Summer Camp at Ockanickon Scout Reservation

Below are some pictures from Camp Ockanickon where Troop 88 attended summer camp this year for a week from August 9 through August 15. Camp Ockanickon, located in Bucks County Pennsylvania, was named in honor of the Leni Lenape Indian Chief, Ockanickon, who was one of the conveyors of the lands of Bucks County to William Penn in 1682. (click on a photo to make it larger.)

Don't worry parents, the rock climbing shown in some of these photos looks scary, but it was no where near as dangerous as it looks.

Steven Fuchs - Eagle Court of Honor Picnic

On Monday evening June 8, Troop 88 held their spring Court Of Honor and Family Picnic at the west picnic area near the marina on Lake Mercer in Mercer County Park. Among those scouts honored was Troop 88’s latest Eagle Scout, Steven Fuchs. Below are some photos of the solemn occasion to commemorate his achievement.

Winter Camping & Appalachian Trail Hike

Troop 88 chose January 25, 26 and 27 for the troop's annual winter camping trip. This year the troop travelled to Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reservation in the northern tip of New Jersey for the event. Most of the troop travelled up on Friday night and were joined by the rest early Saturday morning.


















As expected and true to form, there was snow on the ground. Luckily, the Scouts opted for cabin camping as opposed to tent camping at a site like this one. Just up the road was our cabin nestled in the woods.


















It was not quite the rustic and primative log cabin some were expecting, but most of the Scouts appreciated the comforts of a slightly more modern shelter.


















Our cabin was named Bauman Lodge after Otto Baumann Jr., an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow, the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America reserved for Scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives . As a member of the Order of Arrow, he was awarded the Vigil Honor based on his exceptional service above and beyond the norm in leadership, exemplary efforts, and dedication. Otto Baumann, Jr. served in Vietnam for the US Army and was killed in action in 1966 at the age of 20.


















The cabin is equipped with a wood stove for heat, tables, benches and ten bunk beds (without mattresses.) All the necessary comforts of home.


















Well... almost all of the comforts of home.


















The cool mountain air is a wonderful cure for the stresses of the world back home (school, homework, chores, work, etc., etc.) Gathering firewood to heat the cabin was our first order of business.

























The highlight of the winter camping trip for me was the hike along the Appalachian Trail which was located just a few miles from the cabin. http://www.appalachiantrail.org/ The trail which stretches over 14 different states was completed in 1937 and is a unit of the National Park Service. Is the nation's longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,175 miles.


















As you can see, there is about six inches of snow on the ground making the early part of the hike a little difficult.


















As we climbwd in elevation the snow cover thinned where the sun warmed the rocks beneath. This made the hike more managable and less slippery. Fortunately, the weather for the hike was good with overcast skys, no wind and termperatures above freezing.


















At a high point along the trail, the Troop took a well needed break to rest, cool down and enjoy the breathtaking view of the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania countryside, all visible from our vantage point on the mountaintop. The scenery was beautiful, even in winter.


















There is nothing quite like sitting by a warm fire or woodstove with a cup of hot chocolate after a vigerous hike in the mountain wilderness. The Scouts felt a true sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for the ground they covered and for all they had done and seen that day.


















All that exercise sure works up an appetite. The cabin does not have a kitchen or running water so all of our cooking and cleaning was done outside as usual. The Scouts prepared homemade chili and cornbread, with the capable assistance of Dr. Allenby, our executive chef (pardon the pun.)

























What would a Troop 88 campout be without a deck of cards? Certainly not the same. Heated competition among the Scouts included a lot of bluff an bravado. The adults could barely carry on a conversation over the boisterous banter of the Scouts.


















As the night wore on, exhaustion finally caught up with both the Scouts and the adult leaders. And while a nice warm woodstove helps, there is no substitute for winter weight sleeping bag when it comes to winter camping.


















On Sunday morning, the Scouts gathered their gear, packed the vehicles and cleaned up the cabin before heading home. The trip was a wonderful experience. Fortunately for the Scouts of Troop 88, they can look forward to this kind of fun every month. Our Scouts decide what they do and where they go. They chart their own course of adventure. Join Troop 88 and you can too.

Mystery Hike Campout at Bass River State Forest

Troop 88 enjoyed a great weekend of camping and hiking in the Bass River State Forest in Burlington County, NJ. The trip was well worth the two hour drive to the State Park down near the Jersey Shore.

Bass River State Forest was the first forest acquired by the state of New Jersey in 1905 for public recreation, water conservation, and wildlife and timber management. Lake Absegami, a 67-acre lake created in the 1930's, is the center of the forest's recreational activities and provides an area for swimming, boating and canoeing. The forest consists of 18,208 Acres within the Pine Barrens of Burlington and Ocean Counties about 25 miles north of Atlantic City, not far from exit 50 of the Garden State Parkway.

WhileSaturday was a bit damp and cool, the scouts managed to build what may have been the largest campfire the Troop has had in a long time. Temperatures dipped below freezing overnight but Sunday gave us a clear blue sky and warmer temperatures.

In keeping with a long tradition, Troop 88 took their "Mystery Hike" over the weekend. New scouts are encouraged to attend this hike in their first year as it is an enlightening experience. Also in keeping with tradition, I am unable to tell our readers what the hike involves. Lets just say that even those of us who have taken the hike before find the experience exciting.

At times leaving the hair on the back of your neck standing up a bit.








For the curious among you, I have placed a couple of hints below that may give you clues about the "Mystery" in the Mystery Hike.

Hint Number 1
Hint Number 2
Hint Number 3
Hint Number 4
Hint Number 5

September 2007 Sarnoff Canoe Trip & Campout

Turning Basin Canoe Rentals at the Canal on Alexander Road in Princeton.

Scoutmaster David Wertz demonstrates the importance of life jackets, and more importantly, a balanced entry into the canoe.

Troop 88 embarks on the two hour canoe trip from the Turning Basin launch to the Troop 88 campsite in the woods behind Sarnoff.

The least favorite part of the trip is the passage under the Route 1 bridge where the scouts manoeuvre their way around any low hanging spider webs.

Once out of the canal and onto the gently moving Millstone River, the natural beauty of the outdoors is amazing. We saw fish, cranes, swans and geese. It is easy to believe you are miles from civilization.

The dense foliage on the banks of the Millstone River and the numerous water lillies are in stark contrast to the well kept banks of the canal. Turtles are everywhere.

Once we reached camp it was time to set up the tents, gather some wood and start a fire before taking a well deserved rest (at least for the adults.)

The activity at the campsite picks up at dinner time and around the campfire afterward. And no Sarnoff campout would be complete without a challenging game of capture the flag.

We awoke to a beautiful and sunny autumn day, perfect for our canue trip back to civilization. After breaking camp, and leaving it just as we found it, we got in our canoes.

The beautiful scenery we saw along the Millstone River on our way back was spectacular. The sights, the sounds, and the smells of the outdoors overwhelm the senses.

Once again we make the necessary passage under the Route 1 bridge. Paddle as quick as possible and don't look up.

A friendly bet between scouts and adult leraders in the various boats led to a spirited race through the canal.

Last, but certainly not least, our fearless leader and Scoutmaster Mr. David Wertz, paddles into port at the Turning Basin launch.

A careful departure from the boat is just as important and a careful entry. You don't want to travel dry for two hours only to fall in getting out of the canoe.

Mr. Steve Schloss and his son Dan were our only "kayakers" (non-comformists at heart.) They bid farwell to all for yet another very memorable experince enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

THIS IS WHAT SCOUTING IS ALL ABOUT !!!

Troop 88 Blog under repair

Our apologies for the condition of the Troop 88 blog. We are working to remove the large amount of SPAM that has cluttered up our site and hope to have the Blog site back up and functional in the near future.

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Dabbs
Assistant Scoutmaster

Memorial Day Parade