1997-1998
View the 1997-98 Calendar
Camp Yawgoog, August 17-26, 1998
Troop 157 went back to Camp Yawgoog (Rhode Island) this summer, for
the first time in a few years, and had a great time. We were at the
Silver Buffalo site at Sandy Beach. We certainly got our exercise,
as Silver Buffalo is at one extreme end of camp, but the site had the advantage
of being quiet and secluded. The boys were busy working on merit
badges much of the day (over thirty were earned by our ten boys), but there
was plenty of time to just hang out and relax, too. Participants (official camp
photo): front row: Jesse L., Rob L., Austin W., Watson S.; middle row: Ben B., Mike B.,
Brooks D., Mike L.; Back row: Alex W., Josh Z., Mr. Sallay. Mr. Lee and Mr. Wolf
were also there part of the week.
Photos by John Sallay
Photos by Jed Diehl
Nantucket Island Trip, June 12-14, 1998
We took an early evening ferry from Hyannis on Friday (held up by traffic,
we arrived only in the nick of time), and biked from the ferry dock to
the Scout Camp. Mother Nature spared us from the record setting rain
that drenched the Boston area on Saturday. We were able to bike around
the island with hardly a drop. Not until we were under the rain tarps
at dinner did we really experience rain. In the morning, when it
was time to bike back to town, the rains quit again, and we enjoyed a sunny
Sunday morning in town. Participants included:
Photos by Roger Lee
Photos by John Sallay
Photos by Jed Diehl
Mountain Biking Trip, May 30, 1998
We took a day trip to Waterville Valley, rented bikes, and explored the nearby
mountain biking paths. It was a beautiful day. Everyone wants to do it again
next year.
Photos by John Sallay
Parent/Son Canoe Trip, May 16, 1998
This year's parent/son canoe outing was on the Sudbury River, in Concord,
Mass. We headed south to the Great Meadows area. Everyone figured that the trip
back would be a breeze, as that is the down river direction. Well, it sure was a breeze, a north
south breeze to be precise, and we fought it all the way back! We all learned that
it is not only current, but wind, that affects canoes!
Photos by John Sallay
Spring Camporee, May 2-3, 1998
The annual Spring Camporee was again at Nobscot. An orienteering challenge
took up most of Saturday. Using orienteering skills, we located our designated
site in the woods, lashed together an objective at the site, and then went out looking
for sites of other troops. At the big Order of the Arrow campfire on Saturday night, five
Troop 157 boys were tapped out. They will be doing service at an Ordeal Weekend later
in the spring, or next fall. Participants included: Brooks D., Bart M., Alex W.,
Colin H., Watson S., Mr. Sallay, Rob L., Mr. Diehl, Wes M., Ken M., Matt K., Mr. Mateo, and Mr.
Linsalata
Photos by John Sallay
Second Ski Trip, February 6-8, 1998
Our usual mountain cabins were unavailable, and so we stayed at a mountain motel,
in Bretton Woods, N.H. Saturday we skied at Bretton Woods, and Sunday, at Cannon Mt.
Saturday night we relaxed at the Bretton Woods Sports Club, with pizzas in the upstairs
lounge, and swimming, volleyball, and a movie. We "cooked" breakfast in the motel using a percolator
borrowed from the Scout House. Participants included: Mike L., Ben B., Watson S., Josh Z., Mr. Lee, and
Mr. Sallay.
Photos by John Sallay
Winter Cabin Trip, January 17-18, 1998
We returned to the troop cabin at Nobscot for a second time this season. Again, there
was plenty of snow. In getting firewood for the wood stove,
Mike L. set a troop record for sawing logs, sawing a total of
100 on the weekend. We had our usual game of Capture the Flag, and the scouts
had their usual fun bombarding the scoutmasters and other adults with snowballs.
Participants included (left to right): Mark P., Mr. Petcavage, Ben B., Mr. Lee, Mike L., _____, Sam L.,
Watson S., and Mr. Sallay.
Photo by John Sallay
Wall Climbing at REI, December 15, 1997
Just before the holidays, we reserved the climbing wall at REI for the night
of our regular meeting. It gave the boys a chance to climb (even some adults
went up the wall), and the whole family an opportunity to shop.
Photo by John Sallay
1st Ski Trip, December 5-7, 1997
Took advantage of early onset of winter. Skied Wildcat on Saturday,
and Bretton Woods on Sunday. Both were good, but conditions at Bretton
Woods were spectacular; the whole mountain was open, with packed powder
and powder everywhere. Some excitement was had at Wildcat, when most
everyone got on the new high-speed quad to the top, only to learn at the
top that the only trail down was expert rated (they subsequently put up
a sign to that effect). But problem was solved by the Ski Patrol
giving some of us a ride down the mountain on a rescue sled.
Had a fun time at the Sports Lodge and Pizza Pub on Saturday night.
Good stories were told around the "campfire" at the condo.
Scouting for Food, November 23, 1997
We raked leaves at the Scout House, and then sorted and boxed food at the South Side
Fire House. Sorting food was the usual fun time. Mike B. tried to feed Alex W.
some of the food.
Photos by John Sallay
Nobscot Cabin Trip, November 15-16, 1997
Owing to snowstorm, we went to cabin at Nobscot instead of hiking in
Whites. Although it was November, it felt very much like past
cabin trips in December. Plenty of snow for snowballs, enough for
a full scale snowball war between the boys and the adult leaders.
Lots of logs were cut for the wood stove. Sunday morning saw a clear
sky, and perfect conditions for Capture the Flag. Well-balanced
teams (Watson S., Mr. S., Jesse L., and Mike L. vs. Alex W., Ben
B., Mark P., and Mr. Lee) made this one of our best games ever.
Alex W. brought the game to a conclusion with a daring capture of
the flag right from under the noses of Mr. S. and Mike L. Some of the
boys (Mike L., Alex W., Watson S.) brought white camouflage clothing for
the game (Mike L. and Alex W. wore full whites).
Photos by John Sallay
White Mountains Backpacking Trip, October 24-26, 1997
Backpacked along the Zealand and Ethan Pond Trails in the White Mountains.
Stopped at Zealand Falls AMC Hut for lunch on Saturday, and along the North
Fork stream between Thoreau Falls and Ethan Pond on Saturday night. An
inch of snow covered the ground on Saturday. Enough for snowballs! A light
snow in the morning quit by the time we hit the trail. Skies cleared late
in the afternoon, and the temperatures fell into the 20s overnight. Sunday
was a perfect sunny day. Capped the hike with a trip to the Sports Lodge
(steamroom, jacuzzi, and shower). Wonderful time!
Photos by Roger Lee
Orienteering Day, October 25, 1997
Nine scouts took part in the annual Orienteering Day at Nobscot, organized
by the New England Orienteeering Club. With the six scouts on the White
Mountains trip, 15 boys were in the field on Saturday. An excellent instructor
took the boys through the basics of orienteering, and got them started
on an actual orienteering competition, in which you race against time around
a course marked by orienteering markers (each of which has a unique punch,
which you apply to your scorecard to prove you found the marker).
Nature Hike, September 28, 1997
The highlight was a large Blue Heron, which was nearly hidden along
the far shore of College Pond at the start of the hike, but later spread
its wings and flew low over the pond very close to us. We identified
over twenty five plants, and over twelve animals, enough so that all participants
met those requirements for Second and First Class. Everyone had their
own Identification Form (Mr.
Lee's Form; Acrobat PDF file).
Maine Island Trip, September 19-21, 1997
Camped on Warren Island in Penobscot Bay, just off Islesboro Island.
The Quicksilver ferried us to and from the island. Spent Saturday
kayaking around Warren and adjoining Spruce Island under the direction
of our Maine Guide, Harvey Schiller. Kayak race in afternoon was won by
the Crazy Donkeys. Cooked lobsters, mussels, and sweet corn in "clam bake"
fashion with super-heated rocks and seaweed. Foggy, gray day, with brief
showers on Saturday, but front came through on Saturday night leaving skies
clear with perfect visibility on Sunday morning. Took a hike around the
island on Sunday morning, before departing on the Quicksilver.
Mr. B's photo collage Participants
included: Colin H., Jesse L., Brooks D., Watson S., Ryan M., Bart M., Josh Z., Ben B.,
George B., Rob L., Alex W., Mr. Linsalata, Mr. Merrill, Mr. Lee, Mr. Sallay, Mr. Brewster, Mrs. Brewster.
Photos by Glenn Brewster
Photos by John Sallay
Photos by Jed Diehl
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