FUMA cadets enjoy a demanding rigorous daily academic/ military schedule and have opportunities to participate in athletics, chess club, woodworking, band, chorus, and other activities. For this reason, Scouting often competes with other scheduled events. The Troop attempts to schedule an activitiy such as a campout or hike once a month, but typically Scouting will conflict with other scheduled events.
In addition, Scouting events are precluded by scheduled leaves, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring breaks, and Sunday parades (during the month of May). So far this year, members of Troop 125 attended Monticello District's Apple Harvest Camporee in October, spent 2 nights camping at Terry Farm in November, and completed a 5-mile hike followed by its annual chili cook-off in December.
October: Troop 125 Members enjoyed Monticello District's Apple Harvest
November: Troop Participated in Terry Farm Campout
December: Troop 125 participated in 6-mile hike. Afterwards patrols competed in the Troop's annual chili cook-off.
(Above) Using map and compass, members of Troop 125 navigated from the FUMA campus to Terry Farm where they learned and practiced how to determine the height of an object using the felling technique, and width of terrain features utilizing the salute and compass methods.
(Below) After lunch, the boys returned to Pruitt Pond and competed in a chili cook-off. Each patrol was given all of the necessary ingredients (seasoning, meat, beans, etc.) and some brief instruction on the science and art of cooking... Todd Giszack, assistant to the President of Fork Union Military Academy, was the official judge who determined that...yet again (for the second year in a row) the Geezer patrol, composed of adult leadership, was the winner. Disappointed, the patrols overcame their grief while consuming banana boats (bananas, chocolate morsels and marshmellows wrapped in foil and warmed in the fire).
January: Troop 125 spent two nights camping at Terry Farm.
(Above) The Scouts spent the first few hours setting up camp, relaxing, and chasing tents blown by the cool January breeze.
(Below) In between advancement opportunities, the Scouts participated in various games to include kickball and tag. On Saturday the boys had a Troop meal consisting of shrimp / chicken Jambalaya and salad. Some of the Scouts met earlier in the week to help prepare the dish For desert, the boys made what the Scoutmaster "fondly" refers to as a "chocolate-gooey mess." They filled ice cream cones with chocolate, various candies, and marshmallows. They then wrapped the cones in aluminum foil and melted the goo together for a tasty treat.
The highlight of each camping experience are the skits and songs performed by the patrols at the Troop campfire at the conclusion of a very busy day. Sunday services were held prior to departing Terry Farm and heading back to FUMA.
For desert, the boys made what the Scoutmaster "fondly" refers to as a "chocolate-gooey mess." They filled ice cream cones with chocolate, various candies, and marshmallows. They then wrapped the cones in aluminum foil and melted the goo together for a tasty treat.
For desert, the boys made what the Scoutmaster "fondly" refers to as a "chocolate-gooey mess." They filled ice cream cones with chocolate, various candies, and marshmallows. They then wrapped the cones in aluminum foil and melted the goo together for a tasty treat.
The highlight of each camping experience are the skits and songs performed by the patrols at the Troop campfire at the conclusion of a very busy day. Sunday services were held prior to departing Terry Farm and heading back to FUMA.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
The Troop is currently planning a February overnight to be spent on campus at Pruitt Lake. The boys have suggested the Scoutmaster's famous smoked pork BBQ for dinner and bacon and eggs for breakfast.
PICTURES
For more pictures please see FUMA's website.