Camp Out at Cub N Pal

Blow Me Down Matie!

Council Camp Out

12-14 November 2010

Five boys from Pack 287, along with about 160 boys from other packs in the area, braved the near-freezing weather to spend a weekend of fun at Camp Urland.

At check in, we got a map with a schedule, the Cub N Pal patch, and a green pirate neckerchief. Most of us pitched our tents in the dark since fall brings early sunsets, especially after Daylight Savings Time ends. The temperature was still mild until the middle of the night, when a front blew in with a cold drizzle. However, the weather could not dampen our spirits as we awoke and prepared for a day of pirate adventure!

We were grouped with a number of boys from neighboring packs, travelling from activity to activity as part of Dagger Jim's Crew. After a quick breakfast, we went to the branding station (where we bent an iron rod into a pistol shape), the sword building station (where we made some fine looking wooden swords), and took a short hike. All of this work made us quite hungry for a hearty lunch.

Back on the trail, we hit the B.B. gun range and archery range in quick succession, traversed the obstacle course (yes, the parents, too), battled for treasure at activity hill, and rounded out the day's activities with some boat basketball. Again we visited the dining hall for some chow, after which we hit camp to recover before returning for a movie (Pirate of the Carribean!). Before the movie started, each group checked in how many of the Treasure Hunt items they had found, and we got second place!

Finally, after another cold night (where some of us chickened out and slept in our cars) we packed it all end and headed home, weary, but happy.