The shooting campout was a lot of fun!  I really enjoyed shooting.  I was able to shoot a rifle and a shotgun.  For the rifle, we shot targets which made a great time!  For shotgun, we shot clay targets which was easy for some but hard for others.  I cannot wait to go shooting next year.

            Shooting did not consist of the whole campout.  Another fun part was cooking our meals.  We cooked our food over a stove and it tasted delicious!  At night, we sat around a campfire and told hilarious jokes.  I was disappointed when it was time to go to sleep.  We had a great time and I hope we can go again!

The troop 353 went to Escalade climbing gym for the February lock-in. Besides climbing their rock climbing walls, there was so much more to do. There was a rope ladder which hung from the ceiling at an angle. You had to climb up it hanging upside. There was also a climbing rope. We converted that into a rope swing.

            However, the real reason we were here was to climb. That was exactly what we did. The staff at Escalade gave us harnesses to wear. Then they hooked us into carabiners attached to ropes. The walls we climbed had handholds and footholds to hang on to. That wasn�t the exciting part. When we were ready to come down we just leaned outward into thin air. Then we had to walk down the wall. This was called repelling.

            We got to stay up until about 3�0 clock A.M. Then we had to go to sleep. It was hard with all the excitement. We finally fell asleep much later. When we woke up we had to leave Escalade. I didn�t want to leave because I had so much fun.

Grant Mercer

TBD

This past weekend Troop 353 went spelunking at Cumberland caverns. After a three hour drive we arrived. One of the first things we noticed was large yellow box marked �Cumberland Caverns.� We crawled through a hole in the side of it. Inside of it there was a tunnel.

            After we had gone through the tunnel several times we went gem panning. We grabbed bags of dirt and headed for the sluice. Several of us found large amethysts, emeralds, obsidian, sapphires, and pyrite.

            For  lunch we ate cold MREs. They were good even if they were cold.              After lunch we met our guide. He led us to the cave. There were 10 foot icicles outside the entrance to the cave. When we stepped inside it was 58 degrees. The first thing I noticed was the size. We were in a huge chamber. Next our guide led us to another chamber where we put our gear. After that we went on a tour. We crawled under rocks, climbed ladders, and slogged through mud. Near the end we turned off all our lights. There was no light, You could feel your pupils expanding.

            After we finished the tour there was another tour. This time it didn�t involve crawling. The guide showed us a light show, chandeliers, and caverns.

            Then we all went to bed.

The next morning we woke up, ate breakfast, and left. Thinking back on it I thought it was a memorable experience.

Grant Mercer

It was mighty cold and dark when we arrived at Windy Water. Soon as we got there we immediately set about getting our HQ and barracks set up. After a round of Cracker Barrel, we all decided to hit the hay.

            The very next day we woke up early around 9 o�clock. After the warm tidings of breakfast, which for my patrol, were some jolly good pancakes and bacon with a cool glass of Sunny D. Then, Ms. Heiges arrived and gave us a quick tour of geocaching. We completed 3 geocaches. At each geocache, we left our mark by signing a piece of paper. They were as small as a water bottle to as a large as an ammo box. Also we made a neat discovery; a pink bicycle which we adopted to be our mascot.

            When we returned to HQ, we were met by three challenges which we completed to see who would select the menus. Well, it turned out we actually all tied. So my patrol selected the entr�e and the opposing patrol selected the dessert. The judge, Mr. Lyons, judged us on three categories. They were tastiness, teamwork, and presentation. It came down to presentation which he awarded to the Wolverines. Later that night, we had a rousing tournament of cornhole. The final two teams were Mike Gwyn and Thomas Heiges and Alex Nikoukary and Evan Mercer. The latter team won. After another Cracker Barrel (no dinner), we all set off to what would a very rainy night.

            The final day, we all packed up our tents and HQ on the gloomy day. At the ex-HQ, we all shared our roses,  thorns and buds so we could improve our next cook off.

Evan Mercer

On November, 20-22 the troop went camping. This was no ordinary camping trip for this was the Sham wars campout. We came, we saw, we shammed.

            On that Friday we arrived at our campsite near a lake. It was already dark by the time we got there. Then we spilt into two teams in preparation for the next day.

            The next morning we woke, made shams, and started the first round. All was quiet for the first few minutes. Oh how the flour flew on that fist round. The second round was even whiter. Then the adults and the Knights of the Apocolypse. After that Sham dueling a free for all battle  happened. Then we ran out of flour. So we started wrestling.

            In the fire pit there was a lonely wood tower. It stood there until we burned. We told jokes and sang songs and ate parfaits. Then we went to bed.

            I was sad to leave the next morning, I had really enjoyed it. I can�t wait for NEXT years Sham wars.

Grant Mercer

Philmont

                   Philmont was a great adventure.  We saw bear tracks, hiked through rain, and even summated a mountain.  We also got to see some beautiful scenery.  The rangers were friendly and we got to hike over 50 miles.

            We first started off at base camp, and there we got our food.  We met our ranger who was going to be guiding us for the next 2 days.  We spent 10 days hiking at Philmont.  The next day we went out.

            Our first day, we got to see a preserved dinosaur footprint and we learned how to hang our bear bags.  For the rest of the time, we did our trek and did activites.  One particular thing is that we got to climb Mount Baldy.  It was a difficult climb but the view was rewarding.  Philmont was a very rewarding experience.

By: Kyle