Scouting America District Camporee at Historic Point Basse

Nekoosa, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – The Scouting America District Camporee at Historic Point Basse took place April 25th through the 27th. Troops from across the state set up camp on the historic grounds near Nekoosa.

Kevin Krueger is a volunteer with Scouting America. Krueger said roughly twelve to fourteen units gather for the district camporee over the weekend. Many of the activities included in the weekend teach basic outdoor skills. Scouts learned how to use a cross cut saw and how to safely split wood. Other skills taught on Saturday included orienteering, map reading, archeology, and gold prospecting. Some of the activities count as service projects. All of the wood cut and chopped will be used on the grounds. Scouting groups come to Historic Point Basse to help with projects. Krueger said two of the buildings on the grounds were built to be historically accurate. Eagle Scouts then came in to finish the chinking to seal the gaps between logs.

Archeology

Volunteers with Historic Point Basse have been working to fix the foundation under the Wakley House. A large pile of dirt dug from underneath the house is deposited on the property. Scouts help sift through the dirt to find remnants from the past. Most finds are old pieces of glass plates and bottles, broken pottery pieces, and iron fragments. Several intact bottles have been found along with intricately decorated, but broken dinnerware.

Activities Chair

Amy Sherman is the Scout Master for Troop 9171/171. This is the pilot program for male and female scouts to join forces in the same troop. Sherman is also the Ahdawagam District Activities Chair. She organizes many of the activities for the district including the Camporees and the upcoming Pinewood Derby for the Cub Scouts. She is active in the organization and volunteers wherever she’s needed. Sherman is on staff for the National Youth Leadership Training as well as Wood Badge for adults. You can find more information on the Scouting America website or email Amy Sherman directly here.

Panning for Gold

The Wausau GPAA Gold Panning Association volunteered to set up a demonstration teaching scouts to pan for gold. They brought in dirt and panning materials. Members of GPAA taught how to wash the heavy materials away using water and motion to separate the gold from the rocks and sand. With effort and practice, Scouts discovered gold flakes at the bottom of their miner’s pan.   

Knots and Lashings

Scout members lashed poles together to make a free-standing flag pole. They used a series of knots and short poles to create the stand. The skills taught here include knot tying and lashing to create a free-standing frame that can be used on pavement or places you couldn’t stake down the frame. Scout member Wyatt and a scout leader explained some of the knots and lashings they used. They include the round lashing, round hitch, clove hitch, square knot, square lashing, half hitch, and over-hand knot.

Orienteering

Scout members Arsin, Wyatt, and Teegan explained how to shoot bearings and how to read a compass. They also explained how to figure out the height of something using a pace count. A one-hundred foot line was measured out on the ground. Scouts test their pace count by walking the line and counting every other step. The average depends on the length of each person’s stride. Counts ranged from 21 to 30. Your personal pace count can then be used to measure the height of something like a tree using just a stick and another person.

Troop Guides

Jakob is a Troop Guide for his troop. Troop Guides help younger Scouts get orientated and learn basic scouting skills. Jakob enjoys teaching fire building and first aid. He’s been involved with Scouts since first grade. He encourages everyone to try scouting. He said they have the best summer camp in the nation up in Rhinelander called Camp Tesomas. Jakob said being involved in scouting has given him confidence to try things, learn to appreciate people and make new friends, and not be afraid to speak up. Arsin added that she joined in 8th grade and wished she had joined sooner. She said before Scouts she was quiet and shy, but now she’s in a leadership position.

Links

You can learn more about Scouting America at their website. There are opportunities for all kids from Kindergarten through age 20. The Scouting America District Camporee at Historic Point Basse happens every year in spring. This annual event helps Scouts get camping nights, meet new friends from other troops across the state, and learn while having fun outdoors.