Troop 95 enjoys 20th year at Camp Horseshoe

Thirty-six Boy Scouts and eight leaders of Boy Scout Troop 95 recently celebrated their 20th anniversary year at Camp Horsheshoe in Rising Sun, Md.

Sunday brought arrival, the medical check and a swim test before everyone could relax for just a bit until it was time to get in Class A uniform for retreat. Troop 95 won the Marching Trophy, earning top honors three times during the week, tying with Troop 108 from East Greenville.

Polar Bear came every morning at 6:30 a.m., then scouts went to activities and merit badge classes. Sixty-two merit badges were earned during the week in areas like chemistry, citizenship, environmental science, canoeing (in preparation for the 2012 Canada Canoe Trip) swimming and many more. Several scouts worked on the gateway, which spans one of the many trails at Camp Horseshoe.

Three scouts participated in the kayaking course and two scouts completed the BSA Lifeguard class, while two assistant scoutmasters completed the Chain Saw Training Program. Campwide games like Scrabble and Upgrade the Camp Item, inter-troop archery and rifle shooting, inter-troop volleyball and monkey fist baseball, and the mile swim were just some of the weekly events. The daily cleaning of camp, tents, trails and the latrine helped earn the Clean Camp Award for the week.

Saturday brought Paul Bunyan Field Day, which families were invited to attend and watch scout skill competitions Paul Bunyan-style: string burning, pole climbing, two-man saw, knot tying relay, pancake-eating contest, giant clove hitch, Babe the blue ox scavenger hunt, freestyle flapjack toss, heaving bar, nine-knot relay, log toss, and Scoutmaster & Babe the Blue Ox look-alike.

Troop 95 took first place in Paul Bunyan Field Day as well as the tug of war. The obstacle course and mile swim were also on Saturday's schedule as several scouts and leaders participated in these events. The day ended with retreat, dinner, and family visits.

The final award of the day is the Silver Buckle Award, given to a scout elected by his peer scouts for demonstrating the Scout Oath and Law throughout the week. In 2010 this award was presented to Matt Goins; this year, the award was presented to Spencer Tober by Scoutmaster Kevin Oldland.

Sunday, the final day, included church services,  camp cleanup, packing up personal gear and then the traditional Thanksgiving-style lunch in the dining hall.

Troop 95 gives special thanks to the parents who contributed water, soda, and Gatorade for the week, to the parents who brought extra food for Saturday night dinner and to the leaders, especially Gerald Caraway, and scouts who focused their skills and abilities to make the gateway turn out as great as it did, and to Wesley United Methodist Church and the local communities which continue to support the scouting program.