Kawida Lodge Fall Fellowship. October 7 to 9, 2016

Kawida Lodge Fall Fellowship - October 7 to 9, 2016

Location - Camp McKee

My Scoutmaster Trophy (that made) from the event.

Total Mileage - Roughly 145 miles round trip.

Weather - Amazing Weather! Low 80s on Friday with mid 60s Saturday morning. Low 70s on Saturday with upper 40s on Sunday morning. No RAIN during the event!!

Clothing - Shorts and Scout uniform most of the day Saturday.

Shoes - Keen Sandals on Friday and hiking boots all day Saturday.

Tent - I slept in my Slumberjack tent.

Sleeping Bag - My red summer bag that I used as a blanket. I also used my new fleece liner that I zipped up around my shoulders. I was cold on Saturday night, so I pulled my US Army wool blanket out of my truck. I put it between my liner and my bag.

Main Activity - I brought the boys with me early Friday to help set the camp up for the weekend. We arrived around 11:30 AM. Scouts and Scouters started arriving at 6. I helped the Lodge Adviser with registration until just after 7 PM when the voting started for 2017 Lodge Officers.

There were 14 members of Troop 215 at the event. A few years ago, it was only my oldest son Thomas and me from Troop 215 who went to Kawida Lodge events. I'm sure Troop 215 was active in Kawida Lodge before we first became active, but since I wasn't a leader in Troop 215 until December 2013, I don't know what the troop did at OA events. We had 10 Scouts at Fall Fellowship this year. Two of the Scotus were not OA members (and had a special invitation from the Lodge Chief). We also had 4 registered adults from our Troop at the event. Three of the adults were the Key 3 of Troop 215 - the scoutmaster (me), the committee chair (M. Cleland), and our charter organization representative (C. Miffin).

My oldest son, Thomas, was there that weekend to fulfill his duties as Awards Committee Chair. He had to work with his committee adviser, B. Newell, to choose awards for Arrowmen who will be recognized at Winter Banquet. He was stressed about his job as committee chair, but he did a great job. I was told by the Lodge Adviser that this is was the first year in many where the awards were completely picked by a scout.

The event was set up like a Camporee, only the theme was Star Trek. It was really cool. The Scouts went from station to station to do different scout skills. They did everything from compass course to medical station to shooting rifles.

My job on Saturday was as a staff member. I didn't have a station. On Saturday morning I drove the Lodge Adviser, T Haydon, around in the Gator (4-wheel utility vehicle) to check to see that all the stations were set up properly and to make sure that the Scouters had all the equipment they needed to run their stations.

On Saturday afternoon I drove the Lodge Chief, A Reynolds, to test the scouts in Scout Knowledge. Aaron and I still used the Gator, only we attached to cardboard trashcans on the sides of the gator to make it the USS Kawida Starship. The question that Aaron asked was <other than Baden Powell, name two founders of Boy Scouts of America. Three accepted answers were Dan Beard, Ernest Thompson Seaton, and James West. William D. Boyce would also have been accepted. Another question was name two founding members of the Order of the Arrow. E Urner Goodman and Carroll A Edson is the answer that was needed.

The event ended on Saturday afternoon. At 10:30 on Saturday evening, there was a Brotherhood Ceremony in the Brotherhood Ceremony Ground that we call Allowat's Place. It was very impressive since it was dark. The candidates and ceremonialists could only be seen by light of the fire.

Sunday morning there was a Scouts Own Service led by a Scout from Troop 269 of Frankfort. There was also a Tecumseh Chapter meeting. Tecumseh Chapter consists of Scott, Franklin and Woodford Counties. Tyler was elected as the new Vice Chief of Tecumseh Chapter. Afterward we cleaned up. There was an LRC on the porch of Stamler Hall after everything was cleaned up.

I took some food that was left over from the event back to the Soup Kitchen. I took some fruit, some baked potatoes, and salad that had been unopened.

Extra Gear - I brought my long underwear. I really needed it on Saturday night. I also took my rain jacket that I used on Saturday night while watching the Brotherhood Ceremony. I use my camp cup that I have attached to a carabiner during every campout and every event with Kawida Lodge. At one point on Saturday I thought I lost it. I had set it down in the dining hall on the stage. Right after that I drove the gator around with the Lodge Adviser. At lunch time I couldn't find it, and I thought I had it attached to my day pack that I had in the back of the gator. I thought perhaps it was loosed in the back end of the Gater, and when I hit a bump in the road, it flew off into a ditch. You should have seen me frantically looking for it. I have become attached to the stupid cup. It didn't take me long to find it.

Saturday night before and after the Brotherhood Ceremony, I drove the Gator again to get equipment from the OA building to Allowat's place. It was VERY cold driving the Gator at night.

Meals - (a new line for my blog).

Friday morning I stopped at the IGA grocery store in Clay City and picked up a package of ham, cheese singles, a loaf of bread and some Pringles chips for me and the boys. That was our lunch when we arrived at the camp at 11:30. We ate on the Picnic Shelter. After lunch I had Tyler put it in a refrigerator in Stamler. It would also be our supper that evening.

Friday Cracker Barrel - I didn't really look because I didn't eat anything. I seem to remember that there were meatballs, chips and cheese sauce, and brownies.

Saturday morning was pancakes, bacon, some fruit.

Saturday lunch was good, but I don't remember what it was.

Saturday supper was bbq pork that was smoked on site by a caterer. We also had baked beans, mac n cheese, and one other thing. Great supper!

Saturday Cracker Barrel was baked potatoes, and left overs from the meals.

Sunday breakfast was fruit bars, fruit, milk.

Nights Camping - 2. I set up my tent in my usual spot in front of Stamler Lodge.

Next Campout - Troop 215 will be camping/hiking at Red River Gorge on October 21 to 23, 2016

Total Camping nights in 2016 - 19 nights so far this year.

An event on Saturday where the scouts had to burn the lower string, but couldn't burn the top string. It is more difficult than it looks. They had to gather material to start a fire to start the event.