Pushmataha Area Council Spring Camporee
 May 5-7, 2006
Each image leads to a larger photo. 
Saturday morning, we left camp and headed to General Assembly at the Dining Hall.  This was the first line-up for our new Badgers.  Our senior Scouts did the opening flag ceremony for the camp.
Our SPL gets the troop's orders from Commissioner Brian Wells. One pavilion and one dining fly kept us dry from the light rain and morning dew A Cobra preps  for the Reveille Race.  A Scout puts on shorts and t-short, climbs into a sleeping bag....  ... leaps out at a signal, dresses in Class A, packs his sleeping bag and back pack, and does it against the clock.  Badger takes his turn in the photo above.
Logging camp was a blast. Knot tying skills, with five different knots being tied against the clock, preceded the cross-cut saw. Each patrol had to tie up a log with a timber hitch, drag it around a course, and then hoist it over the ten foot beam.   Each patrol did a two-man cross cut saw competition.... trying to finish the cut with the best time.
The fire-building competition required each patrol to build a fire that would burn a string in two.  The string was 14" off the ground, the fire was on the ground.  Dr. Tom Woodard and OA Lodge Adviser Charlie Plasters did the judging chores for this event. 
Water bottle rockets.  The Scouts took 2 liter soda bottles, added fins and nose cones, and then watched them fly.  Professor Wells (with the hard hat and safety glasses) filled them with water, and then pressurized them with air.  The rockets flew with varying degrees of stability.  Our entry landed on the roof after taking a hard left turn.  We thought we should have gotten some sort of award for "longest flight duration".  Last time we saw  the rocket, it was still on the roof of the Dining Hall. 
The Obstacle Course was far different from the one the Cub scouts are used to.  The photos above give a small indication of all that was involved.
The tent-pitching was fun.  Each patrol had to pitch a tent and dining fly, and then take them down against the clock. Assistant Scoutmasters have a tough time at camporees.  Mike and Gary try to recover from the grueling schedule. The OA Village and archery competition took place mid-afternoon.  The schedule and pace of the day starts to catch up with our Senior Patrol Leader.
Catapults.  This was the next to the last event of the day,and it was probably THE event of the day.   The Cobras had built the "Screaming Thomcat 3000 Stealth Catapult", which stood only three feet tall, made from small hand-cut poles and assembled with Japanese square lashings and Filipino diagonal lashings.  Using a bamboo pivot bar and a 15 foot long bamboo throw pole, the first toss this machine made made a new record of 96 feet.  After three tosses, the Cobras were in the lead.  The last patrol to toss for the day was the Badgers.  Their first toss, the tennis ball fell off the throw pole.  The second toss, the ball set the last record throw of the day, 101 feet.  On the third throw, the bamboo throw pole shattered (see photo above), and the Screaming Thomcat 3000 Stealth catapult was no more. 
The Klondike Sled competition was a lot of fun.  One Scout rode in the sled, one ran behind to push and steer, and all other patrol members acted as the sled dogs.  They had to maneuver a course with several turns, as well as a rise, and then return to the starting point.  The race was for time.  Lead sled dogs were our Troop Guide (Badger Patrol) and our Quartermaster  (Cobra Patrol). 
The last event of the day was the climbing wall.  Scouts would scale the wall (wearing helmet, safety ropes, etc.) for the shortest time, and then descend by rappelling down the short side of the COPE tower.  The Badgers picked the Scout shown here to represent them in the event, which turned out to be a wise choice for their patrol.
Some things defy explanation.  Let's just say there were powdered donuts involved.  Members of our troop were selected for the Order Of The Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society.    Mr. Mac fixed s'macos for our troop, and neighboring Troop 27 Saturday night after Council Ring. There's nothing like a little banjo music to lull tired Scouts off to sleep.

 
Our uniform inspections went well enough Sunday to win both top slots. When the Badgers won their first ribbon, they swarmed Commissioner Wells to receive it. Individual patrol members took turns, repeatedly, claiming the ribbons their patrols had won.
Our Troop Guide receives a special red, white, and blue ribbon from the council  for his exemplary service in leading our new boy patrol. Senior Patrol Leader accepts the President' Award ribbon for Best Overall Troop. A proud troop.  18 ribbons, including Best Overall Troop. (These are only some of the Troop 45 scouts who attended.) Our QM rides victoriously on the shoulders of the ASPL after the awards were presented.
 Photos courtesy of ASM Gary McFadyen and Mr. Young Kerby

AWARDS RECEIVED AT SPRING CAMPOREE, 2006:

BEST OVERALL TROOP
OBSTACLE COURSE: BADGERS, 1ST;
LOGGING CAMP: COBRAS, 2ND;
CAMPSITE INSPECTION: TROOP 45 (AS A UNIT)
CATAPULT: BADGERS, 1ST; COBRAS, 2ND;
KLONDIKE SLED: COBRAS, 1ST;
FIRST AID: COBRAS, 2ND; BADGERS, 1ST;
CLIMBING WALL: COBRAS, 2ND; BADGERS, 3RD;
ARCHERY: BADGERS, 2ND; COBRAS, 3RD;
REVEILLE RACE: COBRAS, 1ST;
TENT PITCHING: BADGERS, 2ND;
FIRE BUILDING: BADGERS, 3RD;
UNIFORM INSPECTION: BADGERS, 1ST; COBRAS, 2ND;