Gear and the getting of gear and sometimes just looking for good gear can be another fun component of getting outdoors and Scouting. There are lots of resources both locally as well as on the internet. You can go the basic route of “googling” but you’ll be overwhelmed really quickly! Even if you visit a store or site, you can be overwhelmed really quickly. This post is an attempt to share some of the places I have found helpful. Continue reading
Summer Camp at Camp Woodruff in the north Georgia Mountains is getting closer. This is a “destination” summer camp in the Southeast and we will really have a great trip! For a preview, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoGvZ9EPLWo Continue reading
As we prepare for our first backpacking trip, Michael Quinn found this great blog-post by an Assistant Scoutmaster on what a young Scout needs and a budget-wise way to get it. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/boy_scout_gear_list.html
It is a great piece, but I would make the following comments in addition to his thoughts either for regional differences or because our Troop may be set up a bit different. Please read his blog first, and then these comments should make more sense.
Great day at the preserve. Jim and Faye Lacefield have an amazing corner of Alabama near Muscle Shoals and we are so happy they share! 700 acres of the Cane Creek, Waterfall Creek, and other small feeder tributaries create an amazing canyon. Rock shelters house some of the oldest carbon-dated campfires in Alabama. What an amazing place!
And, Troop 79 looks great. With funds from the garage sale, we have outfitted our three patrols. New stoves, tents, and gear and the patrols are off and running. And doing a great job. They’ve set up patrol areas and are cooking menus they planned. (Actually some pretty adventurous meals!)
Great 1st day in the woods!
Troop 79 had a great time at the Wooley’s lake house on Neely Henry. We have about half the guys earning the Watersports Merit Badge already and most finished up the Swimming Merit Badge left over from Camp Comer. The guys had fun working on badges as well as having fun playing around.
Troop 79 - Scouting Home 
