Fall Campout Photos

Want to see some more pictures of the November 3rd Campout? Just follow this link to my photo gallery.



http://picasaweb.google.com/mreyes512/2007FallCampout

Graduation Campout Pack 61

On November 3rd Pack 61 held their graduation campout at Camp Tom Wooten. It will be the last Pack 61 campout for the Flying Eagles. The pack committee wanted to do something special for the graduating Webelos IIs and they made it an Indian Theme. Nathan Culver was the master of ceremonies as Chief Dances with Chickens. He did a wonderful job. The camp opened with him giving all the boys Indian Names. The Flying Eagles were named the following:

Joshua Holland - Spotted Pony, Brian McDonald - Kicking Bear, Grayson Berdofe - Owl that Sings, John Michael Reyes - Darting Beaver, Pablo Manceaux - Prancing Snail, and Matthew Mohondro - Swimming Otter. Mr. Reyes got the Indian name Horse with many tails. The boys went to several stations at this campout for Arts & Crafts and Archery. During the last session, we got all the Webelos IIs together to practice the campfire program. The campfire was dedicated to these boys - they were led out by Chief Dances with Chickens and he recited an Indian Poem about Fire. Each boy got a torch and it was lit by Dances with Chickens and the boys started the campfire. It was awesome and meant a lot to the boys. It was just an overnight campout.

Webelos Woods Photos

Here are the photos for Webelos Woods



http://picasaweb.google.com/mreyes512/WebelosWoods

Webelos Woods

On October 26 the Flying Eagle patrol joined Troop 448 for the weekend at Wolf Mountain Boy Scout Preserve for Webelos Woods. This is where Webelos can attend a campout with a Boy Scout Troop and get to visit other scout troops during the weekend. Beside the tours of other troops, the boys get to participate as a patrol in the various team building activities on Saturday afternoon. The boys that attended were Grayson Berdofe, Pablo Manceaux, Brian McDonald, Matthew Mohondro and John Michael Reyes. When we arrived at Wolf Mountain and all was setup that evening, the boys were immediately accepted into the Troop by the boys from 448. It was great seeing such outgoing of welcome by both groups. By the end of the weekend the boys felt just like they were members of Troop 448.

On Saturday morning, we were taken to other troops of our request by our Scout Guide, Mike Goodall the Senior Patrol Leader from Troop 403. We visited Troop 256, 403, 61, 555, 448 and 10. We would have loved to visit more and find out more about all the troops that attended this campout. In the afternoon the boys along with other members of Troop 448 attended team building games and appeared to work well with each other and accomplished all their goals.

Mike Reyes, Corey McDonald, Lynn Berdofe, Ken Manceaux and Bill Mohondro were treated like true guests and the adults from Troop 448 cooked and served us royally. It was really hard just sitting in the background not participating especially with the cooking.

By the time we left on Sunday, there was true friendship by all hands. We received numerous compliments about our boys, which made us quite proud - okay prouder than normal.

Lost Maples Campout

On September 28 - 30, the Flying Eagles had a camping trip at Lost Maples State Park. What a beautiful park and tricky driving to it also. The majority of the den arrived late Friday evening and set up camp in the dark. We lucked out by getting two sites side by side while we had a larger one across the street. Lost Maples was just starting to change colors while there. It was starting to get really beautiful.

Saturday morning the camp was cleaned and other items setup that were not the night before. We visited the Ranger checkin office and officially got our sites assigned and got some wonderful maps of the hiking trails. Around 10 AM the rest of the group showed up and we organized a short hike and covered almost all of the Forestry Activity and some of Geology.

For the most part, the boys came up with the menu and even cooked it. Pablo even created yogurt parfaits for all of us breakfast. It was a really good time and many of us would love to return here sometime just to do some more of the hikes.

Surprise Surprise

This month has started out an the run. September 10th the den visited Troop 448. They had just finished a camping trips to Krauss Springs that weekend before but they were ready for us. They opened the meeting than sat with the boys and talked about the Troop and then took them out to the foyer and they played a game or two. Meanwhile the Scoutmaster, Jim Berkman and a couple Assistant Scoutmasters talked to the adults that had come also. The Senior Patrol Leader, Justin ran a slide show for the boys about past camping trips for Troop 448 including the recent trip to Piedmont Ranch. It was a good evening. We are scheduled to visit both Troop 61 and Troop 505 also.

On Wednesday Sept. 12 we held a den meeting at the Mohondro household. After the opening, the boys practiced the Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan, including the salute, sign and handshake. All of these items they need to know before getting arrow of light. After practice, Mr. Mohondro told the boys they were going to work on the Artist achievement and gave them all a rag, paint and a brush and led them to the backyard. There setup was their own Flying Eagle Tepee. They chose to paint the stripes red and blue and paint the Eagle brown, yellow and white with some black. They only got to work on it for about 40 minutes before it was time for dinner. It was difficult getting them to stop, but it was discussed that we would reconvene on Saturday morning to finish it up.

We met again on Saturday Sept 15 in the morning. There were a couple missing this time but what was there, completed the painting and also conducted a hand puppet show for the attending adults. The boys made hand puppets using paper sacks and performed a rather unique presentation. The Tepee is now ready for use on camping trips and as a symbol of the patrol. They did an outstanding job. We still have a couple items to add by the boys that were missing. Each boy has a unique handprint on the tepee vice a name.

A reminder that we have a den campout at Lost Maples on Sept. 29th. It will be our first time going to this State Park. We have a visit to Troop 505 October 1st. For more information about what we have planned through Christmas visit the Pack 61 website. http://austin61.mypack.us/

Inks Lake Campout August 2007

Okay maybe the leadership wasn't the sharpest item in the pencil case scheduling a campout in Central Texas the first week of August. We did schedule a campground close to a lake though. We did luck out though because the weather did assist us a little. The temperatures were in the high 80s vice the normal 100s. It has been a active summer for the boys and their parents. It was good getting back into the swing of things again. The boys cooked almost every meal and had tons of activities around the campsite. Several of the boys brought their bikes and the competition was on. The camping starting on Friday night where mostly the camp was setup for all families. On Saturday, the boys and some adults decided to do a little fishing off the pier. After lunch we all got into our vehicles and headed down the road to another Texas State Park, Longhorn Caverns. Jerry Folsom brought Tucker, Bennett and Shaffer out to the cavern to join us then join us at the campsite. We got a tour arranged with a guide to see the cavern and to hear a little history of the site. It was an awesome trip and I know the boys enjoyed it loads. Talk about a great experience, loads of mud, pretty sites and good company. The boys learned alot about geology and had some really great questions for the guide. After the tour, we came back to the site and cooked a great dinner and two cobblers. Everyone sat around the campfire and just talked and had a good time. The boys worked on an art project by stamping figures on leather keychains. Ken made some family ancestery charts for the boys to fill out, they were required to go back at least three generations. Most of the boys went back at least four. On Sunday morning, the boys sat with Mike and Ken and talked about their family sheets they filled out. What a great idea and many of the boys called their grandparents to find out a little more information. They actually sounded like they really got into this exercise. After breaking camp the families departed for the homeward travel. Another successful and fun event with a really tight bunch of people. Next event is the Pack 61 Movie Night and then Cubmobile Derby which has been moved to September. Den 13 has another camping trip arranged for the 29th of September at Lost Maples. Here are some pictures taken by Ken Manceaux: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11060696@N02/

Camping and Cooking at Buescher State Park!

June 9th-2007-Buescher State Park
Smithville-Camping sites 52-54--
Flying Eagle Patrol Den 13

Wow, what a busy May it was for our boys with the end of school and planning fun for the summer. This Den continues to amaze me when it comes to team spirit and a drive to do things for the Scouts of this Flying Eagle Patrol. Bill Mohondro set up camping reservations for us as the Pack was having a fishing derby for all scouts on this particular Saturday morning. Several families and scouts attended at the 9:00am derby and then set up camp for the evening. Michael Reyes kindly volunteered to purchase all the groceries and coordinate the tasks and chores for this instructional overnight with our sons. The boys also set up their own tents and paired off for sleeping arrangements.

Bill and Michael set up two cooking stations and delegated cooking chores to the boys so that they begin to understand what the Boy Scouts do on their camping trips . Christian set up two dutch ovens for cooking his famous apple and peach cobblers! Rick Holland cooked some hot dogs for his boys early and a couple of the other scouts as they always seem to have an appetite!

Bill worked with John Michael Reyes and Matt Mohondro to cook the burgers, while Michael Reyes had Pablo Manceaux and Joshua Holland help build a fire and he taught them how to prepare corn on the cobb--and man was that yummy!!! Christian worked with Grayson Berdofe and Brian McDonald to create and cook the cobblers. Needless to say, we ate well that night and afterwards we went over to the fishing area with the boys and caught a few fish--that was really fun. Eefore we knew it, it was already 10:00pm and time for a cold shower--I really like cooler weather camping better.

We presented Christian McDonald with a thank you picture frame from the families in our Den. Thanks again Chrisitan for all that you do and for all that you will do for our sons as they journey to become good young men.
Bill Mohondro also made a wonderful speech for this event that touched our hearts--as he always does. Thank you kindly Moe for sharing your time, love and energy with us.

For the next morning, Bill worked with Joshua and Brian on cooking the pancakes and Michael worked with Pablo and Grayson on frying up some bacon. Prior to eating the boys were playing games on their own and then I stepped in and had them do a relay race as a Den along with some of the younger scouts, Ethan, Dawson and Myles. It was great fun watching them play together.

Again we ate very well and then began to break camp. All the scouts helped break down camp and all the scouts and parents helped clean and pick up more trash than what we actually started with--now that is leave no trace at its best!

Almost forgot to mention that a few stray kittens showed up after dinner on Saturday night and the boys were having fun with them being around. Bill and Michael bought some cat food for them the next morning and we notified the Ranger and she said she would see if she could find them a home as they had little chance of surviving out in the park.



Attendees were: Bill, Debbie andMatt Mohondro, Michael, Edna and John Michael Reyes, Christian, Cory, Brian and Sean McDonald, Rick, Joshua and Dawson Holland, Lynne, Grayson and Ethan Berdofe and Ken, Melissa, Pablo and Myles Manceaux.