A favorite merit badge of just about every Scout is Rifle shooting. Summer camp is the first time many young men learn to safely use firearms. The Scouts are mostly limited to single shot bolt action .22s at camp, but that doesn't seem to matter to them.
(click to enlarge all pics)
(this picture courtesy of the York Adams Area Council Camp Tuckahoe)Occasionally, Scouts get the opportunity to fire blackpowder rifles. I believe these are inline models. I'm sure someone can tell me exactly which ones, but I never knew.
The other staple of just about every Summer camp is Archery. These two shots actually are of my boys a couple years ago.
Most Camporees have a theme with differing Scout activities worked into the weekend as events.
Here Scouts learn some more uncommon weapon systems; blow guns and the Atlatl.
Knife throwing is an event that is a favorite (even for the Adults) that can be used in many different themes. I think these came from a Native American theme.
Tomahawk or hatchet throwing is another fun event. In all the times I've seen it as an event, I've not seen or heard of a single injury due to unsafe practices.
While the tactical and practical are usually highlighted, Scouting offers many chances to learn strategy, from "Capture the Flag" to Sock War shown below.
The socks are filled with a cup of flour that acts as a marker when the Scout is "hit", greatly reducing the "you missed me factor". The hit is usually quite visible. Normally the a different troop referees for the opposing troops, keeping the play fair.
Of course, the Scouters have to set the example where they can.
Please note that safety is a huge concern and priority at every Scouting activity. The Scouts receive safety instruction at every event. There are Range Officers and people in control of the activities to insure no injuries.
So, what do you think? Foundation and youth training for a Well Regulated Militia or just Young Men having fun........or both?
Please join the discussion.
16 comments:
My vote goes for "both." And God bless y'all for it!
Hands down, Both!
This is kids having a lot of fun, who also are learning important skills for life. You can say that about the scouts as a whole.
The Building Blocks of fine upstanding adults.
Great post, Bob.
Ya know, while I was youngster in the scouts it never once seemed to me to have anything to do with military training; to me it all had to do with heritage and values... and responsible fun. My parents, grand parents, great grand parents etc were the real deal, their skills kept them alive. Scouting was the way for kids to learn the "way it once was."
If it was military training, I was having too much fun to notice.
Look like entry level CVAs. Without a closer picture it'd be hard to say which one as from a distance they all look like black plastic stocked .50 caliber modern muzzleloaders.
I've got one. They shoot pretty well for the money. About $300 at your local Cabelas +/- 30 bucks, depending on which one you buy or if you buy one as a kit with all the related muzzleloader starter set kit.
Oh, if you want to get into modern muzzleloaders and were to be starting now, I advise CVA Electras. Bergara barrels and you never have to worry about primers or percussion caps again.
They're offering a hundred dollar rebate right now too that includes letting you keep it around a few weeks and try it to make sure you like it.
I have mixed feelings about batteries and firearms, but I use red dots on some of my stuff,so....
"I have mixed feelings about batteries and firearms, but I use red dots on some of my stuff,so...."
I hear ya, Tom. I honestly even have the heebie-jeebies against glass used on a firearm. I'm a meat-and-potatos iron-sights sort of guy. Still that's just for defensive arms.
While a BP rifle could certainly be used well for self-defense, I'd buy one simply for Hunting and Recreation.
In that case a dead battery just means some dead time at the range or just before you head out on the hunt (I would assume you'd change to a 100% fresh battery before you load up for that big hunt).
Both.
Even though there are plenty of veterans as adult Scouter, scouting isn't training for the military. The mission of the Boy Scouts is to "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law."
And a fine outfit it is.
Dood. I never got to play with nearly that much equipment as a scout... We barely delved into archery, and that only briefly.
My vote goes for "both" as well, with the additions that it was also a celebration of history, and potentially the beginnings of those young men learning life skills for the future.
Both.
More good pictures that I am asking permission to use one or two of as I move along in my posting and writing.
ASM826,
Please feel free to use the pictures.
Consider it a trade, I may "steal" some of your words at times....properly accredited of course :)
Weer'd
I'm the guy who forgot to take his CAMERA on an Africa jaunt but I had extra batteries for the laser range finder!
Gonna go hunt the 24th with an Electra or my blanklock .50 cal 1 in 20 muzzle loader pistol, depending on distances involved and my second is going to have a SMLE. Hogs are vicious beasts and need eating!
Other toys will be along for the ride.
I was precocious though, I learned a lot of this stuff in cubby scouts before I became a boy scout. Actually learned my worst habit that took forever to kick in boy scouts...Copenhagen." But I lived. Was a good time. They used to let us go out to all the Military training camps and HAVE AT IT as long as we didn't tear stuff up too much or kill each other. They'd even send somebody somebody was mad at out to bring us water wagons and supervise us because of the bit of unexpended ordnance around....Glad to see the Scouts are still scouting. Glad I grew up (as much as I did) before things got like today or our whole TROOP would likely be in prison or counseling for that incident where we found some CS grenades to play with :-) Kids being kids, as GOD intended.
Good post!
Is this harmless fun, or sinister training in violence?
I don't care, I just wish I could go to Scout Camp!
James,
You can always volunteer as an adult leader. :)
I can tell you from personal experience (think ASM826 will agree) there are always troops that need more adult leaders.
Being able to try out the events was a great perk, made up for doing a lot of walking.
In Northern Virginia we have been involving scout groups and encourging interested parents to join them in our Community Emergency Response Team program.
Lots of info in our blog archives at http://fairfaxcountycert.blogspot.com/
We also encourage scout participation in the Radio Amateur Civil emergency Services, for more info see our web site
www.w4ava.org
Our course "Disaster Survival In the Urban Environment" may be downloaded at:
http://www.w4va.org/races/KKauxcomm33.htm
It's FUN while learning valuable lessons in teamwork and safety.
It's a well documented fact that if you hand a normal boy a barbie doll he will most likely bend it in half and point it at something while going "BANG"
Sock war looks like fun, we haven't done that at any of our camps.
Scouting is Fun with a Purpose. The charter from Congress specifies citizenship and physical fitness as the goals.
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