Ordinary Maine

We ended our Saturday activities at the "Back to Basics" Camporee this past weekend by holding a catapult contest. The units in attendance for this event were not lacking for ideas. This little gem below was constructed by Troop 51 of Windham, Maine. It consisted of a pair of tripods some twenty feet high that supported a catapult art which used people power to spring into action. As I watched all the boys and their adult leaders work on these contraptions, it was clear that a good time was had by all.

The funny thing about such a program is how the boys respond to this real world activities. You can offer to teach them lashings and knots in a Troop meeting and luke warm response. If you ask them to build a catapult then somehow they are willing to learn all about lashings and knots without ever realizing what they are learning. Two hundred kids were involved in this activity and it was clear they had fun. That is one of the greatest rewards I earn from my job.

Great Scouting!

Tony