The Troop met at the church on Saturday morning and loaded our troop bus and off we went to Watkins Mills. This was going to be a new experience for the troop because none of us have been to Watkins Mill to camp. I am looking forward to going to Watkins Mill and to going fishing. The trip was not very long. Once at the campsite we set up camp.

Then it was off to the lake to go fishing. The weather was great.

We had a couple of scouts who thought it may be fun to get close to the worms we were using for bait.

When we returned to the campsite it was time for dinner spaghetti, meat sauce, meatballs and caesar salad

After dinner the patrols practiced their campfire skits, songs and jokes. Then it was time for our troop campfire.

We had a great campfire. All the patrols did a great job.

After the campfire we were treated to cobblers baked in dutch ovens.

Then it was time for bed. We were all ready to go to bed as we were going to lose one hour of sleep due to springing forward for daylight savings time.

It was a very chilly night. But I believe all the scouts and leaders sleep very well. I am looking forward to breakfast biscuits and gravy. While breakfast was being prepared we started breaking camp.

It’s a lot more fun setting up camp. It’s time to eat breakfast.

After breakfast we finished packing up our tents and troop equipment into our troop trailer. Then it was time for church. Our troop has a church service every overnight. Then it was time to head for home.

I can not wait till our next overnight in April.

Troop 282 held their 76th Annual ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKE DAY(sausage, milk, orange drink and coffee) on Tuesday March 4, 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Church at 409 N. Liberty St. Independence, Mo. from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Everyone asks why does the Troop have Pancake Day on a Tuesday. It has to do with Lent. It’s always on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) before Ash Wednesday. This is why the date moves around each year.

This fundraiser could not be done without the support from our scouts, leaders and parents.

For some of our leaders Pancake Day starts bright and early at 3:00 AM as they must get to the church to start cooking sausage to allow

doors to open and  start serving customers at 6:00 AM.

This fundraiser helps our scout go to summer camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation.

We thank everyone who came and helped set-up, who worked, who helped clean up. We especially thank those who purchased tickets.

We will see everyone at our 77th Annual ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKE DAY on Tuesday February 17, 2026. Mark your calendar.

Well let me say as a first time hiker to Cedar Bluff I really didn’t know what to expect as I packed my backpack. I was thinking how it would feel to carry this backpack on my back for a five(5) mile hike there and back. What’s it going to be like to sleep outside in the open (no tent)? What was this dehydrated food going to taste? Was it going to be cold? I did know one thing: I was going to make the best of it and complete the hike.

Saturday morning came and I headed to the church to catch the troop bus to make a hike to cedar Bluff. I am excited but yet a little worried. When I arrived at the bus the scouts were telling me to put my backpack on the bus and then go inside. The older scouts were at the bus loading everyone’s backpacks. Once everyone was here the Asst. Sr. Patrol Leader lined us up and headed to the bus. The bus ride I think lasted for around 2 hours and now we are at scout camp.

Now at scout camp we head to the spot to start our hike. There was 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground. Several of the scouts were talking about getting a white coup for this overnight because of the snow. I guess that is good. We lined up and off we went to Cedar Bluff.

As we hiked in the woods it was nice as there was no wind and it was very common. As I hiked up front it was very interesting to see that we were the first people to walk on this snow. It seemed very pure and clean.

Once we reached the Bluff I would have to say the hike was worth it. It was a very beautiful place and I can see why all the scouts think this was great overnight.

Let me say when we prepared our dehydrated meals the leaders got the scouts together to show those scouts who had never used a backpacking stove how to light the stove. Then we heated the water for our bags of food.

I must say the meal I had was very good.

While we ate dinner we had a short church service that was nice as we looked out over the water. We talked about being reverent to God in Nature.

I was not sure how sleeping was going to be. But let me tell you when I got in my sleeping bag and got warmed up I was out and I didn’t wake up until the leadership got us up.

Then it was time to get are stuff packed up to make the hike back to our troop bus.

We took a different way back on part of the hike that what we took over.

Once back we loaded the bus and headed to McDonald’s in Clinton to grab lunch before going home. We were all very excited about this stop.

Then we were on our way home. Now would I do this again. I would have to say yes I would. Yes the hike was challenging but when I go again next year I will be a year older and I will have more experience in camping and hike.

Overall this was a very fun overnight.