More than 27 scouts and five adult leaders from Boy Scout Troop 1104 in Clifton headed off to Camp Bowman at Goshen Scout Reservation, Goshen, Va., to enjoy a week full of activities. The trip to Goshen has been an annual event for the troop for many years.
Troop 1104 scouts worked on 129 Merit Badges, built personal wilderness survival and first aid kits, took nature hikes, water skied, canoed, sailed on a 16-foot Hobiecat, shot .22 rifles and archery, cooked trout they caught, prepared their own meals, learned how to use, sharpen and care for pocket knives, axes and bow saws.
Eleven Scouts participated in a wilderness survival ordeal and then shipped off for a pirates breakfast. They completed motorboat training and got to operate johnboats with 5 hp motors on the 450-acre Lake Merriweather. The Camp Bowman staff taught them leatherwork, nature, fishing, basketry, orienteering, outdoor survival skills, astronomy, communications, environmental science, rowing, soil and water conservation, weather, lifesaving and swimming. They had evening campfires with fun snacks, skits and stories. The scouts even cleaned the latrines daily.
The boys won the "Oar" on Monday as the best Troop in camp. They attended a flag ceremony every evening and were treated to reveille on the bugle by Matt Dulan (troop bugler) every morning at 6:30 a.m., the only bugler in camp. The Troop designed and built an axe yard as their camp improvement project to Camp Bowman.
Through the hard work of all the leaders at camp, behind the scenes at home and the scouts, the Troop was honored by the Camp Bowman staff as "Troop of the Week". This is a great honor for Troop 1104 and the ninth year in a row that Troop 1104 has won this award. Troop 1104 was also the only Troop in Camp to be awarded the Camp Adventure Award for participating in the most camp organized events.
Boy Scout Troop 1104 is always seeking and welcoming new Scouts into the Troop. Starting in September, the Troop meets in Clifton, at the Clifton Presbyterian Church every Wednesday evening, 7–8:30 p.m. for Scouting projects, merit badges, rank advancement, fellowship and community service projects. Visit the Web site Troop1104.com or contact the Scoutmaster, Bo Reese, at 703-830-0048 or blreese1@cox.net.