Welcome home Chawanakee Scouts
and Scouters!
To
those family members back in Irvine, I'm happy to report that we had a
terrific week. First and foremost, we had a ton of fun swimming,
boating, at the ranges, hanging at the trading post, playing cards in
the campsite or performing skits at the campfire. We also took care of
business in a big way. We had numerous first-year scouts make
significant progress towards their first-class rank, and we set a "new
world record" (okay, maybe it's a troop record) for merit badges earned
in a week (80 completed and 20 partially completed). We all
participated in service to the camp, and our three most senior scouts
advanced to the rank of Sachem in the Tribe of Chawanakee after
completing a 5-hour service project (and 15 hours total over the past 5
years). Several of the boys braved the morning chill in the Polar Bear
swim. When the adults were not busy working with the boys, they too had
opportunities for fun and training, like the Polar Bear, the
"Chawanakee Open," the Chawanadaze canoe race (who needs paddles?), the
C.O. P. E. class or the Chieftain run.
Our vibrant spirit and
unselfish service did not go unnoticed by the camp staff. Troop 606
took home the two top awards offered by the camp!!! We took home the
"thumbstick" this morning, the top award for overall troop performance
in our subregion of the camp. And last night at the closing campfire we
were all surprised to learn that 606 had won the Spirited Arrow award.
The Spirited Arrow is awarded each week to the one troop that best lives
up to the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law each day while at camp, and
is effectively the "best troop award" for the week! Way to go
606!
Kudos to
our Scout leaders, in particular Neil K. for a great job as SPL,
Alex F. as ASPL, Mitchell V. for his strong support, his work
as campfire MC and for leading our cheers. Patrol leaders Ryan S.,
Jin O., Chris N. and Zak Y. also worked hard to keep the show
running smoothly. Ryan S. also doubled as Fire Marshall. Thanks for
your leadership guys. We are pleased to watch you develop into such
fine young men.
Let's not forget our adult
volunteers who in some cases gave up vacation time to help lead the
troop. Carl F., Jeffrery L., Jim E., Brad C., Brian
B. and Jon M.: thanks for your hard work during the week. These
guys spent most of their time helping to run the show and had minimal
time to kick back. There is no way we could have had such a positive
experience without you. Thanks again for your service. Finally thanks
to our extra drivers: Mark K., Jay J., Joe Vv, Rick
N., Molly C. and Brent N. It's a tough drive and we
appreciate your willingness to lend a hand.
While it was not always fun
and games -- we certainly had the ups and downs that are typical of such
troop functions -- in the end we held ourselves to the high standards of
Troop 606.
Thanks again everyone for a
most memorable week.
Jay F.
606
OC Hoo Haa!!!! (you had to be there!)