Saturday, 03.28.2026
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The Trip
Due to the below freezing temperatures and the lack of access to a cabin, the typical experience of “New Scout Camping” was changed to a day trip. At approximately 6:30 a.m., Troop 13 departed from the St. Anselm Parking Lot. Upon arriving at Camp Pouch in Staten Island, it was discovered that the ranger was not yet on duty, requiring us to transport all of our equipment—including our patrol boxes—manually to our lean-to site. Two of the three new Scouts who joined after the Arrow of Light ceremony joined us, receiving the experiences of patrol cooking and meeting the rest of our troop. In addition to patrol cooking, the troop took two short hikes around different parts of the camp and worked on important skills such as fire building and knot practice. After all patrols cooked dinner, the troop departed the camp before arriving together at the St. Anselm Parking Lot to load the troop gear back into the trailer.
Notes
- Transportation of patrol boxes requires a great deal of physical activity due to the weight of the patrol cooking equipment. Each patrol box was transported by two Scouts—one for each side—and was handled with proper coordination and movements. We did not immediately rush to arrive at the campsite.
- Patrol cooking is one of the most important skills for future camping trips. With assistance from senior scouts and adult leaders, two new Scouts learned the basics of patrol cooking, which is essential for future camping trips.
- Since we only had three patrol boxes and five patrols (including adult leaders), more teamwork was required. The adult leaders used their own box, while the Scout patrols took turns sharing equipment, ensuring that all patrols had the opportunity to cook their meals.
- The troop looks forward to returning to Camp Pouch for their next Scout Skills activity on Saturday, April 11th.