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SABATTUS — Cub Scout Pack 109 of Lisbon Falls just wrapped up its annual Cub Scout Camporee at Camp Gustin recently.
The Scouts, ranging from 7 to 11, gained a host of new tricks after being taught by members of Troop 109, the pack’s leaders and their own parents.
The event started as Scouts arrived with parents and set up their tents before going over the rules of camping in the outdoors, the lay of the land, raised the flag and enjoyed a movie outside.
The next day started with a polar bear swim at 6:30 a.m., then the boys split into patrols, mixing them up to ensure multiple ages were in each patrol.
Some constructed dream catchers with fallen branches and yarn; others practiced orienteering while hiking through the woods with compasses and maps. A few learned how to make cinnamon popcorn on an open fire. The fourth group learned swimming techniques.
After lunch, the boys learned a Boy Scout-level task when they built structures that could support and carry a Scout. They lashed long poles together and took turns riding on their newly made chariots and pulling their fellow Scouts. The boys were joined by several of their siblings, who also enjoyed the event. They also took turns cooling off in the pool before embarking on fun events.
They sang songs and even led the singing at times, created and conducted skits, and started roaring campfires lasting throughout the night. They watched a projected movie outside and used a water balloon catapult to soak their leaders before participating in a massive “water balloon conflict to end all water balloon conflicts.”
This year’s camporee served as a “cross-over” from the ranks they’ve earned to the ranks the Scouts will work towards next year. Thus, new Wolves, Bears, Webelos and Arrow of Light scouts were crowned. In addition to the entire pack earning their awards, one den saw four scouts earn the coveted World Conservation Award — Camden Therrian, Rex Turnell, Lucian Capano and Jake Baird.
Before this year, the award hadn’t been earned by a Cub Scout of Lisbon for six years. The award requires the earning their ranks first and then going on an adventure, learning to grow plants and vegetables here in Maine while gaining an understanding of how we manage our water supply.
The scouts also have to perform a conservation project. To help accomplish this, Jillson’s Farm and Bush’s Bushes gave tours to the Scouts and taught them how to extract things from plants, grow plants, transplant vegetation correctly, and provided a description of composting.
As for the conservation project, the Scouts cleared every trail in Beaver Park with the assistance of Lisbon’s recreation department manager, Mark Stevens. The pack’s efforts as a whole resulted in their earning the Journey of Excellence: Gold Award.
At the weekend’s end, one Scout — Aizyk Miller — was unanimously selected by the pack’s leadership and received the “spirit stick” for his conduct and actions during the weekend. He was recognized for how he assisted a new Scout upon arrival to the campsite for his first camporee.
The pack conducts these events throughout the year, depending on weather, and the boys have a blast. This year included a dutch oven cobbler that was out of this world. Overall, they hiked about 1.5 miles. The boys sang cadences while marching around the camp. Naturally, they conducted flag ceremonies. An 8-year-old Scout led the pack in one effort to bless the food. Leadership in the pack is well represented by the community and contains several Eagle Scouts, former military, local teachers and parents who live in Maine.
The boys will be camping again in August and September and will be at Lisbon Community School during the open house. For information regarding how to join Pack 109, visit Cub Scout Pack 109, Lisbon Maine on Facebook — or email Pack109.lisbon@gmail.com.
Cub Scouts and leaders from Pack 109 of Lisbon Falls, as well as volunteer chaperones, recently participated in the annual Cub Scout Camporee at Camp Gustin in Sabattus. (Submitted photo)
