Troop 20 Merit Badge Cyclists Do The 50 Miler

Boyce Campsen, Jacob Kitten, Cameron Epperson, Dillon

Schaaf, Stas Watson, Vlad Watson and Sebastian Salas

On Friday, April 23, six scouts and three adults loaded the troop trailer and headed up the road to the Pineville area. The goal was to cycle 50 miles within eight hours as required by the Cycling merit badge pamphlet. The group established a camp site near mile marker 16 on the Lake Moultrie Passage of the Palmetto Trail. A seventh scout joined us later in the evening.

After a good night's sleep which was periodically broken by the songs of whippoorwill birds, the group had a hearty breakfast, checked their bikes and assembled day packs for the ride. Led by ASM Butch Hills, Mr. Lester Kitten and ASM John Watson, the group set out on its initial leg of 25 miles. We headed in an easterly direction on the dikes until we crossed the Rediversion Canal by using the Highway 45 overpass. We travelled in a southerly direction until reaching mile marker 4. Then we reversed course and followed our tracks back to mile marker 17 and then back to camp for lunch.The initial leg of 25 miles was completed in about 3 hours and fifteen minutes. The morning leg was done with cool temperatures and a mostly cloudy sky. Lunch consisted of sandwiches and cookies for everyone, with an additional course of ibuprofen or advil for the adults.

The afternoon leg was more tiring as we all anticipated. We deviated from the initial leg. This time, we headed in a westerly direction, past the Old Santee Canal to the vicinity of mile marker 20. Then we retraced our path back to marker 16 and continued as on the morning leg. Since we had already travelled about six miles, we would only have to reach the vicinity of marker 6 and then return to camp. Needless to say, the second leg was rough. However, nobody wanted to quit. When the going gets rough, the tough get going, if only slowly.

After our arrival in camp, a welcome sight appeared. It was like being in the desert and coming upon an oasis. ASMs Guy Ando and Steve Hudgins appeared on the scene, ready to cook dinner for us since we would be pretty exhausted. They made a homemade pasta dinner consisting of penne, sauce, meatballs, sausage and garlic bread. The sauce and meatballs were made from Mr. Ando's grandmother's recipe. The group devoured the meal, leaving very little in the way of left overs. After we bid the two cooks goodbye, everyone went to their tents around 7 pm. The whippoorwills did not have a lively audience this night.

We were awakened around 4 am Sunday morning with a sound and light show as a major storm was coming through the area. Then the rains started and kept coming down. The group decided that breakfast could wait. We broke camp in the pouring rain and headed back to the scout hut, where we unloaded the trailer and were dismissed.

This cycling trip proved to be more difficult than some of the backpacking trips. However, the scouts showed true determination and a great positive attitude. They and the adults had a memorable experience and I bet they would do it again.


Many thanks to ASM Hills for organizing the trip and to Mr Kitten for his leadership and assistance. Special thanks go out to ASMs Ando and Hudgins for that magnificent Italian dinner!
Many thanks and congratulations to the seven scouts who accomplished the 50 miles well within the timeframe.

New Scout Campout at BP Recreation Area

Troop 20 held a campout for new scouts at the BP Recreation Area on April 16-18. Twenty-six scouts who recently came to Troop 20 spent the weekend learning basic scouting skills. They were assisted by older scouts who prepared lesson plans and demonstrations, assisted with patrol functions and guided the new scouts during the various activities. Adult leaders also assisted with the presentations and demonstrations. Scoutmaster Dunn and ASM Cochran had ample support to make this a great weekend.

The weekend started with the Lightning and Scorpion Patrols setting up their respective campsites with patrol and personal gear. A presentation on safe hiking procedures and the buddy system followed. Some free time allowed the scouts to play manhunt and other games. Lights out at 10 pm ensured all scouts would be well rested for a busy Saturday.

Following breakfast and the flag ceremony, the older and younger scouts went to work. Presentations and demonstrations were given on whipping and fusing ropes, knots, and first aid. The new scouts also demonstrated these skills as part of tenderfoot and second class requirements. Some scouts also performed the physical fitness requirements for tenderfoot. Following a much needed break and lunch, the scouts, led by ASM Miklancic, took a nature hike to observe wildlife and various plants and trees. The next presentation involved the requirements for the totin' chit. No blood was donated during this session. Once again, an older scout demonstrated various techniques followed by the new scouts demonstrating these skills.

The new scouts then headed back to their patrol camp sites. They held patrol elections, developed a patrol yell and worked on campfire skits. Following the retreat ceremony, they started preparations for supper. It is safe to say the new scouts learned what foods work at campsites and what foods should be left home.

After supper and cleanup, the requirements of the fireman's chit were discussed. They built a campfire and nothing out of the ordinary happened. The BP fire crew remained back at headquarters. The scouts then participated in a solemn flag retirement ceremony. The adult leaders explained the significance of the ceremony and the importance of retiring flags properly. Scoutmaster Dunn announced the results of the patrol elections. Tomie Robinson and Billy McConnell were elected patrol leaders of Lightning Patrol and Scorpion Patrol, respectively. Tomie selected Thomas Blyth as his assistant. Billy selected Holt Davis as his assistant. Campfire skits followed and all had a good laugh at some of the performances. Scoutmaster Dunn presented ASM Warren with an award for his dedication and leadership as a cub scout leader. After the formal campfire program some scouts still had some energy to play manhunt and other games in the activities field before lights out.

Sunday was also a busy day. After breakfast and the flag ceremony, the scouts held a scouts own service as part of their Duty to God. They then completed requirements for the totin' chit by demonstrating their ax skills. The prayers of the adult leaders were answered as no limbs or blood were lost. A final presentation on first aid was provided. Scouts learned some bandage techniques and proper CPR procedures. Those scouts who had not done the initial tenderfoot physical fitness requirements then had the opportunity to perform the long jump, push ups, sit ups, pull ups and a quarter mile run. The morning quickly passed and everyone was ready for lunch.

During the morning and after lunch the troop broke camp, packed gear and loaded the trailer. The troop was dismissed at the scout hut after storing equipment.

It was a great weekend for the new scouts and the older scouts. The older scouts demonstrated leadership and passed on their knowledge of scouting skills. The new scouts bonded in their new patrols and performed those activities required at a campsite. In addition, the adult leaders and parents came together and got to know one another.

Many thanks to all the adult leaders, parents, older scouts and new scouts who made this an incredible weekend. Many thanks go out to the BP Rec Area staff who prepared the area for us.

Troop 20 Visits Georgia

Troop 20 at the Visitor's Center at Okefenokee

On March 26th, Troop 20 travelled to the Peach Tree State for a weekend of camping and sightseeing. An early Friday morning departure from Mt. Pleasant ensured there would be enough time for activities on Friday.

Our first stop was the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. After a short orientation movie about the swamp, a park ranger discussed the life cycle of the alligator. The American alligator is one of the principal inhabitants of the swamp. The ranger passed around samples of alligator teeth and alligator skat for the scouts to observe. The scouts had the opportunity to watch alligators basking in the sun, something the adult leaders wanted to do after a long drive.

The Troop took a boat ride through the swamp on the Suwannee Canal, a man made waterway. The water is tea colored due to tannic acid released from decaying vegetation. The Native American Indians named the area Okefenokee which means Land of the Trembling Earth. The peat deposits are very thick and unstable, causing trees and bushes to sometimes tremble.

View from our boat of the swamp & vegetation.

Following our departure from Okefenokee, we headed east to Crooked River State Park near the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. The troop quickly set up camp and began cooking dinner. After a hearty meal, the scouts settled down for a good night's sleep in preparation for a busy Saturday.

On Saturday morning, the scouts were driven over to St Marys to take the ferry to Cumberland Island. The park ranger did not believe Scoutmaster Dunn when he said he needed a senior pass for Mr. Cochran. To avoid any delay, Mr. Dunn had Mr. Cochran produce his ID card carved out of rock from his days with Moses. OK, it is a bit of an exaggeration. The ferry ride took 45 minutes and travelled down the St. Marys River and across Cumberland Sound to Cumberland Island. After a brief orientation by the park staff, various groups of scouts, each with an adult leader, started exploring the island. The island offers a diverse set of trails. The scouts explored trails along the marshes, through the maritime forests and along the beach. Many scouts hunted for shark teeth and came away with a bounty. Horses were sighted grazing in pastures.

Scouts looking for shark teeth. Or, Did someone lose a contact lens?

After the return trip to camp, the scouts started preparations for dinner and practised their skits for the campfire program. Lightning and Snake Patrols cooked some great dishes. Both of these patrols demonstrated outstanding camp skills and maturity. The adult leaders were both proud and impressed by the performance of these young scouts.

Lightning Patrol prepares dinner.

Snake Patrol prepares dinner with help from Mr. Ando.

The skits brought out some fine talent from the young scouts. While not ready for prime time, they are certainly prepared to entertain the troop.

Sunday morning brought out the worst of spring in Georgia. We could have been in a movie titled Troop 20 & The Attack of the Killer Gnats. Some of us thought it was on the order of a biblical plague. Bug spray was of no help. The gnats certainly speeded up the process of breaking camp and packing the troop trailer. We moved from our campsite and headed to a better place in the park. Troop 20 then held its traditional Sunday scout service as part of our duty to God.

Following a long drive back home to Mt. Pleasant and unpacking the trailer, the scouts were dismissed. Once again, the boys had a great weekend with lots of good memories.

Many thanks to all the scouts and adults who participated. The adults who participated were Messrs. Dunn, Ando, Cochran, Miklancic, Robinson, Jenkins, Cole and Watson.