During the month of August, Troop 150 went on our Pedal and Paddle Campout. As the name suggests on this campout the troop biked and kayaked. This campout was over a three-day period. In this campout, all Scouts earned the kayaking merit badge and kayaking award.
On the first day, the troop stopped on the Potomac to get a class on the basics of kayaking required for the merit badge. Then the troop went onto the river to learn the different kayak strokes and then played a big game of tag on the water to demonstrate them. After that, the troop stopped at Eagle Island where the troop practiced swamping and unswamping the kayaks. By then all the Scouts had earned the merit badge so the troop finished the paddle and continued to the campsite.
On the second day, the troop did the pedal part of the pedal and paddle. The troop biked along a path next to the C&O Canal. The troop stayed together as a group as they biked to a campground where they ate lunch. After lunch, the troop split into two groups, one that started to head back, and one that went on to Harpers Ferry. The troop met back up to get ice cream before heading back to camp. After the day many Scouts had biked over 20 miles!
Later in the day, the troop went to a demonstration that showed what a Civil War soldier would have to carry every day and why it was necessary. This included the tents they used, the weapons they used, and the food they ate.
On the final day, the troop went to a Civil War weapons demonstration. In this, they demonstrated some of their tactics and firing formations while actually firing their rifles. They showed the troop how they could walk in sync and fire effectively even with the long reloading times.
After that, the troop got to see what a Civil War camp would have looked like. Finally, the troop took down camp and headed back to the church.
