Challenge and Reward for Troop 62

On August 17, boys, girls and adults representing the Boy Scouts and the Venture Crew of Troop 62, met at a farm located along the canal in Holley. After quickly setting up camp in a small patch of pines, the group headed for Medina with 14 canoes in tow to embark on a trip down the canal, which would end back at their campsite. The distance was estimated at about 20 miles.

First planned as a pleasure trip, the journey ended up a real challenge for all involved. Some members of the group had little or no experience canoeing but the real factor was the humidity and temperature pushing 90 degrees. Travelers learned that when riding that low in the water, the heat and rays of the sun were highly intensified.

Besides the usual water wars with the paddles, the trip was fairly uneventful except for one canoe containing three of the younger boys whose rambunctious ways got out of control and - in the water they went. After a lunch break at Eagle Harbor, the trip continued and ended back at the campsite. They were very thankful to have the wind and current in their favor that helped to ease their tiring arms.

Not a routine campout, this was to be a vacation weekend for the boys and girls who normally plan and prepare their own meals, so while the troop was frying on the water; some of the troop leaders had stayed at camp and were frying while preparing the troop's just reward - dinner.

Parents were invited for dinner and some opted to spend the night in their own tents. The head count at dinnertime was close to 60 people, thus the four large turkeys prepared in various ways including deep fried and grilled were quickly devoured. Dinner was followed by a Court of Honor to present various members with their awards earned weeks earlier at a week-long Scout Camp. After some quiet chitchat well away from the campfire (it was still too hot out), everyone settled into his or her tents for a quiet, much deserved, night of sleep.

The consensus of the parents and leaders was that it might not have been the pleasure trip it was intended to be but instead, a challenge, one that was met graciously by all. There was also a lot of fun and laughs but most importantly, a sense of pride in the kids.