Webelos Winter Weekend: the Plan

Our pack has a special event coming up.  It's our annual Webelos Winter Weekend, when we take just the oldest Cub Scouts on a campout.  We like to go to Pokagon State Park, in far northern Indiana.  The park has trails that are Webelos-friendly, a great nature center,and a toboggan run.

When we first get to camp, one of the dads will lead a class on cold weather safety and first aid.  The forecast calls for temps in the 50's, but it will drop below freezing overnight.  Since the Guide to Safe Scouting prohibits tent camping for Webelos dens in winter, two of our families are staying in the inn at the park and the rest will sleep in a camper.  The camper has multiple tip out full beds with curtains for privacy, as well as gas heat and electrically heated mattresses.

This year, the nature center is having a program during our day in the park called, "Bluebirds of Happiness".  The scouts will learn about bluebirds and then help the park rangers clean out the bluebird nesting boxes in the adjacent woods.  After the last nest box is clean, we'll switch to a different trail to add enough distance to total three miles.  At the point farthest from camp, we will pull out the backpacker stove and teach the boys how to make mac n cheese or oatmeal on the trail.  These activities help the scouts meet several requirements for the Webelos Walkabout adventure, which is required for their rank.

Several boys have already begun the Into the Woods elective, which replaced the Forester activity pin when the new program was published last June.  They should be able to complete their pins by talking to the ranger at the nature center and exploring the exhibits there.

We'll head back to camp for hot soup and cocoa.  If there were snow, now would be the time to build igloos and have a snowball fight.  Since the weather will be mild, the best we can hope for is a great mud puddle.  I'll call boys over in pairs to test them on their pin requirements and sign their books.

At dusk, we'll change into dry clothes and head over to the toboggan run.  It's refrigerated, so it will still be fun in warmer weather.  The first year we made this trip, the Webelos exclaimed, "It's like a Pinewood Derby....for HUMANS!"  Each family rents a toboggan for an hour; that's about how long we can endure carrying the 45 lb. sleds back up the hill!  The Webelos will carry the toboggans up at least once, to practice teamwork and tire out.

By the time we get back to camp, everyone will be starving.  One of the dads will have stayed behind to get a fire started and make shepherd's pie.  All of the Webelos have learned to lay a cooking fire and cook at least two camp recipes, so they don't have to cook on this trip.

A Boy Scout troop chartered to a church near our neighborhood will also be in the park that weekend, so we'll get together for a campfire show, marshmallows, and stories.  The Webelos can make it to about nine pm before they start tiring out, so we end our night earlier than the older Scouts do.

The next morning, I'll make everyone cinnamon rolls, bacon, and eggs for breakfast.  It's too bad our barista dad is in the Bear den.  Next year, we'll have him along on this trip.  He brings a coffee press and some fancy beans that he grinds in camp!  We break camp right after breakfast and head home.  Our Webelos den leader teaches Sunday School, even on campout weekends.  I'm hoping to fit in a nap after the gear is clean and stowed.

Hopefully, I'll have some great pictures from the trip to show in a few days!

Til then,

Scout On!

CM R