Boy Scout Troop 111

A Mountain Man Summer

Submitted by craigc on August 29, 2016 - 11:04pm

The mountain men of Troop 111 continued their budding tradition of service on public lands with their third service project for the US Forest Service in June, installing new signposts and performing sawyer work deep in the Chumash Wilderness.

In July, the Scouts headed into the Sierra Nevada, where they camped and toured hydroelectric facilities courtesy Southern California Edison, and then headed to Camp Kern for their first-ever summer camp! Leatherwork, woodcarving, archery, rifle shooting … all the classic activities associated with summers of yore were enjoyed by a crew 22 strong. At the end of the month, the Scouts enjoyed a camp in the Los Padres National Forest, fashioning survival shelters from branches and boughs and visiting a Chumash rock art site.

August saw the Scouts take part in a week-long series of “mountain man” clinics … first aid and surfing, map and compass work, surf fishing, a 15-mile bike ride, and a night-hike with snakes and scorpions for company … good times! The boys wrapped up their summer with a camping trip along Sulphur Mountain, where they worked on basic Scoutcraft and also planned much of their calendar into 2017.

More great adventures await — join us!

A Busy Spring!

Submitted by craigc on May 22, 2016 - 6:55pm

Troop 111 hit the ground running (actually, hiking!) in their second month with a backpacking trip along the Sespe in early April. The boys enjoyed swimming in the river (in the rain), scrambling on nearby rock formations, and a good campfire. As usual, the patrols cooked their own meals.

Also in April, the boys participated in the Sespe District Camporee at Camp Willett. A great time was had competing in classic Scout events such as the canoe portage, fire building, blindfolded tent building, and tomahawk throwing. A great first Camporee for the boys!

In May, the boys performed an ambitious service project for the US Forest Service, improving and clearing tread along the North Fork of Lockwood Creek and assisting sawyers remove a large downed tree blocking the trail.

Also that month, the boys led the planting of flags at Ivy Lawn for upcoming Memorial Day services and participated in a Swimming merit badge clinic.

It's been a great Spring and we look forward to our summer adventures — including more service projects for the Forest Service, a tour of a hydroelectric facility in the Sierra Nevada, a week-long summer camp, and scaling peaks in the Los Padres National Forest.

Join us!

Troop 111's First Month Highlights

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 10, 2016 - 9:51am

At the very first meeting on March 3, the Scouts divided themselves into three patrols and elected their patrol and troop leadership. The next day, it was off to winter camp at Mt. Pinos, where volunteers from the Upper Ojai Search and Rescue team taught the Scouts how to treat victims of hypothermia and how to build a snow shelter. Three inches of snow fell on the camp over Saturday night, so the boys emerged from their tents in the morning to discover a beautiful pristine snow scene.

The Troop also spearheaded the coordination of a service project with the U.S. Forest Service and several other Scout groups to bring more than 50 volunteers to Matilija Canyon. The Scouts spent the day removing all the graffiti along a four-mile stretch of the trail.

Our charter organization, The Elks, sponsors an annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, and our Scouts carried the banners along the parade route and helped guide and support the smaller Cub Scouts who were also along.

April is off to a busy start, with the boys heading to the Sespe Wilderness for an overnight backpacking trip, with camp set up just about a mile and a half from the trailhead. This was a shakedown trip, a chance for the boys to try out new gear and, for those who have not backpacked before, find out what works and what doesn't. The patrols planned, shopped for, and cooked their own meals--and swam in the swimming hole!

We now have 36 boys on the roster or in the process of getting registered, so we're growing fast. Stay tuned for more adventures in the coming months.