Daniel Boone Troop attends West Point Scoutmaster’s Camporee
They also explored early U.S. history at Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown in Virginia
Daniel Boone Troop 595, chartered by St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Douglassville, completed two incredible adventures in the past month.
The last weekend in April, the troop attended the 59th Annual West Point
Scoutmasters’ Camporee at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. The troop was selected from more than 2,000 units across the country with only 200 being invited to participate.
The event, planned and conducted entirely by the cadets, is one of the largest Scouting events in the country, with nearly 4,000 Scouts, leaders, and staff in attendance. The cadets ran various stations to give participants a look into life at the United States Military Academy. These included early morning physical training that continues throughout the day, camouflage, leadership challenges, demonstration of small arms and weaponry and a tour of a Lakota UH-72 helicopter.
The cadets, most of whom are Eagle Scouts or Gold Award recipients, interacted with the Scouts sharing their Scouting memories and telling the dedication, desire and determination needed to be successful at the academy and in life.
This was one of three “free” weekends for the cadets with more than 300 sacrificing their weekend to put on an event that the Scouts will talk about for years to come.
Another memorable part of the trip, besides the thunderstorm and hail Saturday night, was the closing bonfire and DJ dance party which unfortunately needed to be cut short due to the weather.
May 4 to 6, the troop spent several days exploring the early history of the United States at Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown in Virginia.
Nearly 20 Scouts and leaders toured the sites, spoke with period reenactors and learned the challenges and successes of the earliest colonists. The Troop stayed at Pipsico Scout Reservation, a local council camp, and took the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry back and forth. For many of the Scouts this was their first ferry ride.
Unlike the thunderstorms and hail at West Point, the weather was perfect for touring the sites.
On the way back from Yorktown, the troop stopped for dinner and met a former
Scout who is now a pastor nearby. He knew of the area where the troop was from as he had been a pastor in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, earlier in his career. He shared some of his Scouting memories with the troop, he earned the Life rank, and graciously gave the troop a blessing on the travel home.
These are memories available in Scouting. Daniel Boone Troop 595 meets all year long — they don’t take the summer off — on Mondays at 7 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Douglassville. They welcome new Scouts or families
from near and far looking for adventures like these.
Reach out and follow them on Facebook or Instagram @DanielBoonetroop595 or email Kurt Freer, scoutmaster, at danielboonetroop595@gmail. com.
If you’re looking for a Scouts BSA, Cub Scout or Venturing unit near you, go to BeAScout.org. Scouting is open to males and females in kindergarten through age 20.