Boy Scouts From Commack, Hauppauge, Kings Park And Hauppauge Learn Scouting Skills

MATINECOCK DISTRICT (B.S.A.) HOSTS WEBELOS SCOUTS AT WEBELOS WOODS CAMPOUT AND SKILLS EVENT (click on photos to enlarge)

By Phyllis Stein

To help whet the appetites of the Webelos Scouts as they learn about what to expect when entering their local Boy Scout Troop next year, the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America), held its 17^th annual Webelos Woods event, as 22 Cub Scout Packs and 23 Boy Scout Troops from the Commack, Kings Park, and Hauppauge areas of Smithtown Township and from the entire Town of Huntington attended the weekend (Oct. 21^st – 23^rd, 2016) at Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island for an overnight camping trip. 

           Saturday’s events had the 4th and 5th grade Webelos Scouts participating in instructions at various skill events and competitions.  Scoutcraft knowledge and how-to’s were explained and demonstrated by Boy Scouts Troops in the Matinecock District; thirteen Scouting skills stations were held (i.e. First Aid, Cooking, Knots & Lashings, Engineering, Fire Building, Map & Compass, Archery, Camp Gadgets, and Team Building games).  The winner of the “made at the campsite” dessert contest went to Cub Scout Pack 379 (Northport) won the bake off  for their Black Forest cake.

The Cub Scout Packs that participated in this event were: Smithtown/Hauppauge’s Pack 328; East Northport’s Pack 5, Pack 312,  Pack 238, and Pack 52; Huntington’s Pack 66, Pack 178, Pack 310, and Pack 181; Greenlawn’s Pack 225 and Pack 877; Elwood’s  Pack 471; Commack’s Pack 125, Pack 329, and Pack 403; Melville’s Pack 406 and Pack 22; Northport’s, Pack 400, Pack 379, and Pack 42;  Kings Park’s Pack 75; and Dix Hills’ Pack 457.      

Thanks go to the Boy Scout Troops for sharing their expertise and joining us for this weekend: East Northport’s Troop 8, Troop 5, and Troop 52; Elwood’s Troop 200 and Troop 174; Commack’s Troop125, Troop 322, and Troop 403; Kings Park’s Troop 539 and Troop 75; Huntington’s Troop 78, Troop 12 and Troop 360;  South Huntington’s Troop 106 and Troop 218; Dix Hills’ Troop 309 and Troop 409;   Melville’s Troop 406;   Greenlawn’s Troop 32; Northport’s Troop 41 and Troop 410;  Centerport’s Troop 113 and Huntington Station’s  Troop 34.

        “Fun was had by all of the 915 Webelos and Boy Scouts and their parents and adult scouting volunteer leaders who came out in the rain and made the 2016 Webelos Woods such a successful event!” said Matinecock District Webelos Woods Coordinator Scott Dammers.

At the Map and Compass (Orienteering) Event during the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 17^th   annual Webelos Woods event at Cathedral Pines County Park (Middle Island), Webelos Scouts of Cub Scout Pack 877 (East Northport)  get instruction on how to read a compass from Troop 125 (Commack) Boy Scouts. The Webelos Scouts were given instructions on how to read take a compass reading in addition to learning how reading a compass and map for Orienteering scouting skills. Troop 125’s Tyler E. (holding oversize compass) and David M. explains how to read a compass using a giant demonstration form (“put the red arrow in the red line to find magnetic north”) to Pack 877’s (left to right) William W, Thomas F, Aidan S, Peter H, and Brendon O. 

—Monkey Bridge –– At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 17^th  annual Webelos Woods event at Cathedral Pines County Park (Middle Island) Webelos Scout Alex H. of Pack 379 (Kings Park)  makes his way across the Monkey Bridge as Boy Scouts  James O’C and Dean C of Troop 75 (Kings Park) “spot” him as part of the safety procedures. 

—Firebuilding –– At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 17^th  annual Webelos Woods event at Cathedral Pines County Park (Middle Island),  Webelos Scouts used  “fire by friction”  and “flint and steel” as an alternative method to create a spark and light the fire as demonstrated by Boy Scouts.  Boy Scut Troop 343 (Huntington) with their demo/display of the various types of fire lays needed for cooking meals when camping – the leanto, tipi, and log cabin – which they will need in the future as they go camping and need to cook their meals.  The demo items were used to start the troop’s dinner cooking-fires that evening.  (left to right) Paul S., Vincent S, James B, and James R. 

—  Knots — At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 17^th  annual Webelos Woods event at Cathedral Pines County Park (Middle Island),  Webelos Scouts used  Webelos Scouts were able to learn about various Boy Scouting skills.  At Troop 174 (Elwood)’s Knots station, Cub Scout Pack 403 (Commack)’s Webelos Scouts (left to right) Kieran W. and Will B. and. gets an assist from Boy Scouts Keith M. and Patrick S. as they create keychains (aka knot tying) with the cobra stitch knot. 

 – soap bar carving station —At the Matinecock District (Boy Scouts of America)’s 17^th  annual Webelos Woods event at Cathedral Pines County Park (Middle Island),  Webelos Scouts learn the proper use and care of pocket knives at the Whit’lin Chit station, hosted by Troop 52 (East Northport).  Boy Scout Matthew B. assists and gives directions on how to carve a bar of soap (as part of the proper use of a scout knife) to Webelos Scouts (left to right) Henry S. and Vance S. of Cub Scout Pack 877 (East Northport)