Texas Trails Council

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WHAT: This year the objective of the Kickapoo Camporee is to:

• Use ancient woodcraft skills to build a shelter, start a fire, cook food, and survive in the woods.

• Hunt using only woodland materials.

• Primitive cooking without modern utensils.

• Start a fire without matches using a variety of materials.

When: April 11, 12, and 13, 2008. Units should plan to arrive and set up camp not earlier than 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The Camporee will end at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, after the chapel.

Where: Camp Billy Gibbons, Richland Springs, Texas. For directions on how to get there, if you don’t know, contact the Camporee Chairman or the Council Office. Generally, you go about 1 mile west of Richland Springs on Hwy 190 to a County Road. The camp is located 15 miles down the County Road, and the intersections are marked. Don’t despair, you’ll get there!

Registration: Units attending should fill out the Pre-Registration form attached and return it with pre-payment to the Council Office and received no later than April 2, 2008. Troops wishing to camp together should contact Frank Griffin prior to arrival.

Cost is $8.00 per participant paid in full and received NO LATER than April 2, 2008, and $10.00 per participant after that date. For more information contact Frank Griffin at (325) 643-2212 (frankegriffin@hotmail.com)

This Camporee will be great fun and a memorable adventure for all who attend. Your Camporee Staff wants this to be a SAFE camporee without injury or mishap. Use common sense, and remember the following rules:

Leadership: At least two registered adults must be with each unit at the Camporee. Small units who aren’t able to do this should contact the Camporee Chairman. We will make arrangements for small units to share leadership and campsites.

Food: All units will prepare their own meals. Webelos Dens should coordinate food with their host unit. Remember that Billy Gibbons is home to raccoons and other wild critters. Make sure all food is stored in critter proof storage and properly stored to prevent spoilage.

Water: The camp water system should be up and running for the camporee.

Fires: San Saba County has been under a fire ban for some time. We have been able to get waivers in past events. Be prepared to do all cooking on stoves. If we are able to have fires, remember that only one fire per unit (troop, not patrol) is allowed, and that it must be in the established fire ring in the campsite. Troops may have to join together at the fire ring. Make sure the area around the ring is cleared, and NEVER leave the fire unattended.

Prohibited Items: Fireworks, Laser Pointers, Firearms, Fixed Blade Knives, Archery Equipment, Throwing Tomahawks, and other such are not allowed.

Visitors: Visitors are welcome, but must check in at the Camporee Headquarters upon arrival.

Leaving Camp: All participants must notify their unit leader if they leave early. Youth participants can not leave the camp except with their parent, guardian, or other adult approved by the parent or guardian.

Youth Protection Policy: The Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Policy will be observed at all times during the Camporee.

5 – 9:00 p.m. Units arrive at Camporee site, register and set up camp.

10:00 p.m. Senior Patrol Leaders, Scoutmasters, and Camporee Staff meet at the Mess Hall. Camporee materials, instructions, and schedules will be handed out. Social for adult leaders following.

11:00 p.m. TAPS! Show consideration by being quiet. All troops are to be in their campsite.

7:00 a.m. Rise and Shine! Prepare breakfast as units. Camporee staff breakfast at mess hall.

9:00 a.m. Opening ceremony at the Mess Hall. Flag raising at the Camp flagpole.

9:30 a.m. Patrol events begin. Each patrol will report to the Assembly Area at the Mess Hall and go from there to events. Each patrol will return to their camp at noon to eat and prepare their campsite for inspection. Ultimate Survivor Challenge participants register and begin preparations.

12:00 p.m. Events break at noon. All Adult Leaders and Staff meet at the Mess Hall for lunch, progress reports, and "opportunity management"

1:00 p.m. Events resume. Campsite inspections by Camporee Staff.

3:00 p.m. Events end. Patrols turn in scorecard at headquarters. Scorecards must be turned in by 3:30!

3:00 p.m. Ultimate Survival Challenge demonstrations begin. Fishing Contest Begins.

5:30 p.m. Ultimate Survival Challenge demonstrations end. Fishing Contest ends. Troops return to campsite to prepare evening meal.

6:15 p.m. Camporee Staff dinner at the Mess Hall.

7:30 p.m. Dessert entries due at Mess Hall.

8:30 p.m. Campfire! Troop Presentations, Awards, Prize Drawings

10:00 p.m. Troops return to campsites. Adult Leader fellowship at Mess Hall.

11:00 p.m. TAPS! Scouts to be in campsite. Quiet Please!

7:00 a.m. Rise and Shine! Prepare breakfast as units. Camporee staff breakfast at mess hall.

8:30 a.m. Flag raising at the Camp flagpole, Special Awards

9:00 a.m. Worship service, Scoutmaster’s minute, Closing

10:00 a.m. Break camp. Leave it cleaner than you found it.

11:00 a.m. Units should have departed camp. Have a safe trip home.

All Scoutmasters and Senior Patrol Leaders and Camporee Staff will meet at 10:00 p.m. at the Mess Hall. Any adult leaders who want to help with events are also encouraged to attend. Final instructions will be given before the events start.

Patrols MUST turn in the score card by 3:30 p.m. If the score card is not turned in on time the patrol will not be eligible for prizes.

PATROL EQUIPMENT: Patrols will need the following items during competition:

• Patrol Flag or totem

• Pen or pencil with writing paper

• Patrol first aid kit

INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT: Each Scout should have the following:

• Rain Gear Water bottle with water

• Pocket knife Neckerchief

SCORING GUIDELINES:

• Each event will be set up to handle at least 2 patrols at one time. Each event will be timed and Scouts should be able to complete the event in 15 minutes or less. There will be 7 events, and each patrol should do all 7. A patrol cannot re-do an event.
• If the patrol accomplishes all or part of the event, they will get from 1 – 9 points. The number of points earned will be based on criteria established for each event, and the patrol will be informed of that criterion before starting the event.
• The patrol will get an additional score of 1 – 9 points for teamwork.
• An additional 2 points can be awarded for outstanding effort, whether they completed the task or not.

As you can see, even a young patrol can score well by working together with enthusiasm.

One District Chairman’s Award will be presented to a troop based on the following criteria:

• All patrols participate in events, average percentile they finished. 20%
• 70 % of active Scouts in attendance 20%
• Webelos participate 20%
• Unit pre-registered 20%
• SPL holds a PLC after Friday meeting, Troop uses Patrol method 20%

This award will be a prize and a Troop flag ribbon.

This individual competition event is designed for Scouts 14 and older. Each Scout will set up in a designated area on the waterfront trail. The Scout will demonstrate his knowledge in surviving in the wild.

All Patrols participating will receive recognition at the Award Ceremony. The awards will be based on total points earned during Saturday’s Competition:

• Patrol Excellence Award: (Blue Ribbon) Upper 25%
• Patrol Achievement Award: (Red Ribbon) Next 25%
• Patrol Recognition Award: (Yellow Ribbon) All others
• Each event will have a Top Patrol award.
• The top three patrols will each receive a special award.

Each patrol is encouraged to participate in a "Cast Iron Chef II" dessert cook-off on Saturday evening. Each dessert should include a recipe.

A separate dessert competition will be held for adult leaders.

Prizes will be awarded for Best Tasting, Best Looking, and Buzzard Bait.

The fishing contest will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and end at 5:30 p.m. Scouts do not have to register beforehand to participate. Check in for fish will be at the waterfront pavilion.

• All fish must be legally caught by the person presenting them for judging.

• All fish judged must be caught during the contest period.

• All fish must be caught using hook and line. No trotlines, limb lines, throw lines, nets or gigs may be used.

• No fishing in the swimming area.

Prizes will be awarded for:

• Largest fish (any species)

• Largest Bass (all species)

• Largest Catfish (all species)

• Largest Perch (all species)

• Smallest fish (all species)

• Most Fish (any mix of species)

Scouts are encouraged to return any unharmed fish to the water in the Swimming Area.

This event is limited to Scouts 14 years and older. It is an individual challenge.

Each Scout will be given a demonstration area in which to set up. He will demonstrate his skills in that area.

Each Scout will demonstrate skills in the following areas:

• Obtaining water, purifying water, storing water.

• Building shelter that will shed rain and provide warmth. The shelter may not use growing plants. The Scouts may procure natural materials from outside their area.

• Build a fire using flint and steel, fire by friction, and one other method.

• Make cordage using natural materials found at camp.

• Demonstrate methods of catching food, including traps for small animals, fish, and birds, throwing sticks, fishing lines, etc. These may be prepared in advance and assembled at camp. No animals will actually be caught.

• Find and display wild plant foods available at Camp Billy Gibbons. Be able to tell why you know they are safe and how to prepare them.

• Bring food items simulating a foraged meal and prepare it without utensils.

• Be able to answer questions about survival safety.

Scouts may use found items such as bottles, cans, line, etc. that has been left around camp as trash. No other items may be used.

1^st Prize will be an engraved Multitool.

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Booklet

FM 21-76 (Department of the Army Survival Field Manual)

Ernest Thompson Seton, The Book of Woodcraft

McPherson, Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills

http://www.primitiveways.com

http://ancestralknowledge.org

What's New?

Penateka Lodge Spring Brotherhood and Fellowship

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