The Troop bus left the church parking lot at 7:15 AM from the church parking lot to head to scout camp. I was so excited as this was my first time to ride on the troop bus and to see scout camp. The bus ride took approximately 2 hours. Once at camp our leaders checked in a place they called the reservation office. After checking the troop bus took us to our departure spot to start the hike. Before we left we were given our dehydrated  meal for dinner and three breakfast bars for our Sunday morning breakfast. I just want to get started on the 5 mile backpacking trip as I want to see this place they call Cedar Bluff. Finally it is time to strap on our backpacks and head out. It didn’t take long to get deep into the woods. The hike was up and down a few hills and we had several creek crossings. The hike was a little tuff as I had never walked so far with a backpack on my back. We were on the trail for around 3-½ hours before we reached Cedar Bluff. I was very tired from the hike and really didn’t know if I liked the hike until I was actually standing on Cedar Bluff. The view from the bluff was breathtaking. We then ate lunch and took a break. After lunch the scouts were given free time to explore. After a while the scouts were asked to come and gather up so we could have church. I was thinking what a great spot for a church service overlooking the lake. After church the leaders got out the backpacking stoves and we heated up water for fixing our dehydrated meals for dinner. I was not sure how these dehydrated meals were going to taste. Once the water was added it took approximately 15 minutes for the meals to be ready to eat. It seems to take forever for the meal to be ready to eat. Once it was ready I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but the meal was actually great. After dinner the scouts and leaders just sat around and talked. When the sun went down everyone went to bed. As it was very dark and cold. On Sunday we got up when the sun came up. We packed up and headed out on the hike back to the troop bus. The hike back was once again up and down hills but it was funny because it felt as if we went down hill more.

That may be because all I could think about was the stop the troop was going to make at McDonald’s on the way home for lunch. Overall the trip was great and I am glad I was able to make the hike and I hope the troop does it again.

Troop 282 has an upcoming actress in our midst Celestine Matthews. Celestine has taken part in several plays at the Community Theater of Independence (Power House Theater). The latest role she played was the Scarecrow in The Marvelous Land of Oz The Young Girl Returns.

The Troop is very proud of Celestine and we look forward to her being in more plays.

What a great weekend Troop 282 had. We went on a weekend Overnight to Zion Church Camp. What a great place. We left Trinity Epispoal Church on Saturday morning. Once we reached the Church Camp we unloaded the Troop trailer. Each Patrol set up their Patrol Campsite with tents, Patrol Fly, Patrol Equipment Boxes and Patrol Kitchen. After we ate lunch we had a troop demonstration on how to split wood with our handaxes. After that we had a troop scavenger hunt on nature and the Scout Law. Then we got to play Capture the Flag as a troop. All these events were very fun. Hope we get to do it again. Once we were done with these events the patrol were off to start their fires for dinner. In our case we cooked pork chops in applesauce with green bean, carrots and potatoes all covered with apple pie filling. It seemed to take forever for the food to get done as we were all starving. Thirty five minutes later we had food. It was great. Now clean up must be done.

 After clean up was done our patrol practiced their song and skit for the Troop Campfire. We can’t wait for the campfire to start.  Because after the campfire we have a Troop Cracker Barrel with Cherry, Apple and Black Forest Cherry Cobblers. The cobblers were all great. After cracker barrel everyone went to bed.

On Sunday morning we were awaken at 7:00 PM to start taking down our tents due to a rain storm and heavy winds that were to be coming by 11:00 AM. We all got our personnel gear picked up and moved to our troop bus. Once this was done we got busy taking down all the patrol equipment we set up on Saturday. It is amazing how much faster it comes down than it goes up. Once this was all done we moved our patrol stuff up to the covered shelter where we cooked our bacon, hash browns, eggs and cheese. Once again breakfast was great. The only problem was we had dish to wash and clean up. I wish we could have meals that we didn’t have to clean up. Our Patrol got it done. Then we moved everything to the Troop Trailer.

We then moved to our Troop Church Service. Where we had an Opening Prayer, we sang, had a sermon on Palm Sunday, we sang and had a closing prayer.

We then moved to the Troop Bus to head back to Trinity Epsicopal Church where our parents picked us up. What a great weekend. Can’t wait for April overnight. We’re going fishing.

Troop 282 held their 75th Annual Pancake Day on February 13th from 6:00 AM t0 7:00 PM. The troop had a great day and it was hard to believe that we have been doing this fundraiser for 75 years.This fundraiser takes the scouts, leaders and parents to work together to pull it off and once again we did it. This year was very special as the City of Independence Mayor came and presented a Proclamation to the troop for 75 years  of having Pancake Day.

However Pancake Day started five weeks ahead of the actual day when the tickets were passed out to the scouts and leaders. Several scouts met on three Saturdays from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM going door to door selling tickets. These scouts did a great job.

Great job to everyone who came and worked and ate at the event.

We will be having our 76th Annual Pancake Day on March 4, 2025. Mark your calendar and come see us.

On January 20th my troop and I participated in the 2024 Klondike Derby, and I think we all had a great time. The events were extremely interactive and somewhat challenging and my group had fun using our different strengths to help us complete the event. 

We tried to use scout spirit and teamwork to the best of our abilities and that helped us a lot, doing the events also took our minds off of the freezing temperatures. Speaking of temperatures, the snow really helped exemplify the feeling of a real klondike race with dogs and stuff.

This event was challenging for our younger scouts but overall I think we all enjoyed it very much and I hope to go back next year.