Shenandoah River State Park Winter Campout - February 2015

Elizabeth Furnace is closed this winter because of construction, but that didn't stop Troop 1018 from camping with at least 4 or 5 inches of snow on the ground. All of the scouts had a great time winter camping at Shenandoah River State Park.

Even though there were many complaints about the freezing cold weather, we had a large, sustaining fire to keep us warm throughout the weekend. Because we were not supplied with logs, each scout worked to find wood and logs for the fire. We would never have attained the amount of wood we did without Hans repeatedly saying, “Five more!”

In addition to keeping warm, numerous scouts received awards. Eric earned the Charred Socks Award for trying to warm his feet too close to the fire.

While Hans and Zach worked as great defenders during the annual Troop 1018 football game, the tree by far earns the Best Defender Award. It blocked a few of Mr. White's punts, and knocked over some defensive ends. The football game ended in a tie, with each side scoring six points.

Cooking was great on the campout. The canned ravioli was awesome! From what I saw, Mr. Elmer, cooked an incredible salmon for the adults. He timed it perfectly in the hot coals of the campfire.

All in all, the campout at Shenandoah River State Park was great. The scouts learned several valuable lessons about winter camping, including wearing warmer clothes as well as keeping your socks away from the fire.