Boy Scout Troop 870

By David

This summer from July 26th to August 1^st, our Troop had numerous scouts of various ranks attend Camp Ottari located in the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation, a few miles from Roanoke Virginia. Located in Pulaski County the BRM covers 16,000 acres of rugged beauty in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The scouts participated in several programs at the camp. Scouts who most recently joined our Troop attended Brown Sea Island which is designed to develop their scouting skills and help them obtain requirements critical to their initial rank advancement.  Scouts also have an opportunity to go to classes and programs to have "FUN" and work towards completing those coveted merit badges. 

Three of our senior scouts attended a special program called "Mountain Man." They traveled back in time to 18th Century Appalachian Virginia where a single shot muzzle loader, an axe, and a hunting knife were the only tools a man needed to survive. At "Mountain Man," Scouts dressed, ate, and lived like the Long Hunters who explored, trapped, and eventually settled Virginia's western frontier. They learned blacksmithing, made their own hunting knife and sheath, and applied wilderness survival skills. Just as any good Mountain Man would have done they wore the same period style shirt all week. All three boast of the hard earned stains that now serve as timeless memories. What a joy it is to hear stories of good times had, lessons learned, and to see boys beginning that journey towards being young men.

Our Scouts continue their journey towards Eagle. Just after this publishing, and right before back to school, we will be traveling to Sandy Point State Park for our annual family camp weekend. At that time we will hold the Court of Honor where all Scouts' accomplishments will be recognized before their peers and families. I am sure the list will be long as the boys have really worked hard.

Next month we will share hard numbers on the awards and rank achievements earned. Several older boys are proposing their Eagle Projects to the Troop Committee and District for approval to proceed. Congratulations to all of them for taking that big step. We look forward to assisting them obtain their goals.

St Andrew's, by now, is well aware of the hard work of one of its own parishioners. Conner Wissmann, with the help of numerous scouts and adults, completed his Eagle Project. In case you are unaware his project was to construct the new concrete pad that replaced the pot hole riddled exit road. Hallelujahs could be heard all around as no one will miss the old road. Special thanks are owed to the major contributor of material and support, Ferguson Trenching. Mr. Chris Rock, also an Eagle Scout, from Ferguson Trenching offered up words of wisdom to the scouts. He informed them that after a day of working digging out the roadway and pouring a truck load of concrete they should have a clear understanding of why it is important to stay in school. Everyone involved gained a new respect for professionals who perform this work daily!

Hope you have enjoyed our update and please look over our photos. We would love to have you visit and come see what we are all about. As always, we are looking and welcoming a young lad seeking adventure.