More than a hundred Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts ages 6 to 18 gathered last weekend for a special camporee celebration at the Rockingham Speedway. Scouts from two counties and 12 units pitched tents in the infield for a weekend of camping, games, archery, craft work, cook outs and much more.
“We’ve got Richmond County Boy Scouts along with Montgomery County,” said Camping Chair Mark Sanford on Saturday. “We have approximately 100 Cub Scouts and about 50 Boy Scouts.”
On Saturday, boys crafted wooden toolboxes and participated in several skill-building games.
Sanford said all meals were also cooked outdoors at each site.
A Saturday morning flag-raising ceremony kicked off the day on Saturday, and scouts were divided into groups as they broke off to different areas of the infield.
Outdoor games consisted of grass-fishing, in which scouts used a fishing pole to retrieve a mouse trap from a large circle, and a communication-skills game which required one boy to walk through a series of mouse traps in a blindfold while another directed him out of danger’s way.
“It really teaches them listening skills and the importance of paying attention to your parents,” said Assistant District Commissioner Greg Shelly.
Boys also assembled small toolboxes at a workstation and worked on their plumbing merit badges as Brown’s Plumbing provided a demonstration on piping and proper home maintenance.
As part of the camporee, outdoor movies were shown in the evening, as well as a special race car pit stop show.
Event coordinators said they were thankful for Speedway Owner Andy Hillenburg allowing them to borrow the grounds.
“This (group) is part of the Central NC Council,” said District Executive Chris Watkins, “which has eight districts in it, starting in Cabarrus County and ending in Richmond County. For the most part, we (hold events) independently, but we occasionally collaborate.”
For more information about joining scouting or becoming a scout leader, contact Chris Watkins at 910-220-1298.
— Staff Writer Mallory Brown can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at mallorybrown@heartlandpublications.com.
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