We need to stop for fresh fruit.
It was really cool driving through the keys.
The Window, The Window, The Second Story Window…
The alligator feeding and airboat ride were cool. Captain Paul rocked my socks!
It’s HOT.
Everything was awesome. I enjoyed the airboat ride and meeting our island mate Zach.
Rudolph the Six Gun Cowboy…
Hey Zach.
Over…Kurrch.
Before we were out of our rental car, our Island Mate, Zach, was out to greet us. He gave us the first of many option for our Keys Adventure and the crew quickly decided what they wanted to do first. Swim test and snorkeling first, base tour Friday morning.
Zach showed the crew to our bunkhouse, we picked our bunks and stowed our gear and quickly changed into swimming trunks. Snorkeling gear was issued and the crew went down to the floating dock for our Blue Swimmer Test. Before we swam we saw our first Tarpon, at the time it appeared big.
Everyone passed the swim test and we were free to snorkel along the coral formation at the edge of the Brinton Center marina. Our first of several snorkeling opportunities.
We left the water for closing flags and dinner.
After dinner, adult leaders and youth crew leaders have a meeting in the galley to discuss adventure opportunities and safety issues of a Keys Adventure. The leader meeting was followed by a campfire. Island mates provide a history of Sea Base and the Brinton Center and perform skits for the new crews. All Island mates at the campfire jump into the marina channel every time anyone says Hurricane.
The campfire ends with all crews returning to the galley for a slide show about the Keys Adventure.
Quite Time and Lights Out. Everyone has had a great two days and the real fun is still ahead of us.
Our drive through the Keys was full of interesting sights and smells. We had a brief stop in traffic as crews worked on a break in the fresh water line to the keys and on expanding the two lane Route 1 to accommodate more traffic.
During the first traffic stoppage, a trademark for our crew’s coming week began. Doug broke into song and was quickly joined by the entire crew. It was hard to gage how long we were stopped in traffic because the singing of camp songs and Christmas Carols made the time fly by.
We arrived at Mile Marker 24 and the Brinton Center at 3:45PM. Perfect for a 4:00PM check-in.
The Everglades Alligator Farm gives Boy Scouts a very generous discount on the admission price! Once in the farm we were able to see various sites including the snake barn and alligator pens that progressed from new hatchlings to six-foot long gators. There are also displays of products made from alligator hide and environmental information.
We were on the farm during one of the alligator feeding times and that was fun to watch. The alligator farmer hand fed dead rats to the gators that were willing to jump for a meal. The 300-pound alligators looked huge. Unfortunately, we did not get to see 1,000-pound “Grandpa” because he was not hungry.
After the alligator feeding was finished, we moved on to the airboat ride. What a thrill! We started with a warning from Captain Paul that we should not have anything on the floor of the boat that we did not want to get wet. The ride starts our slowly with Captain Paul pointing out turtles and alligators along the channel we were riding down and reminding everyone – KEEP YOUR HANDS IN THE BOAT. The airboat turns a bend and we go from a narrow tree lined channel to the openness of the Everglades. The boat speed quickly goes from a slow idle to over 30 miles per hour.
A few minutes into the full throttle ride, Captain Paul throws the airboat into a 360-degree spin – AWESOME. The ride continues with high-speed curves more 360’s that soak the boat – GO FASTER CAPTAIN.
The crew decided not to wait for the snake feeding and continued our drive to the Brinton Environmental Center.
The Everglades Alligator Farm gets two thumbs up from all crewmates!
The ride from Ft. Lauderdale to the Brinton Environmental Center takes about 4 hours so we planned a stop at The Everglades Alligator Farm. The Everglades Alligator Farm is a 1,600-acre alligator farm located on the edge of the Everglades national park near Florida City.
The hotel smelled bad! (Smoke)
The hotel could have been better. The flight was AWESOME!
There were holes around the windows and doors to let the roaches in…
The hotel sure looked different in the online add…
Over…kurrrch!
Crewmembers from Troop 1 (Kurtice, Kevin, Doug, Mr. Schlak and Mr. Neff) met at the Neff’s house at 2:30 PM, finalized paper work and loaded Mr. Schlak’s van with gear. Mrs. Neff and Eric joined us on our ride to Saginaw (MBS) International Airport; they would return the van to Gaylord.
We stopped on the way to the airport for an early dinner and arrived at MBS with time to spare. We printed our boarding passes, checked our luggage and went through security to our gate.
Our Crewmember, Forrest - Troop 105 Traverse City, met us at the gate with his father Mr. V. Look for Forrest at summer camp! He is Councilor In Training this year.
The flight from MBS to Detroit was a smooth ride and on time. It was a first flight for Kurtice and he was presented with his Wings by our flight attendant. All the boys enjoyed the sights from +30,000 feet and agreed to a window seat rotation for all flights.
The transition to our connecting flight was easy. We had time to ride the Tram in the Detroit Airport. Kurtice and Doug tried some Japanese food and used chop sticks like pros.
The flight to Ft. Lauderdale went by fast as did the Gold Fish snacks Doug had brought.
Our trip then hit one of two bumps we would encounter. Finding our hotel was a challenge and took several attempts to get to the correct street. Mr. Schlak called the hotel for directions but had a difficult time understanding the Pakistani desk clerk. We finally found our way to the hotel and…it was not what we expected.
Though the hotel rooms were not what we had expected, they did serve a filling breakfast and Kurtice and Doug enjoyed a swim in the out door pool. Everyone agreed it was cool to wake up and look out a window and see the Atlantic Ocean.
Three youth and two adult members of Troop 1 and one Scout from a Traverse City troop begin their Sea Base Florida Keys adventure on Wednesday.
Look for updates on the web site and be sure to ask the Scouts about Sea Base when they return.
Mr. Schlak and Mr. Neff are the adult leaders. Troop 1 Scouts going to Sea Base in 2006 are your Senior Patrol leader K.E., your Assistant Senior Patrol Leader K.N. and your Chaplin Aide D.T.
A 2007 Sea Base crew has been formed and it will have six Troop 1 Scouts and two adult leaders.
It's fun to have fun, BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW....
On Saturday, June 10th, six Scouts from Troop 1 were members of an Honor Guard for Senator John McCain of Arizona.
Senator McCain gave a speech at Boyne Mountain Resort. Before the speech, the Scouts met Senator McCain and he thanked each of them for attending.
Scouts from Troop 49 and Troop 53 also participated in the Honor Guard.
Members of VFW Post 263 were the Color Guard and a Scout from Troop 1 lead the 300 member audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Last weekend we took a hike on “Dead Man’s Hill” trail. For the twelve scouts that hiked in, hiked nine miles “WOW”. For the four that also hiked out the next morning, the trail was another eleven miles. These four included D. P. (aka webmaster), N. C. (aka ASPL), W. S. (aka Will) and J.B.S. (aka Ankle Biter) great job you guys. This made the whole trip twenty miles long.
At the end of the nine-mile walk in, we set up camp. After set up chow was served and then we played two long games of capture the flag. This was a great trip and I could tell we all had fun.
Posted for D.P., Troop 1 Webmaster
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Scouts shopping for their patrol will be a Glen's early enough to have purchase their supplies and be ready to leave at 8:30 AM.
All other Scouts needing a ride to Deadman's Hill trail head need to be at Glen's parking lot with all gear and ready to leave at 8:30 AM.
Day pack with water and lunch for the hike. Regular overnight gear should be in a separate pack.
Permission slips will be available for anyone who forgot to turn theirs in at the Wednesday night meeting.
Depart Glen's at 8:30 AM, arrive at Deadman's Hill at 9:00 AM.
Overnight gear (sleeping, eating and extra clothing items) will be loaded into the Troop 1 trailer and driven to the camp site.
Day packs will be used by all Scouts on the hike. You must have at least two quarts of water, rain gear and a sack lunch. Good, broken in shoes / boots and sun screen are highly recommended. Bug spray, a hat and trail mix are good ideas too.
The Saturday 9 mile hike to Piney Bridge Campground will take approximately 6 hours to complete. There will be a lunch break at a predetermined rally point.
Scouts will haul all personal gear and patrol gear from the Troop 1 trailer to the camp site and set up camp.
Camp will break and all gear will be returned to the Troop 1 trailer by 9:00 AM on Sunday.
Scouts completing the next 11 miles of the trail will return to Deadman's Hill at approximately 4:00 PM on Sunday.
Fresh well water is available at the camp site.
A picture "Blast From the Past". Do you recognize anyone in this photo from the 2003 Black Mountain Camp and Hike outing?
Thank you Mr. Marsh
