Troop 3283 and 5283’s Local Summer Camp

In any normal summer, linked Troops 3283 and 5283 from Wayzata MN, would send approximately 35-40 scouts (boys and girls) and 15-20 adults to Buckskin subcamp at Many Point the last week of July, and another 20-25 scouts and 8-12 adults to Voyageur subcamp the following week, with some scouts staying both weeks.  But this year has been like no other in recent memory for scouting, so to keep the scouts advancing and earning merit badges, the leadership from Boys Troop 3283 and Girls Troop 5283 got together to plan a week of merit badge classes that would be held in person (socially distanced), limited in numbers and held locally.

The result of the planning by 3283’s Scoutmaster Stu Smith and Committee Chair Brian Trunk, along with 5283’s Scoutmaster Travis Holland were 18 merit badge classes held July 27-30 at Half Moon Group Camp at Baker Park and at Parkers Lake in Plymouth. Classes were from 8:30-11:30 in the morning and from 12:30-3:30 in the afternoon, along with an all-day class from 8:30-3:30. Scouts brought their own lunch if staying for the day, brought a Council health waiver form and had their temperature taken at the start of each class. There was no camping on site but scouts were encouraged to camp at home. Each class was limited to 10 scouts and filled on a first come first served basis by scouts from both troops.  The troops also had opening and closing campfires that were organized by the PLC from each troop and shared over Zoom.

The result from the week of camp was that 91 out of the 180 merit badge slots were filled by 9 scouts from the girls troop and 25 scouts from the boys troop.  Most scouts took multiple merit badge classes just as they would if they went to Many Point. All of this wouldn’t have been possible if not for eight very generous ASM’s and leaders that taught several merit badge classes, including Joe Vochko and Jessi Semaans.  Jessi was on hand each and every day as our female adult leader. We were also very fortunate to have Karsten Smith with us.  Karsten, a recent graduate from Wayzata High School and Eagle Scout, was going to be working at a scout camp in Switzerland this summer but the pandemic changed everything. He stepped up and gave back to his troop by teaching several classes and was our security guard, staying each night alone at the group camp.

We did send five boys and four girls for one week at Many Point this summer.  But for those that chose to not to go to Many Point, the troops are extremely happy with the participation with our first Local Summer Camp.

Submitted by T283 and T583. Have some great work happening in your Unit? Send us an article at [email protected]