Tag: camp horne

Winter Camp 2020

by abscadabs, posted in Camping Trips, Troop 100 G

With COVID still raging through Alabama communities, it is more difficult than ever to keep things “business as usual”. Thankfully, for Scout Troops and Venture Crews throughout Alabama, and even parts of Georgia, Camp Horne staff in Cottondale, Alabama, had a few tricks up their sleeves.

Camp Horne’s entrance sign

Thanks to passionate camp coordinators and volunteers, Camp Horne’s 2020 Winter Camp took place from December 28-30, and it was packed with endless activities and opportunities for Scouts and Venturers to earn merit badges and complete certifications.

Scouts earning CPR and First Aid Certification

Of course, Winter Camp was conducted following BSA and CDC Guidelines with troops socially distant, masks up except for meal times, and nearly all activities conducted outdoors (CPR and First Aid as one of the only exceptions). Staff at Camp Horne pulled all the stops when arranging the outing and put together ATV certification courses, blacksmithing activities, and a myriad of shooting sports; not surprisingly, these were some of the most popular events.

ATVs getting sprayed clean at the end of a long day

Merit badges offered ranged from First Aid to Astronomy to Cooking, so everyone present had a variety of options to choose from when making their daily schedules. Our Troop 100 G members checked off several merit badges over the course of Winter Camp, and our Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster helped teach several of the courses themselves.

Astronomy merit badge being taught by a professor from the University of Alabama

To contrast with all the hard work during the day, the afternoons consisted of games, movies, and campfires.

Scouts playing cornhole

Needless to say, the Scouts and Venturers greatly enjoyed the rare opportunity to try new things amid COVID, and Winter Camp surely provided them with a fun way to acquire essential lifetime skills. Camp ended with the traditional Polar Plunge, tidy campsites, and heartfelt goodbyes as everyone departed to celebrate the coming of 2021 and the chance for new beginnings. Happy New Year!

A Return to Our Roots

by abscadabs, posted in Camping Trips, Community Service, Troop 100 G

On September 19th, Troop 100 G was able to finally start back camping like normal–or at least as normal as could be expected while still following social distancing guidelines.

While options are limited for camping at the moment, our Scout group overcame the setbacks the Coronavirus has caused and decided to tough it out at Camp Horne, which is the base camp for most activities in the Black Warrior Council.

Joined by a new Scout who had just received her Arrow of Light, Troop 100 G wanted to focus a lot of the activities they’d be doing around rank advancement and really reinforcing those fundamental skills that all Scouts should possess, such as first aid and fire building.

Troop 100 G practicing First Aid
Scout Kaycee using a backpacking stove

To cap off a quite peaceful trip, two of the older scouts completed an essential environmental conservation project at Camp Horne to prevent erosion and pollution, and the Troop came together towards the end to clear a trail that had become overgrown during the quarantine.

The Scouts clearing a trail

They made progress in several areas this weekend which is a testament to their resilience in these trying times.

All in all, in the words from the Patrol Leader Isabel, “It was a very normal camping trip, and it was nice to get back into the swing of things.”