By Scott Howell

What an overnight we had on February 15 and 16, 2014. According to the weather people we were suppose to have temperatures in the 40’s which would have melted the snow causing "Mud Fest", but we are camping in Missouri and the temperature never got to the 40’s. But we did have "Fry Fest" Saturday evening. Our leader’s deep fried turkeys with mash potatoes, gravy, green beans and rolls for dinner for everyone. The scouts baked cakes in cardboard boxes for dessert. Later that evening, the leaders went back to deep frying several different items for everyone to taste. Everything was great. Our scouts also had a demo on survival shelters and lots of time to play in the snow.

On Sunday morning, everyone cooked their breakfast by cooking eggs and bacon in a paper sack or boiling eggs in a paper cup. They also cooked sausage in aluminum foil and baked biscuits on a stick. It was just a great time.

The weather was great and those who went have earned a white coup for their coup belts.

(Go check out more pictures from the Landahl Overnight in the 2014 Troop 282 Photo Collection.)

By Scott Howell

What a great time the troop had with our two sleds at the 2014 Blue Elk Klondike Derby even if there was no snow this year. However we did have wind. Our sleds placed 3rd (Duct Tape Patrol) and 4th (Blue Ducks) at the Klondike Derby this year. The scouts that took part in this event were able to show off their scouting skills and abilities to work as patrol and a team. Our scouts were great!

(Go check out more pictures from the 2014 Klondike Derby in the 2014 Troop 282 Photo Collection.)

By Chris Toms

If you didn’t come to the troop Lock-In overnight then you sure missed out. Surprisingly we stayed up the whole night. We played games and had great fun. The pizza was great and it was overall the best overnight to me.

By Scott Howell

Boy Scout Troop 282 had their annual Flag retirement campfire on Saturday evening October 19. The Troop retired several United States Flags in a very salmon ceremony honoring these flags that have severed their Country very well. The Troop would like to thank the Scouts, Leaders and Parents who were present and took part in the flag retirement ceremony.

If you know of someone who has a United States Flag that is needing to be destroyed you can bring it up to scouts on Monday night and we will put it in our box for our next Flag Retirement Ceremony.

By Scott Howell, Jr.

What a great summer at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation for Boy Scout Troop 282. Yes it was a little wet at times but what temperatures we had 80’s to low 90’s during the day and the 60’s at night. The Troop’s youth leadership, adult leadership and scouts were all great as well. The troop took part in two outposts activities while at camp this summer. They were the new BMX Track and Supper with the Snakes. At Supper with the Snakes the Scouts and the Leaders got to hold a copperhead with two hands. Yes a live copperhead!!!!!. The BMX Track was a little wet the evening we attended this activity, but they had some really great food. I think the one activity I liked best about summer camp was watching all our young men and adults playing board games or cards in the new shelter area and talking face to face. Yes, communicating face to face what a treat in a day of email, texting, facebook and twitter.

We just had a lot of fun in 2013 at camp. I am working on paying for my 2014 summer camp fee by seeing Mr. Verman every Monday night and giving him $10.00 to put in my camp fund. How many other Scouts and Leaders are doing this to allow you to have even more fun at Camp in 2014.

So lets go EVERYONE to camp in 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Go check out more pictures from 2013 Scout Camp in the 2013 Troop 282 Photo Collection.)

By Harold Chitwood

The fishing overnight on May 18th & 19th. On Saturday when we got there we went fishing. I caught two catfish and one bass. Then we skinned the catfish and then we cooked and ate the fish. The second favorite thing I did was zip-lining. We went fishing in the morning. I had a lot of fun!

(Go check out more pictures from the Fishing Overnight in the 2013 Troop 282 Photo Collection.)

By Mark Mangels

I don’t know how many times I have visited Cedar Bluff at H. Roe Bartle Scout Camp, but this trip still carries with it new memories of a place that I consider special. My first trip was in 1971, and did not include camping on the bluff, but rather just exploring as a summer camper. In those days it was not uncommon to grab hold of some buddies and head to Cedar Bluff and Devil’s Staircase, via the "Blaylocks". There was no lake to walk around, only the Osage River. So, the trip was shorter. I recall the hike in 1971 as being somewhat brief. But, when you are 13, not carrying a backpack, full of energy and just going for the opportunity to explore, it’s just another afternoon scout adventure. As times have changed, and the safety of scouts on the reservation has become more important than ever, I understand the need to be cautious and follow the guidelines of our Reservation. To that end, it is still an awesome view to look across what is now the lake, to hear rain fall on the bluff around you, to see a soaring hawk above, and the usual "big" fish flop in the water below. More memorable are the fellow scouts who made the journey with you. Older scouts show their leadership in blazing the trail ahead, some who would encourage the younger scouts, and the weaker to keep going, because "you’re doing great". To see scouts extend a hand to help others up a steep hillside. To see a scout carry two backpacks to give a leader rest. To see a scout exercise patience while others caught up. The one thing that has never changed in all these years is the Scouting Spirit, especially powerful at our Reservation. I’m not sure how many more trips I will take to the Bluff, but if this were to be my last, it will be one that I may cherish most.

Cedar Bluff Campsite

By Gabriel Drake

We hiked 4-5 miles to Cedar Bluff, what an amazing view. Cedar Bluff is a large cliff and we spent the night under the bluff. The meals were freeze-died. The dinner was awesome but the breakfast was horrible. The hike was fun, I liked hanging out with my friends. On the drive home we go McDonald’s that was an absolutely awesome meal. Back on the road again after an hour or so.

Cedar Bluff

By Caleb Drake

First we hiked to Cedar Bluff, only a 4 mile hike, but it felt like 10 miles. When we got there we set up our sleeping bags and ground cloths, then we crawled around the caves inside the cliff, ate freeze dried food, got up,ate breakfast and left, it was lots ‘o’ fun.

Hiking to Cedar Bluff

By Jeremy Humphrey

Hi my name is Jeremy Humphrey this is what we did on our last overnight. We went up to scout camp and hiked three miles to Cedar Bluff. We ate freeze dried meals they don’t taste an different from food that is not freeze dried. When we got there we got to explore three small caves, but we did not go up Devil’s Stair Case because there was not enough spotters. Later we went to bed. It got extremely cold. Lots of us were in mummy bags with only our eyes poking out rolling back and forth frozen. I think that was the best camp out and best sleep I have slept on an overnight. I can’t wait to go back again.

Cedar Bluff

By Chris Toms

Ahhhhh!! I almost fell over the edge. Yes at Cedar Bluff. If you didn’t go then you missed out. We went caving and we tried to dig out the dirt. Mmmmm, food yes the not so good tasting freeze dried food. Splat, splat, splat, oh, my sleeping bag got wet from the rain during the night. Overall the over night was pretty good.

Overnight at Cedar Bluff

By Tim Phillips

I had a good time at the overnight at Cedar Bluff. It may have taken us four and a half hours to get to the overhang, but is sure didn’t feel like it to me. What I later realized is that we took the exact same route from the last time I went. I didn’t really do much when I first got there; I just set up my sleeping stuff and ate what was left over from my lunch. I did play with Jeremy Humphrey after I rested. He’s very funny and he seems to be one step ahead when it came to camping. He found a live scorpion and ended up almost killing it by dropping a rock right next to it! Fortunately, the scorpion didn’t come back for vengeance and nothing else happened. For dinner, I had lasagna with meat sauce (freeze-dried). It was pretty good, but there were some parts that were still dry, even after shaking and stirring. I also didn’t notice that the majority of the sauce was at the bottom! After dinner, I got into my sleeping bag and chit-chatted with a few other scouts like Jeremy and Tyler Hamm and Tyler Parker. After that and changing my clothes for Sunday, I went to sleep. We may have not gotten to see a sunset or a sunrise, but it was a good camping atmosphere in its own right.

(Go check out more pictures from Cedar Bluff in the 2013 Troop 282 Photo Collection.)

By Mr. Norton
Pancake Day Chairman

Now that the aroma of pancakes and sausage has left the parish hall til next year. I can say we had another successful Pancake Day. There was some first timers that blended in with some very seasoned veterans of Pancake Day very well this year. As usual I was late getting to the church by some leaders standards who were there as early as 4:30 in the morning. I say this because they jokingly sent me a text message saying "We need a boss". Well these veterans of past Pancake Days had it all under control by the time I arrived. Mr. Blann was manning the mixer making pancake batter.  Mr. Bennett was cooking the sausage. Mr. Howell along with Mr. Money were flipping pancakes. Mrs. Howell, Mrs. Moorman and Mr. Dudley were at the counter getting to go orders ready. Mr. Johnson was eagerly waiting for dirty dishes to wash so he could show his new helper Mr. Polina what to do til Mr. Gentry could show up to help wash dishes. The day went very smoothly. With the normal busy periods around breakfast, lunch and supper times as usual. The busiest time is supper time. This is when we usually serve 600 plus people in 4 hours. Also this is the time when the scouts start showing up after school to help out. And I am glad that they show up. Because they primarily bus tables, wipe them off, and set them. People commented to me on how well the scouts did their jobs. I want to thank all of the scouts, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, leaders and anyone else that helped make Pancake Day 2013 a success. To let everyone know this could not be done without everyones help and I say "Thank You". This is a great example of the troop motto "All for One and One for All". In closing the top three ticket sellers can have the prize money they won put in their camp fund or a gift card at a store of their choosing with the approval of Mr. Dudley and I. The top three sellers are listed as follows.
 
2nd place – 50 tickets sold – Brandon Muller – $37.50 Bass Pro gift card
2nd place – 50 tickets sold – Nicholas Arnold – $37.50 applied to Camp Fund
1st place – 76 tickets sold – Jacob Mcleod – $100 applied to Camp Fund

(Go check out more pictures from the 2013 Pancake Day in the 2013 Troop 282 Photo Collection.)