Troop185

My wife doctor's office has closed! Fortunately, the doctor had an answering service, and he called me back. My only other choice was to take her to the E R. We are in Oakland County, the worst county in MIchigan for the virus. The doctor order an antibody for her, and save us a trip to the E R.

We had some M & M's that did not have the M & M's marked on them. We kept them in a glass jar for H-Virus (homesickness). It seem to help them, if they had a pill to take.

We used the group site at Wilderness State Park before. Wilderness is about 10 miles outside Mackinaw City. The camp site is large and on Lake Michigan. They could put other groups in the site, but we never had a problem.

I have been going to Northern Ontario for the last 30 years - we use our own canoes, and equipment. I do not go to N T, but to Lake Superior Provincial Park and/or Pukuskwa National Park. I always go in August because of the less bugs, with the younger scouts. You do get any problems with the older scouts in sports/band in August.

I have a temporary patch from 1981, still on one of my uniforms. I was a new Webelos leader. We had only one Webelos meeting and went to the District Fall Camporee. 12 scouts and 11 adults. It snowed that weekend. We all received a patch, and II thought I really did something - taking the scouts out camping in the snow. After talking to a girl scout leader in my subdivision, I thought, "I didn't do so much!" The lady and another lady took 15, 3rd grade girl scouts out camping that same weekend by themselves!

Years ago, I had a dad that really enjoy Cub Scouts. He was a fireman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. His son was a great kid and loved the out of doors. When he was a Webelos, his dad and him went backpacking with me to a Wilderness Area, in the Sand Dunes next to Lake Michigan. Later that summer, they went up to Northern Ontario for a week of wilderness camping. They both love it, and I learned a lot from the dad. He was an expert on the stars, fire building, etc. The dad was so excited about scouts, he signed up for training that Fall, and went with our Webelos Leader. They both were upset with the training, but especially this dad. He especially did not like that they treated them like little kids. The dad just gave up on scouts. When his son crossed over to Boy Scouts, he drop him off at the door, and would not even come in. As you could expect, his son only lasted about 6 months, before he dropped out.

I always suggest Ontario; you will not be sorry. Beautiful country and a lot cooler than Illinois. Check out Pukaskwa National Park or Lake Superior Provincial Park. Both have a Coastal Trail along Lake Superior, at least as demanding as Philmont. At Pukaskwa, I would suggest you rent a boat to take you down the coast, and backpack back (takes about a week). You might not see anyone else the first 3 - 4 days. Lake Superior Provincial Park is 3 hours closer to you. A lot of boulder beaches, and hills to climb. The most difficult trail I have backpacked in my 70 plus years, was from Orphan Lake Trail to Gargantua Bay, on the Coastal Trail. The later in the summer you go, the best for the bugs.

My not so found memories of setting up camp in the dark: some adults wonder why the raccoons were digging around their tent for the 3 days we were camping at the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. They found out when they took their tent down. Some people camping there before us, had bury some food scraps, and they had set their tent up on top of it!

Since we are getting into Halloween Stories: Years ago (1990?), I took a group of Webelos on a cabin outing at Bald Mts. State Park (in Michigan). About two weeks after the cabin campout, Dr. Kevorkian (Dr. Death) help killed a lady in the same cabin. As far as I know, the Pack and Troop has not been back to the cabin.

Our troop meets at a Sportsman Club with acreage, woods, and a campground set up in the back of the property. Also, there is a indoor bathroom building there. In the last few years, the Sportsman Club has puts on a Haunted Forest in October, and needs volunteers to scare the "victims". Needless to say, the scouts enjoy the campout.

Someone just ask at the Committee Meeting tonight, how many were registered in the troop? Answer: 59 scouts; 39 adults.

If it is like most camps, they will not let the campers bring spray bottles / cans.

I have nothing to say, except you have a good Troop number!

I always remember when my son crossover (30 years ago). I had a lump in my throat. I thought he is not a little guy anymore. Best wishes to you and your son.

When my son was in scouts, he went to a weekend camping outing at a local Boy Scouts Camp. Why he took his merit badge sash, I do not know. Anyways, he came home without it. I had him call the camp, and they said they found it, and took it to the Boy Scouts office. Whoever he talk to on the phone, said he left the sash on the District Executive desk. I went in the next day to get it, but it had disappeared from the desk. The DE remember seeing it, but had no idea what happened to it. His desk was one big mess! My son had to purchase a new sash and all the merit badges (over 20) that were on it.