Welcome to the web site for Boy Scout Troop 516 from Stafford, Virginia. Our troop is now in its 8th year supporting over 50 scouts and offering camping and other Scouting adventures. This past year we camped at the Flying Circus to see the Civil War Graffitti House, spent a night locked-in with the animals at the Norfolk Zoo, went back in time at the VA Renaissance Faire, hiked Gettysburg Battlefield, had a great time at Goshen summer camp, zorbed down the montin at Ski Roundtop, explored space at the VA Air and Space Museum, searched for sharks` teeth at Westmorland State Park, watched the 150th Anniversary Battle of Fredericksburg re-enactment, skied at Wintergreen, discovered scuba at the YMCA and hiked Manassas Battlefield. We'll be heading to Richmond for a rock climbing lock-in and then to the USS Wisconsin in May.
We have five patrols (Border, Special Ops, Dirty Dishwater, Puffin, Ninja Bacon). If you would like to learn all about scouting here is a link for you http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/. If you would like to learn about the organization we are chartered from click this link http://andrew-chapel.org/.
Yaar! We set sail for the island at sundown Friday night and arrived at camp (Camp T.Brady Saunders) just as the moon was a risin’. We rowed ashore and established camps – patrol boxes, rain flies and tents - and then had some light grub of potato skins and cheese (cracker barrel – chips and dip) before shuttin’ our eyes for the night.
Our captain awoke us at sunrise to get our mornin’ meal of waffles with chocolate chips and whipped cream – first place in the breakfast competition. The crew mustered to receive orders for the day and learn how to earn our treasure. A scavenger hunt, treasure hunt and bandagin’ (first aid) were all on the docket. We headed off to the beach pirate ship - settin’ our pace count ( important if you’re going to find the treasure again.) and set off to make maps and hide our treasure. Back to camp for noodles and some R&R before the afternoon activities.
First stop was the ship surgeon to heal Captain Hook (SPL). We splinted a broken bone, made him a stretcher and carried him off. Next off to fit our crew through a hole in the rigging without touching it. And finally, we exchanged treasure maps and began our hunt. One of the crews (patrols) came upon a treasure chest before they’d completed the course – like true pirates, takin’ the shortest route. The other crews (patrols) needed some help to find the treasure. Back to camp for dinner – schnitzel for one crew and homemade donuts for dessert – both winners. After some campfire carousing, we hit the sack around 11.
Our captain was back at 0630 to roust us out of our beds, get our geared stowed and have some grub. The commodore counted up the pieces-of-eight that we’d earned in the events of the day before. The first place Pirate Flag went to the Dragon Crew, and after singing a sea-chanty to break a tie, the Scorpions took second over the Poison Tree Frogs. We left no trace so the navy couldn’t find us and set sail for home under the cover of a dark and rainy sky.