Treasure Hunt 2020 was a great outing. So this year was themed all around the Oregon Trail. This outing featured scouts moving to different stations, and collecting letters. I, and the entire troop who participated would like to thank the entirety of the Venture crew, and the woodies who helped run the event (also the Rover). Also I would like to thank all of the Adult drivers who allowed this outing to function smoothly. The first station was at Beresford Park, which featured scouts starting off with multiple puzzles, and an exquisite morse code message transmitted over a Ham Radio. Once Scouts had gathered the necessary information, then they moved on to Mariners Island. This part focused solely on compass skills with a small puzzle at the end. Then patrols moved onto Erkenbrack park, which featured three skills: First Aid, Lashings, and Canoe. Scouts first moved in and built a “wagon” by lashing spars together, and placing a tarp on it. Then this was hoisted up and placed on a catamaran made of two canoes. This was then maneuvered around a course and put ashore, then derigged. Then scouts had a break to enjoy lunch, then moved on to a first aid part based off a broken ankle and substituted crutches. Next scouts moved on to Alberta Glen for quick “animal hunting” and tomahawks. Shortly thereafter patrols moved on to Arguello park, which involved a heaving line, a tool called a Zrig, and knot practice. Laurelwood park was next and featured scouts crossing a river (blue tarp) with the use of wood blocks. The final event was at Boothbay Park. Scouts practiced cooking skills such as setting up a tripod and hanging can. Also they practiced flipping pancakes. In the end, I’d like to congratulate the Hawk Patrol for winning the event. Scouts were then presented with a frightening amount of candy, and then left the day outing for home. Once more the entire troop would like to thank everyone who helped make this outing a possibility.

– Alex Kaiser
B27 Scribe

During Memorial Day weekend BSA stopped scouts from going and planting flags on the graves of veterans. We as a troop wanted to continue on the tradition and to honor those who fought for us in our own way. So we went up to Skylawn cemetery and we planted flags and friends and family of Troop 27 not as Troop 27. We followed guidelines and we were safe while still honoring those before us. 

Later that day and onto the next day we had a virtual outing. This consisted of a Minecraft session, some online games, and a Disney escape room. We communicated and worked together in our patrols and then had a campfire all together later that night. We all came up with creative skits and songs. The next morning we had scouts own. This is how we have been staying connected during this difficult time.

-Allie Rees
G27 Scribe

Klondike Derby is our annual snow camping trip! We head into the snowcapped mountains to spend the weekend building shelters and competing in events. We spend the first day building our own igloo-like shelter to help insulate ourselves from the cold (which is a blast!), then compete with other troops in a series of snow-based events the next day.

Camping in the snow? Check! Having snowball fights? Check! At Klondike Derby, the Scouts did all these events and more! 

Usually, we would start by building snow shelters, but unfortunately, there wasn’t enough snow. So instead, we set up tents and started to have fun! Some Scouts from other troops had built a wall, and we ended up having a snowball fight with them. Some Scouts also had fun sledding down a hill, as well as playing Capture the Flag.

Before long, it had gotten dark, and everyone gathered to have dinner. Eating hot meals in the cold felt really good!

The next morning, after breakfast, we had Scouts Own, where Mr. Frydenlund told us the history of how Klondike Derby came to be. Then, we headed off to the activities. The festivities of the morning featured activities such as sled racing, spear throwing, and snow shoe tying. Scouts were competing against each other to get the highest score. 

By lunchtime, most people had left, or were in the process of leaving. We stayed behind for the grand sled race. One person would sit in the sled while three or more others pushed or pulled. Though there wasn’t many people competing, it was still very fun.

Though there were some difficulties concerning our snow shelters, everyone had a blast. I know that next year, it’ll be even better!

-Katie Yue
G27 Scribe

This year’s skills weekend was great! The Scouts got to learn and practice important skills, while older Scouts helped teach. Due to fire restrictions at Mt. Madonna, the Scouts practiced fire related skills at Beresford Park, including making fuzzy sticks, building and putting out a fire, and setting up a propane stove. We had lunch there, then headed up to the campsite. The first skill the Scouts would learn about was Navigation, taught by Mr. Frydenlund and Ms. Terman. We learned how to tell true north from magnetic north, as well as how to use a compass and read a map. Because we got a late start, we didn’t get to finish going through knots, but the Woodys were able to finish their own project of making a flag pole. After dinner and brillo, we all headed down to campfire where each patrol presented their skits and songs. Though our “campfire” ended up being a lantern with a neckerchief tied around it (once again, this was due to the fire restrictions), everyone had a good time. The next morning after breakfast, we all gathered for flags, then Mr. Frydenlund sat us down for Scouts’ Own. Afterwards, we all learned about First Aid, once again taught by Mr. Frydenlund and Ms. Terman. We took a quick lunch break, then went back to practice using gauze and bandages. We started wrapping up soon, and had to take down the flag pole! Not long after that, we were on our way back. This was a great outing, because everyone got to either learn, teach, or review some important skills, and it helped newer Scouts get a jump start on advancements.

Katie Yue
G27 Scribe

The Troop and the Webelos from Pack 301 had a great time at Gold Rush Camporee! The Scouts helped lead the younger, less experienced Webelos as they spent the day doing all sorts of Gold Rush themed activities, including gold panning, archery, muzzle loading, pudgy pie, blacksmithing, and more. They also got to explore the trading post which offered T-shirts that could later get silk-screened, and the Saloon where popcorn and root beer was in high demand. Afterwards, they participated in competitions for some of the activities, with our troop placing first and second in the dutch oven cooking competition, and first in muzzle loading. Many other Scouts participated, as well as the Webeloses who placed in their separate competitions. When that was over, the troop cooked and ate their dinner, then headed up to campfire (after a wonderful flag ceremony by our own troop) where everyone performed their skits and songs. Before heading to bed, we enjoyed some ice cream with some nice gold nugget (chocolate) toppings. The next morning, the troop stayed behind to help sweep and take down the camp, then ate lunch and went home. I think this was a great trip, seeing as it was a great learning/teaching process with the Webelos, and it was cool to see how other troops worked. Can’t wait to come back again!

a great time at Gold Rush Camporee! The Scouts helped lead the younger, less experienced Webelos as they spent the day doing all sorts of Gold Rush themed activities, including gold panning, archery, muzzle loading, pudgy pie, blacksmithing, and more. They also got to explore the trading post which offered T-shirts that could later get silk-screened, and the Saloon where popcorn and root beer was in high demand. Afterwards, they participated in competitions for some of the activities, with our troop placing first and second in the dutch oven cooking competition, and first in muzzle loading. Many other Scouts participated, as well as the Webeloses who placed in their separate competitions. When that was over, the troop cooked and ate their dinner, then headed up to campfire (after a wonderful flag ceremony by our own troop) where everyone performed their skits and songs. Before heading to bed, we enjoyed some ice cream with some nice gold nugget (chocolate) toppings. The next morning, the troop stayed behind to help sweep and take down the camp, then ate lunch and went home. I think this was a great trip, seeing as it was a great learning/teaching process with the Webelos, and it was cool to see how other troops worked. Can’t wait to come back again!

Katie Yue
G27 Scribe

The troop arrived at our campsite just outside of Yosemite at about 11 PM, after loading troubles back at the church. We went to sleep, and the next morning was the first dutch oven meal for the troop. The troop then left a little late to Tenaya lake. The troop admired the beautiful view from the lake, many scouts (me included) think it’s the best view we’ve had on the canoes. After canoeing until about 1 PM, we started to hike towards clouds rest. A few hours later, the troop made it there and found it’s breathtaking view. The troop rested there as the drivers drove back to get their cars, and we then drove back to our campsite. For the rest of the evening, the troop cooked their second dutch oven meal, with good results overall. The next morning, the troop left for a second hike into Yosemite national park (the troop was mostly in the national forest up to this point), and at the end of our hike, came upon a beautiful waterfall. After resting there, the troop headed back to the cars, ate lunch, and left-back for the church.

Kheo Kober
B27 Scribe

Again this summer Troop continued its unique, 50-plus-year tradition of building its own week long summer camp at a lake in the High Sierras.

Starting with 4 days of Advance Camp with senior scouts in the Tahoe National Forest, and then joined by the entire troop for a week, T27’s tradition is the experience of a lifetime.

We are a water focused troop. The troop maintains 18 canoes and several other boats. Summer camp skills start with swimming and canoeing.

One of the many long time favorite activities at Summer Camp is Kajabe Can Can. Check out this gorgeous video by Content Canning Company with lots of help from energetic Troop 27 Scouts. The second half is a focus on Kajabe Can Can:

T27 Summer camp Vid 1 – Kajabi from Content Canning Company on Vimeo.

This year we headed to Elkhorn Slough with a group of about 40 Scouts for our Spring canoeing trip.

The Elkhorn Slough is one of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves established nationwide as field laboratories for scientific research and estuarine education. It is the largest tidal wetland marsh in California after San Francisco Bay.

The Troop took our canoe fleet on a tour of the Slough, giving the Scouts an opportunity to enjoy the local wildlife, while continuing to build on canoe skills.

The weather is was excellent with clear skies so we were able to see some stars and planets in the night as well.

Well Klondike 2018 was Great!!!

The Troop (22 Scouts and 14 Adults) Left the church about 8:30am, we got to Cisco Grove about noon on Saturday and started Hauling the gear up to the camping area. When we arrived we found out about a lone Scout and his father that came up to Klondike by themselves. They are in Troop 42 in San Mateo, We asked if they would like to join up with Troop 27 for the weekend and they gladly accepted the offer. The Scouts spent most of the day building their Snow shelters. Luckily it snowed earlier in the week and we had just enough snow to build shelters for the night. The temp was about 45deg on Saturday and dropped down to the 20’s at night. The Sky was clear with little chance of rain or snow (we had none of either). It was cold but not too cold! We had a campfire, ate our hot water meals and drank hot chocolate then it was off to bed.

Sunday morning came Quick! The Scouts were up and making a fire before 7am! The Scouts ate Hot water Breakfast and more hot chocolate. 8am was Flags Lead by Nick Lee and Troop 27. Then we did Scouts Own and it was off to the Klondike events. Statue of liberty, Killing Sticks, Jumbo Skis, Snow Shoeing, Ptarmigan shoot, tobacco spit, Gear Rescue, Spear Throwing, and they finished it off with the Infamous Sled Race! 14 patrols from various Troops competed in the events. A Great time was had by all! Troop 27 took 6-1st places and 2-2nd places and 1-3rd place in the events and also won the Sled Race! While the Troop was competing in the events Dr. Horn was making a huge bowl of soup (5 Gal) to feed the Scouts and Adults before we packed out for the afternoon, it sure was good! (we even fed a Webelos patrol from P-132) We ate almost all of it! We got on the road home at 3pm and made it back to the church at 7:30pm. All the scouts and adults were very tired from all the excitement of the outing and quickly unloaded the trailer and went home. We had a Great Klondike, can’t wait until next year!

YIS,

Scoutmaster Ammenti

Again this summer our troop continued its unique, 50-plus-year tradition of building its own week long summer camp at a lake in the high Sierra. This year it was Loon Lake in the El Dorado National Forest.

13 scouts started off camp working on and achieving their Canoeing and Swimming Merit Badges.

On Wednesday the scouts got to do the troop’s traditional 5-mile troop hike including a great foil pouch dinner cooked on coals.

Many more skills were offered from the troop’s dedicated ASM and core and scout leadership core including Camping, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, Lifesaving, Nature, Orienteering, and – of course – Swimming and Canoeing.

Again this year there were patrol contests, wood chopping and the two-man saw, Kajabe Can-Can, Two Ball and the very popular White Bomb!

All in, an incredible time for the troop!