Westbury Boy Scout Troop 233 recently volunteered at the Webelos Woods Out event at Schiff Boy Scout Reservation. The annual two day event was for Nassau County Cub Scouts in the fourth-and fifth-grades and their parents. The theme for the event was Star Wars (or Schiff Wars).
Cub Scouts, their parents and staff were encouraged to come in full costume and many did. It was not unusual to walk down a wooded path and suddenly be confronted by a team of storm troopers or a Sith Lord or Princess Leia. The Cub Scouts were divided into teams and went from station to station, learning geocaching, first aid, orienteering and more.
These stations were manned by volunteer service troops from area Boy Scouts. Troop 233 of Westbury and Troop 291 of Hicksville were entrusted with manning the model campsite. Scout members of these troops rehearsed for weeks their individual responsibilities within the model campsite.
There was the Axe Yard, where the Scouts taught the Webelos safety when handling the tools. Next they were shown tools like axes and saws that the troops regularly take on camping trips and the proper usage of these tools. Next the Cub Scouts were onto the fire-ring to learn the proper (and quick) way to build a fire. Here, the Cub Scouts enjoyed a treat from the service troop—monkey knots, a delicious concoction of bread dough rolled into small balls then sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon and baked. Next it was off to the model kitchen area for more understanding of how the troop uses outdoor camping stoves, Dutch ovens and packing of food. Proper clean up of all cooking gear was also covered. Last, they were shown a model camping area with proper setup of tents, backpacks and other equipment.
The Westbury and Hicksville troops did an incredible job planning and working together. Their explanations to the Cub Scouts on equipment was thorough, and they always stressed safety first and not forgetting to include a healthy dose of fun.
