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Local scouts take part in 2023 Susquehanna Council Fall Camporee

By From Staff Reports 2 min read

WATERVILLE -- Over 300 people, including multiple Boy Scouts from local troops, gathered at Little Pine State Park recently to take part in the 2023 Susquehanna Council Fall Camporee.

The theme this year was First Nation's People: A Day in the Life.

Over 200 scouts, including those from Troops 711 of Lock Haven and 54 of Beech Creek, rotated through nine stations, learning all about Native American culture.

The scouts made replicas of drums, medicine bags and beaded necklaces that Native American cultures used and wore in the area.

Scouts learned about traditions, like a gathering campfire that was lit on the first night, Friday, Sept. 29, and remained burning all weekend.

Scouts also learned about Native American storytelling and got to listen to stories that were told by tribes in the area.

They learned how to make fry bread and were able to see some primitive cooking techniques where they got to sample venison, rabbit, squirrel and fish. Some scouts even participated in a Native American cooking competition where they had to prepare an authentic Native American dish over a wood fire that included a protein, a starch and a vegetable that were readily available to tribes in the area.

Scouts tried to use a bow drill to start a fire at the fire building station. Two groups out of nine were able to accomplish this task.

Scouts were also able to participate in archery and tomahawk throwing and even learned some games that the Native Americans played. There were also stations for participants to walk around and see demonstrations like the muzzle loader demonstration. The Thomas T. Taber Museum out of Williamsport was there with a display for everyone to see.

On Sunday, Oct. 1, the scouts participated in a service project to remove invasive plants from the eagle watch area and got to watch a naming ceremony where Peace Walker, one of the Native Americans who helped plan and execute this event, bestowed Native American names on four people.

There were 10 scouts who participated in the Rite of Passage Challenge on Sunday. This challenge consisted of shooting three arrows at a target, throwing three tomahawks at a target, then the timed part of the challenge started where they had to tie a timber hitch and drag a log, run to the canoe, canoe around two buoys with a partner and use flint and steel to start a fire.

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