Two Webelos dens recently crossed over and formed the Fox patrol, and the PLC decided a great introduction to Boy Scout camping would be a weekend in the Kisatchie National Forest (Catahoula district to be exact). We brought canoes (from the council) and kayaks (courtesy of Pack & Paddle) to the Stuart Lake Rec Area. After the leaders dropped off the scouts and SM & ASM, we hike down the Glenn Emery Trail for 2.4 miles to the campsite, and set up three patrol areas. The Panthers helped the boys earn the Totin' Chip, the Beavers gave instructions on safe fire handling for the Fireman Chit, and we spent four or five hours practicing our J-strokes. Once the Foxes had enough of the canoes, they jumped on the Kayaks for an hour or two. While the Panthers (and some Beavers too) cooked supper for everybody, the Foxes and remaining Beavers raced across the Lake.
The next morning, the Foxes practiced their patrol cooking for breakfast, and some of the scouts went to Mass at a nearby Catholic church.
A few Eagle scouts in attendance welcomed the scouts to help themselves to donuts in the Parish hall, and it turns out that the priest in charge of the church is an Eagle scout and former SM.A great first weekend for the Foxes, and a great chance for two of our older scouts (who are not yet SPLs) to run the campout as temporary SPL and ASPL, since our SPL could not make it.
