On March 21-22, our scouts headed to Bumblebee Ranch and set up camp for our Crossover outing. Afterward, they made lunch and then taught lessons to new scouts. In the afternoon, they collected wood, built a bonfire with it, built a rope bridge near it, then cooked tacos and quesadillas for dinner. At night, the scouts lit the fire and retired several old U.S. flags. Then the Arrow Of Light scouts from Pack 323 crossed the bridge and officially became new scouts. Finally, we all ate cobbler and watched skits. The next morning, Kris Bliznick arrived at camp and launched the model rockets the scouts had built the previous day, along with several awesome rockets he built for the launch.
About a dozen scouts from Troop 3323 assisted Anya with her Eagle Project on the weekend of March 7-8. They painted panels and prepped other decorations for a Calm Room Anya designed for M.I.K.I.D., which is a family-run behavioral health organization. The nonprofit organization helps kids who are in mental distress. Anya designed a room with special furniture and other details that would be soothing to kids and help them calm down. They worked at Anya’s home and at the facility, headquartered at 19th Avenue and Northern in Phoenix.
At Spur Cross Ranch, our scouts hiked 2.5 miles with all of their camping gear to their campsite. After arriving, they set up camp and ate lunch, before going on a 1 mile day hike shortly afterwards. After returning, the scouts played card games, worked on rank requirements, and cooked dinner before hiking 2.5 miles back to their cars the next day.
Our scouts spent February 1st hanging up flyers around Moon Valley to ask for donations as part of a national effort to help feed the hungry called Scouting for Food. On February 7th, scouts went around and collected the donations that had been left outside for us. We collected 2,908.1 total pounds of food, which broke last year’s record of 2,673.1 pounds.
On January 27, Troops 323 and 3323 recognized scouts and youth leaders for their hard work at our Court of Honor. Our scouts earned rank patches from Scout through Star, as well as merit badges and prizes for holiday greens top sellers. Our Eagle Scout Wyatt conducted a research project on perception of water taste. Afterwards, we all feasted on donuts, cookies, and Rice Krispy treats.
