony will be "early afternoon" - depending on how the cooking goes.  We will be asking all families to leave before dark, so we don't have to worry about cars and kids in the dark.

Scouts should bring their typical overnight gear.  If we have leftover turkey, we will serve it again for dinner.  Scouts might want to pack a backup dinner, in case we don't have leftovers.  Scouts should try to get to Valley Pines by 9am, to help prepare for the dinner and Flag Retirement Ceremony.  Pickup on Sunday is the typical 8am-9am timeframe - boys should not leave without checking w/ Mr. Kelley first. Scouts that are part of the Flag Retirement Ceremony should bring their uniform for the ceremony.

Valley Pines September Campout - Afternoon

The fun continued through the afternoon, as scouts worked on handling knives and axes, sharpening, etc. Some scouts utilized a rock wall, while others enjoyed the campfire.


Lunches included soup, hot dogs, grilled sandwiches, and even steamed mussels!

Supper will be in progress now, with some scouts cooking directly on the coals of the main fire, while others cook in the fire pit on the grate.

Valley Pines September Cleanout

In addition to the cooking and merit badges, several of the older scouts and adults are cleaning up materials dumped in the campground over the years. As a reminder, no construction debris, non-wood materials, or other refuse should be dropped off at the campground. Scouting should always strive to be a "leave no trace" activity - creosote landscape timbers, roofing and siding, pressure treated woods, metals, and other materials are hazardous and are not permitted to be left in the woods.

Valley Pines - September 2010

Campout today - so far the scouts have built the fire, cooked lunch, set up tents, chopped wood, and many are working on camping merit badge. Rank advancement activities are also in progress.

Valley Pines Campout reminders

A few reminders for the campout this weekend:

Scouts should plan to prepare their lunch and dinner. This means they must bring their own food, as well as a pot to cook in, utensils for cooking, pot holders, and something to eat with. Clean up materials are also required.

Group or patrol cooking is encouraged, but formal planning and execution is left to the scouts.

Scouts must also bring their own water, sufficient to last the weekend.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Kelley.

Valley Pines Campout 9/18 - 9/19

Valley Pines Campout - Saturday September 18th – Sunday September 19th

Where - Valley Pines, our campground in Norwell, located at 505 Grove Street. For directions, please visit the troop website.

Note – Uniforms are never required when we camp.

Weekend campouts typically begin on Saturday morning at 10 AM or so, and end early Sunday morning around 8 AM - 9 AM. Please pick up your boy promptly in the morning on Sunday.

Cell phones are discouraged on campouts. They are a distraction and are not necessary, as we have several phones available for emergency purposes. If you need to reach your son, please contact an adult leader.

Be sure to bring weather appropriate clothing, food, and water (enough for the weekend) as well as a sleeping bag, and a pad, a flashlight, and good outdoor shoes. We will supply tents, although you're welcome to bring your own. There is also a cabin for sleeping when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Sleeping Arrangements

• Scouts sleep at the campfire area, either under the stars or in tents.
• Adults sleep either in the cabin or next to the cabin.
• No adults are permitted to sleep in the campfire area with the scouts.
• All sleeping is as follows - Tent or Cabin or Under the stars - No sleeping in or under cars, in truck beds, etc.
• All participants must arrive before DUSK – there is no driving permitted past the final turnoff after dark. If you arrive after dark please leave your vehicle at the gate and walk in. If you arrive at dusk you can drive as far as the top of the road and park there.
• No scouts are to leave the premises without permission.

Cooking is on an OPEN FIRE - so be sure to bring a pot, eating utensils, a spatula, an oven mitt, etc. Food you cook should be easy to prepare on an open flame, easy to eat, and any rubbish should be packed out. Please do not bring fast food (Burger King, McDonalds, etc) – this is a campout – you either bring a sandwich or cook your food.

No fireworks, matches, or electronics are permitted.

Please do not bring glass bottles, sheath knives, axes, etc.

Valley Pines Campout - 4/10/2010

Event:  Campout

When:  Saturday 4/10/10 9:30am - Sunday 4/11/10 8am

Where:  Valley Pines (505 Grove St., Norwell, MA)

Who:  All Scouts

Bring:  Camping gear, food and cookware

Please review the Troop guidelines and policies for Valley Pines on our Valley Pines page. You'll find a complete list of what to bring (and what not to bring), as well as directions, contact numbers and more.

• Please be sure to pick up your scout by 8am on Sunday.
• All boys must check out with Mr. Kelley before leaving Valley Pines

Report: Valley Pines Campout - 3/20/2010

This campout was well attended, with over twenty boys making the event including the Senior Scouts AJ, DJ and Nick.  The weather could not have been better, especially after the long bouts of rain we have been getting.  While many of the adults worked on some camp maintenance and repair, the boys busied themselves with various advancement activities or games.  The senior scouts worked on Totin’ Chip with the youngest boys.

After lunch Mr. Kelley rallied the boys for a hike.  We began our hike in Valley Pines and made our way into Wompatuck State Park.  The trail was muddy in spots, but otherwise the conditions were excellent for a hike.  The trip was relatively short – only about 1.5 miles.

For dinner, almost everyone cooked over the fire set up in the cooking pit.  A few boys worked on their patrol cook; offering tacos to anyone that wanted them.

After nightfall the boys sang some song around the fire, did a couple of skits and finished the evening with a few games of manhunt.  The senior scouts enjoyed a cool night under the stars, while the rest of the scouts sacked out in their tents.  The adults kept to the cabin, and the weather was warm enough that we went without a fire in the stove.

We woke early to a very cool morning.  After packing up tents and policing the campground, the boys were treated to hot chocolate and munchins by Mr. Chase.  By 8am everyone had cleared out and the gate was being locked up.

Thanks to all the Dads that helped with the spring cleanup and chaperoned the campout.

Valley Pines Campout - 3/20/2010

Event:  Campout

When:  Saturday 3/20/10 9:30am - Sunday 3/21/10 8am

Where:  Valley Pines (505 Grove St., Norwell, MA)

Who:  All Scouts

Bring:  Camping gear & food

Please review the Troop guidelines and policies for Valley Pines on our Valley Pines page. You'll find a complete list of what to bring (and what not to bring), as well as directions, contact numbers and more.

• Please be sure to pick up your scout by 8am on Sunday.
• All boys must check out with Mr. Kelley before leaving Valley Pines.

Valley Pines January Campout Cancelled

The campout planned for this weekend, January 16th, has been cancelled.

The New Years Campout Has Been Cancelled

We will be rescheduling this event for another weekend.  Details will be available at a later date.

Valley Pines Campout - 12/12

The season for winter camping is upon us. We will be headed to Valley Pines this weekend and the boys should expect seasonal conditions. We plan on doing some training for the Klondike Derby as well as some merit badge work.

Boys should bring lunch, dinner and breakfast. Please remember to bring everything you need to prepare your meals and also remember that breakfast should be something that doesn't need to be cooked.

For some tips on cold weather camping, check out this site.

One Day Valley Pines Event - Change in Plans

Considering the forecast of heavy rains and wind, we are modifying our plans for this weekend. We are NOT going to Valley Pines due to concerns over damaging the road. We will meet at the Clubhouse and work on advancement and skills. All scouts are encouraged to attend.

In addition to other activities, all scouts under First Class will be working on patrol cook requirements. If a scout was not assigned an item to bring for the cook, please contact Mr. Keenan at jlkeenan@statestreet.com Scouts must bring ingredients and help prepare our lunch for the day in order to meet this mandatory 1st Class requirement.

When:  10/24 9am - 3pm
Where: Weymouth Heights Club
Who:   All Scouts
Bring: Mess kits, utensils, BSA handbook, No uniforms.

Trip Report - 9/26/09 Campout

The Troop spent the weekend at our Valley Pines camp grounds in Norwell.  The weather was fantastic when we arrived Saturday but we woke up to some light rain on Sunday.  The weekend was filled with some great activities:

• Our newest scouts all worked on knife and ax safety.  The instructors, Nick and Tom, did a great job and the younger scouts all earned their Totin' Chip
•  The older scouts worked with younger scouts on fire starting skills.  The boys all got their fires started without the use of matches - flint only!
• Mr. Sibbald brought his ham radio setup and the boys were all introduced to the equipment and it's operation, using voice and Morse Code.  Contact was made with other operators in the U.S. and Europe
• With some adult help the boys all got a chance to see how pulleys and ropes can give the boys a mechanical advantage for moving heavy objects.
• Some of the scouts helped Doug build a 65 foot rope bridge.  After the scouts finished building the bridge, they enjoyed taking turns crossing it (until we dismantled it at sunset).