Local scouts broke new ground in September when they mentored a potential new Scout Unit from the Rock House group in Stephenville. Eleven scouts and 6 leaders from Troop 18 of Stephenville participated in a camp out at Promontory Park at Lake Proctor. Fourteen Rock House clients along with Bill Joe Averitt, their prospective Scout Master and 2 other Rock House staff members were in attendance at the first Noreast District venture into a new realm of scouting. It is the intention and desire of the directors of Rock House to create a scouting unit for Rock House clients to experience scouting and learn life skills associated with the scouting experience. These potential scouts will always have their own staff in attendance at any Scouting events. Trained scout leaders and personnel will offer additional guidance to the new troop by serving as instructors or teachers in the ways of scouting.
For this event, the groups came together Friday night , Sept. 18, to set up camp and enjoy a "Cracker Barrel" supper. Saturday morning dawned with a group breakfast followed by orientation about the camp kitchen under the dining fly. The prospective scouts learned about the Chuck Box and it's contents and how organization plays an important part in being prepared for camp cooking. They also learned how to properly clean and store an "Iron" skillet, then to wash dishes using a series of wash buckets with clean, cleaner, cleanest water to obtain the desired results. Under the leadership of Scout Master, Mike Beverly, the potential new scouts were given an introduction to some of the basic scouting skills. After breakfast, participants were divided into 3 groups and scouts from Troop 18 demonstrated skills from First Aid, Fire Building, and Knot Tying. Lunch time brought hot dogs and chili, followed by a hike in the surrounding area where native plants, animals, and animal tracks were identified. Along the way, a service project of trash pick-up was launched to pay homage to the "leave no trace" principle of scouting. After a full and active day, Dutch Oven Pizzas were on the menu for supper. Everyone was allowed to express their individuality and create their own masterpiece in the pizza preparation and then were assisted with baking in 6 hot dutch ovens. Rock House members returned home after supper late Saturday evening while scouts from Troop 18 broke camp on Sunday. A fine time was had by all, and everyone is looking forward to more interaction with the new Unit as it progresses in Scouting. For more information pertaining to the creation or progression of the new Unit, please contact Mr. Les Zimmerman, District Executive.
