Sugar River Forest Preserve

 

Date: November 11 - 13, 2005 

Location:    Sugar River Forest Preserve, Shirland, IL – Winnebago County F.P. District  

Friday evening we left Dixon from the church. We got to the campsite and put up the tents.  We built a fire and played games that evening.  The low for the night was about 42.◦ F.

The next morning we made breakfast. We climbed trees after breakfast.  We broke into three groups for a training session on Knots, Fires and Team organization.  This was to prepare for the afternoon contest.  Mike, Evan and Alek cooked lunch for all the scouts except Shawn, Shane and Brantley.  Those three cooked lunch over the campfire for themselves and the three adult leaders.
After lunch we had some free time to play football and climb trees.  Then we had a contest where you put a string over a fire pit, make and light your fire and the first one to burn through the string is the winner. For the second contest were given an assortment of items along with some pancake mix. We were to cook a pancake, run it about 50 feet to a rope high over head.  We had to toss the pancake over the rope so a team member could catch and eat it completely. Soon after that it started to rain.  The rain interfered with the third contest so it was cancelled.
Weather let up around 6:00 p.m. permitting us to grill BBQ Chicken and Bake Potatoes over the campfire.  We also had green beans for supper.  Again the weather turned bad so we stayed in the rain fly that evening.  Wes danced to Dave’s cell phone ring-tones and some others played poker.
With the weather bad most went to their tents early to talk before they went to sleep. The weather was really bad that night with high wind
In the morning we had an egg toss game and we got really dirty! We returned to Dixon Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. and that was the trip.

Scouts: Erik , Alek , Mike B., Evan , Shane , Shawn , Wes , Josh , Derek , Brantly  Andy , Mike T.,  Jeff , Zack

Leaders: Steve Blackbourn, Dave Flenner, Greg Woods

 Weather: FRIDAY Midnight 44.1 °F.  SATURDAY @ 6:00 am 42.1 °F with a high @ 1:00 of 63.0 °F, Midnight 60.1 °F. Rain ½ inch + from 4:00 to 5:30. Winds 10 to 12 mph till noon then increased all afternoon to about 30 gusting 37 at 9:00 pm reports of winds 30+ gusting 40+ during the night into the morning. SUNDAY temps decreasing to 46.9 ° @ 8:00 am Winds remained 23 gusting to 35 mph.

 Alex S. - Troop Historian

 

Contents - edited and embellished by Scoutmaster Dave Flenner

Halloween 2005

• Date: October 28, 2005  
• Activity:  Open Camp & Movies
• Location: Old West Burial Ground - Melugian Cemetery, Lee County

 

SCOUTS: Alex.- Mike - Ian.- Ryan - Jeff - Derrick - Andy - Kyle - Zack  – Shane - Alek - Shawn - .Josh  - Patrick

LEADERS/PARENTS: Greg & Lisa Woods - Dave Flenner - Mr. Pepper – Kurt & Sharah Nelson – John Flowers

We left the Dixon WalMart at 6:00 PM. We got to the cemetery at 6:45 PM. We set up camp and Greg started the campfire with a blowtorch. The pizza arrived around 8:25 PM. The first movie we watched was Van Helsing. We watched part of The Night of the Living Dead. We wrestled around for a while. Some went to bed while others stayed up all night. We got up around 6:30 AM. We left at 7:15 AM. We got back to the Dixon WalMart around 8:00 AM and that was the trip!

Alex S.
Troop Historian

DENNIS W. PRATT 10-23-41 to 10-13-05

OCTOBER 14, 2005

 Troop 85 Members and Friends,

 It is to my Regret that I must inform you of the passing of our Canyon Camp - Camp Director Mr. Dennis Pratt.

 The following information is from the Canyon Camp Website  http://www.canyoncamp.com/html/pratt.html

Dennis Pratt became Camp Director in 1969, and the "Spirit of Canyon Camp" was recognized and matured under his direction.  A renewed spirit was rekindled, and many volunteers such as Dr. Harold Held and countless other volunteer and professional leaders and builders were inspired to volunteer their time and talents at Canyon Camp. This devotion of dedicated people has made it possible for Canyon Camp to grow and to occupy enormous space in the hearts of all associated with it.

Maquoketa Caves

Date: Oct. 7 ~ 9, 2005

Activity: Cave Exploring - Tent Camping - Hiking

Location: Maquoketa, Iowa (Hourseshoe Pond - Maquoketa City Park, Maquoketa Caves State Park) 

We left the church around 6:00p and got there at 8:45p. We put the tent up and set up camp. At 10:06p we went to bed. Saturday, we got up around 7:00a and had omelets in a bag for breakfast. We left camp around 9:30a and got to the caves around 9:45a. We caved from 10:00a to 5:15p. We then changed into clean clothes and went to Pizza Hut. We left Pizza Hut for the campsite around 7:30p. We went to bed around 9:00p. The next morning we got up and went to church. We came back to camp and took down tents and then left for home. We got to the church around 1:30p. We unloaded and went home and that was the trip. 

Scouts:  Jeff, Alex, Josh, Alek , Mike C., Evan, Eric, Mike B., Nick, Ian, Brantley, Zack, Guest: Shawn, Shain

Leaders/Parents:  Dave Flenner, Greg Woods, Randy Dober, Ed Deets, Shirley Bender, Tanya Brooks

Alex S. - Troop Historian                                                                         

 

Troop 85 Website Launched

September 2005 - The very first online home of Dixon Boy Scout Troop 85 was launched! Please take a look around. There may not be much content up right now, but I'm sure that will change quickly. Hopefully this will be a good resource for current members of the troop, as well as anyone who is interested in joining. You'll be able to find answers to questions here. If your answers aren't here, then contact the Scoutmaster. He'll be able to address any questions or concerns you might have.

Enjoy!

Palisades Rock Climbing

Date: Sep. 16-18, 2005

 Activity: Campout, Rock Climbing

 Location: Mississippi Palisades State Park , Savana, IL                                                                                               

 We departed church lot at 6:00pm in Dixon and drove to Savana. Camp rangers had a problem with reservation.  We had copy they sent us.  They asked us to use a site in the regular campground at the remote Group site rate. We set up camp and played a bean bag game Greg W. brought and enjoyed a Camp Fire . Most went to bed early. The next morning we had breakfast and set out for the rock climbing site. On the way we took a wrong turn and lost our way for three hours. As we continued on, trying to find our way, we came upon a wedding. We sat on a bridge watching and Greg found us there. He drove us to the rock climbing site in his van. Six scouts were able to reach the top of the rock. Of the rest; all but two gave it their best effort. We took a break to eat lunch, after which those who wanted a second chance tried the climbing/rappelling again. Dave led the hike back to the campsite so there was no getting lost. Once back at the campsite everyone got busy making their foil packs for dinner. Greg had gone back ahead of us to get the Cooking fire going.  It was long past dark when we reached the camp site.  Following dinner, games were played.  It was a long day an everyone went to bed early.

Sunday morning we got up, made breakfast, broke camp and went to church in Savanna. After church we headed for home.     

Scouts: Erik A., Alek B., Mick B., Mike C., Ryan F., Brantley J. George M., Andy P., Alex S., Jeff W., Zach W.

Leaders: Dave Flenner, Greg Woods

Alex S. - Troop Historian

Hennepin Canal July 2005

• Date: July, 15-17, 2005   
• Activity:  Tent Camping-Bike riding
• Location: Hennepin Canal , LOCK 22, Office at Sheffield, IL

  SCOUTS: Alex, Ian, Jeff, Andy, Zack, Erik, Josh, Evan C, Ryan, Patrick LEADERS/PARENTS:   Greg Woods , Ed Deets, Steve Blackbourn

  We left the church at 6:00 PM and got to the campsite around 7:15. We set up camp and tents and looked for firewood. Around 11:00 PM we went to bed.

  On Saturday we woke up and ate breakfast. We got done around 8:00 AM. Around 10:30 AM we got on bikes and went on the trial. We rode until it was 12:00 PM and turned around. Andy P. fell and got a cut on his hand. When we got back to camp we had lunch. We got done around 2:30 PM.  We had dinner at 6:00 PM. After dinner we played “Capture the Flag” and did a skit. Around 10:00 PM we got in bed. We got up at 6:00 AM, we ate breakfast, packed up and left. We got to the church around 11:00 AM and that was the trip!

  Alex S.
  Troop Historian

   

June Campout