The troop hosted an activity tent at our parish’s annual All Hallow’s Eve party where kids could slay a dragon using toy boys and arrows in order to win candy. Fun was had by all.
The October event took place at a very popular hiking spot up neat Auburn named Hidden Falls. It was a 3 – 4 mile hike roundtrip, with a break in the middle to hold a formal membership meeting where officers were be elected for the upcoming troop year. The following agenda was sent out:
9:00 AM – Meet in parking lot; opening prayer.
9:15 AM – Hike to Hidden Falls & Coon Creek via Poppy View Trail -> Hidden Falls Access Trail -> North Legacy Way (approx. 2 miles)
10:15 AM – Snack break; membership meeting (agenda to follow)
10:30 AM – Knife safety review
11:00 AM – Return hike & Rosary via Creekside Trail -> North Legacy Way -> South Legacy Way (approx. 2 miles) 12:00 PM – Concluding prayer at Hidden Gateway (near parking lot).
This was our first camp out as a troop, and we reached max capacity at our group camp site, having over 12 fathers with their sons attend. It was a cold and rainy weekend, but that didn’t dampen the trip too much or the spirit of our cadets. Friday evening included a quick dinner and a campfire rosary. Saturday morning started off with lauds, the divine office morning prayers, and then breakfast. After breakfast and some archery practice, the cadets then hiked down to the lake, with fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. A majority of the cadets had some luck catching small fish in the lake, and one group even got a catch on their canoe! After lunch, we then hiked to the historic Malakoff Diggins mining town, which included a museum tour and video talking about the history of hydraulic mining, which was the reason for the town’s success (and ultimate demise) in the mid 1800’s. After the museum tour, the group split up with some dads touring the town, and some dads going down to the river to gold pan with their sons. The evening concluded with another campfire rosary, as well as smores. Sunday morning started with lauds once again, and then a generous breakfast, and finally camp break down. This was a great first campout for the troop, which was mostly paid for by the boys fundraising efforts selling pastries, coffee, and hotdogs the prior year.
To conclude the first year of our troop, we celebrated with a family BBQ followed by a badge ceremony. The cadets received their official patches for their next rank, in addition to two other patches: the Troop shield and the American flag, as well as a St. George prayer card. Thanks to our commander, James, for leading a successful year!
Our April meeting focused on a number of grade 2 program activities (basketball, soccer, how to use hand tools), in addition to BB guns and archery.
The schedule was as follows:
8:30 AM Mass at St. Stephen’s
10:00 AM Arrival & Orientation
10:15 AM Opening Prayer; Brief Meeting
10:30 AM First Activity
12:00 PM Lunch (hot dogs / chips)
1:00 PM Second Activity
2:00 PM Third Activity
3:00 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Rosary
3:30 PM Snack
4:00 PM Fourth Activity
5:00 PM Fifth Activity
6:15 PM Dinner (spaghetti & meatballs)
7:15 PM Campfire & S’mores; St. George Presentation by Grade 5 Boys & Senior Cadets
8:00 PM Concluding prayer & departure
Each activity was led by one of the fathers who has a son in that grade.
Our March meeting focused on gold panning and California’s historic gold rush. The meeting was held at Marshall Gold Discovery Historic Park in Coloma and included a park tour with a tour guide. It concluded with fathers taking their sons gold panning.
The weather finally agreed with our troop this month and we proceeded to do firemanship training with the cadets. The following agenda was followed:
Campfire Cooking Suggested Supply List
For Cooking:
For Fire:
Due to another rainy weekend, we postponed firemanship training and planned an event in the classrooms at St. Stephen’s to train the cadets on various skills from their troop manuals.
The first part of the training was how to properly carry and fold the American flag. The cadets were taught that the flag should never touch the ground and that when carrying the flag the stars should always face forward. They also learned how to properly fold the flag into a triangle.
The second part of the cadets training was on fishing. One dad taught the supplies needed, including the proper state license, and places where to go. Another dad taught the kids basics of fly fishing, tying flies, and how to properly cast. Finally, once the rain cleared, the boys were able to go out to the church field and practice how to cast a line using actual fishing poles.
December was scheduled to be our event for firemanship and fire safety, but due to the rain it was rescheduled and we audibled to an indoor event at St. Stephen’s. For each of these discussions, we had a separate father lead the training which included: how to put together a first aid kit, first aid treatment for scrapes and cuts, treating burns and snake bites, and how to identify poison oaks and treat those rashes. After the first aid basics, we had a break, then the fathers worked with their sons on learning how to tie 4 knots: bowline, clove hitch, overhand on a bite, and a square knot.
Here was our agenda:
6:30AM – Rorate Mass
8:30AM – Breakfast
9:00AM – Opening Prayer; Brief Meeting (mainly to discuss the Junior and Senior Cadet program requirements)
9:30AM – First Aid basics
10:30AM – Break
10:45AM – Knots
11:30AM – Concluding prayer
In December we had a special event where our troop visited a senior center and we sang traditional Christmas Carols. We’re hoping this will become an annual tradition!