When temperatures drop below zero, you’d better “Be Prepared.”
By RIC ROUTLEDGE
MUNCIE — Even though the wind chill factor was expected to reach 20 degrees below zero, local Boys Scouts defied the bitter cold to spend this past weekend camping outdoors at Camp Red Wing near Prairie Creek Reservoir.
And modern conveniences were not allowed.
But the Scouts didn’t care.
“It puts the ‘Be prepared’ motto to the test,” said Cody King, who has been in scouting for seven years. “Puts it in perspective.”
“We love to camp on weekends, and the cold temperature just makes it more fun,” said Steve Mahon, a 15-year-old freshman at Central High School, who will get his Eagle Scout Badge on Thursday. “Some of us are half-nuts, too, but it’s still fun.”
The kids, ages 11 to 18, participated in a five-mile hike, broom hockey, a compass course, an eight-foot snowshoe race and other events.
Jack Spears, camp master, said 75 boys and 35 adults participated in the winter Camporee for the Gold Eagle District, which includes Delaware, Randolph and northern Henry counties.
“This has been going on since the 1940s,” he said.
The troops showed up late Friday to spend two nights in tents and to cook over the same fire that kept them warm.
“It’s part of our program to develop character and to teach the boys they can take care of themselves when being challenged,” Spears said. “They might complain while doing it, but once it’s over they get that feeling of pride for having overcome the obstacles.”
“Winter camping is fun — well, maybe not that first year,” said King, a 17-year-old junior at Delta High School. “That first year you learn how to deal with it. It’s a great experience for everybody.
“It’s really cold here and it takes a Scout to do it, not just the average Joe” he said with that feeling of pride showing through.
“You can call your parents and go home, but we choose to work together to stay warm and have fun. We become like a big collage of people,” he said.
Spend two nights in sub-zero weather and you qualify for your Polar Bear Badge, he added as if afraid a sudden heat wave might drive the temperature up to a sweltering 10 degrees or so.
Amy Lawson and her husband, Jonathan, were there to help with a New Castle-based troop that includes their son Maynard, 11. “Other boys ride with us and we haul the troop gear,” Amy Lawson said.
The troop includes 22 Scouts, 10 of whom made the trip.
“I do it,” she said, “to spend time with my son. We have fun. Some of the boys don’t like having a mother figure along. I keep them in line. Some don’t like asking for help, but they do.”
Mahon said he loves to be outdoors, regardless of the weather. “My parents aren’t the camping type, so this is my opportunity to go camping.”
Even the food was great, he said on Saturday.
“This morning we had nice, hot oatmeal. For lunch we had hot venison chili and for supper we’re having an even better venison stew,” he said.
The venison is being provided by an adult leader.
After breakfast and chapel services Sunday morning, the scouts cleaned up the campground and headed home.
Contact Jay and Blackford county reporter Ric Routledge at (765) 728-5241.
