Boy Scout Troop #129 weathers camp years ago
By MICHELLE BOSWORTH
Staff writer
Eight Boy Scouts and two adults from Hillsboro Troop #129 participated June 5-11 in a week of adventure, learning, and fun at Quivira Scout Ranch.
Located about 15 miles outside Sedan, the ranch sprawls over 3,600 acres of land and contains a 475-acre lake. The camp uses 500 acres of land while the rest is reserved for hiking trails.
Indian Springs, the site of the original camp, is where National Youth Leader Training takes place each year before the summer camp begins. Jon Crouse of Lehigh, who is a Life Scout, worked as a staff member, training up-and-coming leaders. Jimmy Clark and Frankie Martin, both of Durham, participated in NYLT this year, then helped lead other scouts during their week of summer camp.
Each year a Boy Scout participates in camp, he moves a step up the ladder in the tribe.
First-year participants are called "gatherers." They spend part of a day at camp contemplating in silence what scouting means to them. They write their thoughts down and turn them in to a leader. Their service project involves picking up trash.
Troop 129 had five first-year campers, Landon Herbel, Neil Kaiser, Eric Scheele, Ben Bosworth, and Dylan Martin.
Scouts progress up the ladder by becoming "hunters," "warriors," "old warriors," and eventually, "tribal elders."
Every level brings unique learning adventures and responsibilities. Hunters carve their troop numbers and initials into their own logs. On the final evening, with parents and family present, those logs feed the ceremonial fire.
Warriors carve their initials into rocks and carry them to all activities on their final day.
Octavia Matamoros, a Scout from Arkansas City Troop #328, wasn't able to attend camp with his troop, so he joined the Hillsboro group as a Warrior.
This summer, Frankie Martin, who is in his fourth year of scout camp, held the position of "old warrior."
Zach Luthi and Jimmy Clark participated as "tribal elders." They helped support younger Scouts from other troops.
Scouts had the opportunity to earn six merit badges during their time at camp.
Scoutmaster Lee Clark wanted his younger boys to concentrate on getting Baden Powell, pioneering, first aid, and swimming merit badges.
"All in all, it went pretty good," remarked Clark.
"The boys wanted to camp cook," said Clark. "Camp food bites." But the logistics of doing so three times a day would have involved more manpower, time, and energy than Clark and his assistant scoutmaster, Richard Riemer, could have managed. So Scouts had to make do with camp food and occasional trips to the camp store for snacks.
Although full of fun activities, camping at Quivira also imparted lessons about Mother Nature and her relentless attempts to "dampen" outdoor enthusiasm.
After arriving and setting up tents, Troop #129 quickly experienced the first drenching rainstorm of the week.
Clark said it rained four nights out of the six they spent outdoors. They had to pack up and dismantle their tents in a pouring rain.
"They learned how to live in adverse weather. That's why we had them bring plenty of clothing and rain gear," said Clark.
Later, the group gathered again to set up tents so they could dry out
