| Our
Favorite Campouts
Here are some of our favorite campouts. Troop 19 like to camp!
The
troop goes on at least one outing a month, a high adventure trip each summer,
and a longer summer trip suitable for all scouts.
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Advancement Campouts
In the spring and often the fall, the Troop goes on a short,
overnight campout to help new scouts get used to setting up camp,
cooking and hiking. These campouts are always near by so boys can
come up for the day.
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Backpacking
Troop 19 does a lot of backpacking, including three trips to Philmont.
Other backpacks include the Isle Royal, Pictured Rocks and Grand Island
in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan, and the last 50 miles of the Appalachian
trail in Maine. |
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Bike Hikes
We often take a Fall trip to Wisconsin and rent bikes. We usually
bike the Elroy-Sparta trail, an asphalt trail built on an old railroad
line. Recently, we also biked in Southern Illinois.
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Cabin Camping
We go on a variety of short campouts, mostly in the winter, where we stay in cabins and do a variety of advancement and outdoor activities. These trips are a lot of fun but be sure to bring your ear plugs because the adults really snore. |
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Chicago
Urban camping at its finest. This trip usually includes a visit
to an area of interest in the Chicago area and a hike. Usually scheduled
the first or second week of March.
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Camporees
In October we attend the District Camporees. These campouts are
competitive events where Troop 19’s patrols vie with other
patrols from the over 40 other troops in the Crossroads District.
They are a great opportunity for advancement and to hone your scout
skills.
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Canoeing/Kayaking Trips
We usually go on a one day canoe trip on a local river such as the
Mackinaw in May and take a 3-5 day canoe trip in the summer. We
have gone to the St. Croix river in Minnesota, the Buffalo River
in Arkansas, and the Eleven Point river in Missouri. These trips
are suitable for scouts of all ages as long as you have passed the
swim test. We have also sea kayaked in Maine and in the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.
Read about our trip to the Eleven
Point.
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Caving Trips
Once a year, we go on a caving trip, sometimes staying overnight
in a cave! Recent trips include the Mark Twain Caverns in Hannibal,
Missouri, Maquoketa Caves in Iowa, the Illinois Caverns, and the famous Blue Springs Cavern
in Bedford, Indiana.
Read about our Blue
Springs trip.
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Devil's Lake
This fall hike takes place on the first weekend of October in a
natural lake valley. Devil's Lake is a state park about an hour
north of Madison, Wisconsin, featuring spectacular moraines. The
hiking is easy and well organized, with water and safety stations.
On Saturday night, the boys attend a supervised, coed dance in a
dance hall. Another highlight of this trip: Fred cooks dinner Saturday night.
It is an oriental feast.
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Fairview Stew
In November we join with Webelos Scouts for our annual Fairview
Stew weekend campout. Just don't ask what's in the stew. Read about
the 1999
Fairview Stew trip.
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Fort
de Chartres
This southern Illinois campout usually takes place in November and
is a gathering of Colonial French-Indian enthusiasts who dress in
historic clothing and sell items from that time period. |
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Glacial Trail
In the spring, around the first weekend of May, the Badger Trails
organization (non-BSA) puts on a 24 mile hike referred to as Glacial
Trails in Wisconsin.
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Indiana Dunes/Warren Dunes
Our end of summer camp out. Fresh blueberries, corn on the cob,
hiking the dunes or climbing mount Baldy followed by lazy afternoons
on Lake Michigan beaches. What could be better?
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Klondike
In January or early February, Troop 19 usually participates in or
leads a midwinter district outing called the Klondike Derby. These
events are structured much like Camporees, with multiple troops
and skill events. Scouts often rent cold weather gear from ISU's
Campus Rec. If the temperature goes below 25, you can earn your
polar bear patch.
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Starved Rock/Camp Tuck
The last week of January, the first week of February, we camp at
Camp Tuck north of Ottawa and go hiking at Stared Rock. The frozen
waterfalls are spectacular.
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Summer Camp (Canyon Camp)
This one week camping experience (usually in mid June) is always
a highlight of the Scouting year. We head for the Blackhawk Council's
Canyon Camp at near Stockton, IL. Camping is done outdoors, in canvas
tents, with steel bunks, about half-mile up a their infamous hill.
Meals are served by the staff in a new wooden dining hall. There
is canoeing, boating, and a new swimming pool. A major focus is
on advancement to First Class rank, with swimming activities, pioneering,
shooting ranges (arrows and .22 rifle) and basic camping skills
(cooking, outdoor preparedness) being emphasized. Older scouts can
participate in a "OWL," which provides challenge and interest
for them as well. It is a well run, inspiring Boy Scout experience
that is ideal for the first time Scout and older scout as well.
Cost is usually around $100.00.
Read about Summer
Camp 2002, Summer
Camp 2000.
Learn more about summer camp.
View our Album of summer camp 2005 pictures.
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Trees For Tomorrow
Each year, from December 26-30, the troop drives up to Northern
Wisconsin for three days of cross country skiing. It is a great
time, just ask the Boser family.
Read about Trees
for Tomorrow, 2001
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Winter Camping
We go on a variety of winter campouts, often on MLK weekend. Usually there is more snow than in the picture to the right.
Read about our trip to Spearhead.
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