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Trip Report

On July 11th 8 boys and 4 adults made the journey to Fort Robinson with goals including; discovering Western Nebraska, pursuing Traditional Merit Badges, and providing an Excellent Fun Scouting Adventure opportunity. This Scouting Trip was approved at the Troop 331 JLT in December 2003. Pre-trip activities included two parent meetings, a 10 mile urban hike, shakedown campout, and of course, many emails and phone calls.

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Discovering Western Nebraska

Our northern route to Fort Robinson via Hwy 275/20 (Norfolk, O’Neill, Valentine, Chadron), and back through southern Nebraska (Scottsbluff, Chimney Rock, Lake Mac, "Oles", Kearney) provided a wonderful road side Western Nebraska Tour. The Fur Traders Museum, Hiking the Buttes, Horse Back riding, and a Rodeo provided insight on Western Nebraska Heritage.

Traditional Merit Badges

Forestry: 5 Scouts completed the Forestry Merit Badge, 3 boys are over 80% complete, only reporting remains to be completed. Cooking: 6 Scouts pursued the Cooking Merit Badge, all are over 50% complete, and are expected to be completed after the October Troop campout. Hiking: 7 Scouts are working on the Hiking Merit Badge, 2 of 7 Scouts have completed (4)10 mile hikes, (1)10mile and (1)20mile hike remain. 5 of 7 Scouts have completed (3) 10 mile hikes and (1) 20 mile hike, (2) 10 mile hikes remain. Traffic Safety: All Scouts are 80% complete with the Traffic Safety Merit Badge. With traveling over 900 miles, it made sense to work this Merit Badge into the Trip.

An Excellent Fun Scouting Adventure

This Scouting experience exemplified the Scout Oath and Scout Law. At the camp fire on Friday Night we reminisced about each day on our trip, the air was filled with feelings of camaraderie, laughter, and thoughtful reflections. The only thorns (in our thorns and roses session) included activities we had planned but did not have time to do! The day to day activity section of this trip report provides a more detailed description of our fun day to day activities.

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Day to Day Activities

Sunday July 11th

• We met at Millard West at 7am, wheels were rolling at 8am, in Class A Uniforms.
• Pizza Hut in O’Neill
• Merit Badges Counselors were swapped between vehicles at each stop, the Scouts worked on Merit Badges over 80% of the time!
• Fill up and snacks in Valentine
• Fort Robinson Arrival at 5pm!
• Set up camp, and hot dogs for dinner

Monday July 12th

• 10mile hike on the Boots and Saddles Trail. We used our Scout skills to cross a creek 3 times, depending on Michael’s bowline knot. We saw critters big (big horn sheep and white tail) and small (ticks).
• Horse Drawn Fort Robinson Tour
• Elk Dinner
• Swimming
• Navaho SPL and ASPL: Stephen, Joe, and Tim are learning about leadership
• Welcomed sleep, planned to get up and started earlier tomorrow.

Tuesday July 13th

• Up early
• Wonderfully overcast sky, the 10mile hike was cool, we were cruising up a butte, at 7.5 miles we took a break, and because of the cool weather, the Scouts decided to do the 20 mile hike today instead of Thursday. We were finishing up the first 10 miles with an angus on the left, a bounding whitetail buck in velvet on the right, and an attitude for 10 more miles. The sun came out, the temperature went up…7 miles later we were at camp. All showered, went to the chuck wagon buffalo stew cookout, sang old camp fire songs, then hiked back to finish the 20 miles…just in time.
• At camp the rain started coming down, and with a clap of thunder and lightning which seemed very close, we did the logical thing...we retreated to the vehicles…then drove to the Ft Robinson ice cream shop for a frozen delight.
• The rain came and went, the hail came and went, after an all clear we returned to our camp site.
• The reflection for the day was…choices…

Wednesday July 14th

• As part of the Forestry Merit Badge work, we drove to Chadron to visit with a Nebraska National Forest Forester. The 1 ½ hour scheduled meeting started at 9am…and ended at 12:30pm. The boys made quite an impression.
• With a late return to the camp site, we had lunch, and planned our service project…clean up two lake areas. 2 hours of discovering pump houses, fish, frogs, big frogs, hawks (which looked like vultures in the heat), while picking up trash. Great job guys.
• The record for maximum splash was set by Mr. Koch.
• Sean, did you see my hat?
• Greater Tuna (a Ft Robinson playhouse comedy) at 8pm provided another learning opportunity and reflection before bed.

Thursday July 15th

• 10 mile hike day. Started at Toadstool Park and hiked to Hudson Meng Bison Bones (and the Archeology Merit Badge…Mike, since you thought of it, you are the merit badge counselor!:), and back again (Timothy’s favorite hike). The terrain provided another opportunity for lots and lots of pictures.
• Lunch was “delivered” to Toadstool Park by our very own. Hot dogs, chips, sandwiches, and 3 kinds of cookies.
• Finished the 10mile hike with a Fort Robinson Historic Window Peek then went for an early evening swim.
• An 8pm Rodeo and Hide Ride (hang on Ben!)
• Mr. Pachunka made Mr. Koch’s tent wet when he set the maximum splash record.
• A Mike size Cracker Barrel.
• Reflection on talents.

Friday July 16th

• Mr. Kirker provided a traffic safety merit badge moment and arranged a flat tire with a 2inch wood screw (now that is a dedicated merit badge counselor!).
• Horse back ride up the buttes with Art, Roy, Wit, Kilo, Pistol, Zazu, Skinny, George, Astro, Ernie, Peanut butter, and Jelly. Saw a coyote, he and his cousins serenaded us each night.
• Chadron Fur Traders Museum tour.
• William did a very bad (or very good) impression of “Mr. Koch”, by the way William; I have all my teeth, can hear quite well thank you, and don’t need Oxygen…yet.
• Frisbee free time, and Swimming
• Mr. Wilson set the splash record (minimum splash)
• Planning Skits for our Camp Fire, and camp fire wood…
• Prairie Chicken for Dinner
• A souvenir trip
• A 13th Birthday Party for Joe, with birthday cake and candles, brownies, ice cream, Sioux City Soda, and lottsa smiles.
• David played skit director, producer, and actor!
• Baden Powell’s final words
• A wonderful Thorns and Roses, Scout Vespers, and Bed (yawn)

Saturday July 17th

• Camp breakdown, and wheels rolling (after Class A pics) at 930a!
• Scottsbluff, Chimney Rock, Courthouse and Jail Rock, Ole’s, York
• Forestry and Traffic Safety Merit Badge work
• My watch resurfaced in Omaha, it was changed to Somalia time…thanks boys.
• Safe arrival to Omaha…10pm!

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Thanks Leaders

Thanks Big Mike
You kept us well fed and the Scouts on schedule for the Cooking Merit Badge. Elk, Buffalo, Deer, Prairie Chicken… but I did have to turn you down on the mountain oysters! You made Joes Birthday very special and memorable. Did I say you kept us well fed?

Thanks Scott
For Driving, and driving the boys towards a successful start on the hiking merit badge. You did all 3-10 mile hikes and 1-20 mile hike, and are planning two more hikes in Omaha. Your humor and CD collection helped make the week fun...

Thanks Ed
For driving and teaching the traffic safety merit badge, and showing us day to day pics on your PC. You were my right hand man on this trip from its inception in October. Your weather-man knowledge proved quite timely.

Scouts

It was my privilege to lead you on this Scout Adventure. I am proud of each one of you, you have been blessed with many talents. There were so many memorable events, lots of laughter, and opportunities to display your character. I enjoyed listening and over-hearing you, typically on hikes and during free time. You represented Troop 331 and Scouts well, we received many compliments on your behavior. Remember, you are responsible for your own choices, your choices affect other people, so ask for guidance…and Finish Strong!

-- Tim Koch.