Scouts at a Camporee station using flint and steel. Scouts had to start a fire and then burn a string in two at 12 and 18 inches. (Photo provided)

WALKER – The Kootaga District, Buckskin Council, Scouting America held their spring Camporee last weekend at Camp Kootaga in Walker.

More than 100 Scouts and their leaders participated from Troop 20 in Vienna; Troop 12 in Parkersburg; Troop 91 in Belpre; Troop 68 in Cross Lanes; Troop 5 in Charleston; Troop 236 in Hurricane and Troop 17 in Scott Depot.

This year’s theme was the Amazing Patrol Race. The map for Camp Kootaga was redesigned to be different countries on different continents. The Camporee challenges took place at important locations on those continents.

At the beginning of the race, each team was given a fanny pack containing their passport, GPS, Camp Kootaga “Continents” Map and any other necessary gear. Each team also had a passport book, which was stamped every time the patrol arrived at a new country (station). When they arrived at a challenge (event), the team presented their passport. If they did not have their passport, they had to find it before completing the challenge.

While moving to challenges in different countries or continents, the team had to follow their GPS unit to locate the country. Teams were given clues or coordinates telling them where to go to next. They referenced their map and used their knowledge of those locations to decide where to go. If they traveled to the wrong location, they were told when they arrived at that challenge that they needed to leave and find the correct destination.

Scouts at the spring Camporee campfire, where each patrol presented a skit. (Photo provided)

The patrols were also stopped on the road and challenged with Roadblock Challenges. This required one member of the patrol to prove a basic Scouting skill such as tying a particular knot. The patrol performing the task was chosen randomly. If that person could successfully prove this skill, they moved on without penalty. However, if the chosen member was unable to prove the skill, then the patrol needed to complete the Roadblock Task. If a team did not complete a roadblock, their score would be penalized.

The winners in the Patrol race were:

First place: Patrol #3 Hazardous Honey Badger Patrol, Troop 20, Vienna

Second Place: Patrol #7 Radioactive Squirrels Patrol, Troop 17/68, Scott Depot, W.Va.

Third Place: Patrol #9 Hurricane Patrol, Troop 236, Hurricane, W.Va.

Fourth Place: Patrol #5 Chicken Patrol, Troop 5, Charleston

Fifth Place: Patrol #2 Proud Penguins Patrol, Troop 20, Vienna

Sixth Place: Patrol #6 Blue Thunder Patrol, Troop 17/68, Cross Lanes, W.Va.

Seventh Place: Patrol #8 Tenna’s Patrol, Troop 12, Parkersburg

Eighth Place: Patrol #4 Nuclear Penguins, Troop 91, Belpre

Ninth Place: Patrol #1 Flaming Bacon Patrol, Troop 12, Parkersburg

A Dutch oven cook-off was also held during the spring Camporee. Units were given a mystery ingredient that they had to incorporate into their dish. The mystery ingredient was pork rinds — in three assorted flavors.

The Dutch oven cook-off winners were:

Youth: Troop 20, Vienna

Adults: Troop 91, Belpre

The Louise Bennett Camping Excellence Award was awarded to Troop 5 of Charleston, for a campsite inspection of 96/100.

The Patrol Leader Award was captured by Troop 236.

The BSA President’s Award for Overall Camporee Winner was Patrol #3, Hazardous Honey Badgers Patrol, Troop 20, Vienna.

The Kootaga District serves scouts and volunteers in Wood, Jackson, Wirt, Roane, Ritchie and Calhoun counties in West Virginia and the communities of Belpre, Little Hocking and Coolville in Ohio. For more information on how to sign up for scouting, go to the www.beascout.org website to find a Scouting Unit in your area, or call the Parkersburg Scout office at 304-422-4507 or visit their Facebook page at Kootaga District, Buckskin Council.