Scouts BSA Troop 222 for Girls

Category: Posts

  • Have you been Orienteering? Let’s see how it goes…

    Orienteering is a fun activity that lets you use a map and compass — or a compass and instructions — and your pace to follow a course.

    Once you learn the distance of your particular pace, you can start to learn how many steps you take per foot — and you can then, by counting your steps, walk a certain distance. Why learn to do this? For orienteering as an activity — it’s fun to challenge yourself to work through a course and see how well you did. But what if you’re trying to give someone directions? You will get better at estimating distances through orienteering.

    Additionally, there are orienteering activities required for advancement — to become a First Class scout, you need to follow a one-mile orienteering course.

    The Scout Handbook has instructions on how to measure your pace, as well as how to estimate the height or width of something, to get you started on orienteering. But then — how do you find a course? I hear there’s a great course at Camp K — and when I get it, I’ll let you know.

    But in order to make it a little easier — we have a few courses for our troop. Mr. Reising, our Chartered Organization Representative, and his son Zach set up a short course at Bethel that hits all the Eagle projects on the property. We have a beginner course and an intermediate course set up, so you can try them both.

    I expanded that to make a full one-mile course, but it’s hard in a square piece of property and gets pretty complicated. So I made one through Downtown Noblesville — this includes more than a mile walking, and lets you see the sights of town.

    Thanks to a ton of construction, a few things have changed, so I went though and updated the course — and now we have a brand-new orienteering course in town. Be sure to stop by local businesses while you’re on the Square — I love to buy locally made gifts at NobleMade, a coffee at Noble Coffee and Tea, or ice cream at Alexander’s. And who doesn’t love to browse the booths at Antiques on the Square or Logan Village Mall?

    How do you find these amazing Orienteering courses? Check out our Resources page, and scroll down to download them.

    Have you tried one of these courses? Are you ready to try? Let us know how they went!

  • Let’s Go Fishing: Working on the fishing merit badge

    Working on the Fishing Merit Badge by Historian Hannah

    We went fishing on Sunday, June 5.

    Ellie caught some algae. She’d catch an actual fish later.

    We had four scouts go to the fishing event. They were Ellador, Charli, Ellie, and Hannah.

    Ellador watches the fish steal yet another worm.

    We all caught fish!

    Hannah prepares her pole

    We went to a Carmel park to fish.

    Charli points out the fish she caught.

    Grandpa Marv, Scoutmaster Jenny, and Mr. King also had fun fishing.

  • A Cold Winter Hike (*only not so cold. And muddy)

    By Scribe and Historian Sarah K

    December 29, 2022

    A group of scouts on the trail in the woods
    Selfie time on the trail

    Troop 222 went on a hike at Cool Creek Park. Six Scouts, plus four adults, came along.

    On this hike, we identified different trees.

    We also had to go through some pretty muddy trails.

    Cool Creek in winter, with trees and lots of mud.

  • New Heights at our Climbing Lock-in

    By Scribe and Historian Sarah K

    November 18, 2022

    Troop 222 had an overnight lock-in at Climb Time Indy, where we were free to climb all night.

    Scribe selfie from 10 feet up

    Eleven Scouts and three adults came.

    Most people were up past 1 am climbing around while others were sitting, wrapped in blankets, and eating snacks.

    A scout being belayed down from the climbing wall
    Just “hanging” around.

  • Welcome to the Stone Age — Our first Camporee was a Smash!

    Troop 222 “rocked” the Stone Age with Oog and friends at the Fall Camporee

    Scouts BSA pose in front of trailer
    Showing off our loaded trailer as we head out after a successful weekend

    We headed to Ransburg for our first Fall Camporee, and this trip included our troop trailer for the first time!

    The Stone Age Camporee was organized by Troop 202 of Carmel, and featured scout skills activities with a Stone Age theme. We arrived in time to check out our campsite before the sun set — but we had to set up camp in the dark. This was a new challenge and proved a little difficult — be everyone managed to get their tents set and ready for a chilly night’s sleep.

    Girls set up a tent in the dark
    Setting up a tent in the dark is a little more challenging, but we got the job done.

    Our morning started quite early because we wanted to make sure we were up and breakfasted before flags and the activities — which meant it wasn’t light yet when we started setting up our kitchen and cooking. But the chill in the air didn’t slow us down — and we made it in time!

    Scouts cooking breakfast at sunrise
    Scouts worked on breakfast as the sun rose

    We visited stations in the morning and afternoon to test our Scout Skills, including lashings, casting, orienteering, knots, construction — it was such fun!

    We painted t-shirts to remember our stone age weekend
    We used lashings to put together a Stone Age car, then raced it around a track
    Each scout used one hand — one left and one right — to complete some basic scout knots
    We dressed our SPL as a Stone Age person — or at least a representation of one

    In the evening, we enjoyed a fun campfire program with skits and songs in Stone Age style. Then we went back to camp for a long-awaited treat — stuffed bananas. We’ve meant to make these for a couple of campouts and finally got to do it! Each scout made one, and they all enjoyed eating them, too!

    We stuffed bananas with chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers, wrapped them in aluminum foil and then cooked them over the fire. Then it was delicious snack time!

    Pretty sure everyone slept really well after a long and active day — and someone’s scoutmaster overslept by almost half an hour Sunday morning! (Whoops!) Breakfast, Scout’s Own, and awards — a chance to celebrate success for the troops in the games and activities. It was especially nice to have First Year Patrols recognized in each activity!
    And what a success! Our troop WON the First-Year award in “Lend a Hand” — the activity where two scouts were paired to tie knots, each using one hand. Adult leaders got awards, too! Our adults were awarded for the Monkey Fist Festivities because we ALL made Monkey Fit knots. But then! The big one! Our Adults were awarded for Adult Participation in the adult stations (all of us did all of them — a memory game, the monkey fist, the Lend a hand knots) and (drumroll please) our troop received the Top First-Year Patrol award!

    Stone Age Camporee was fantastic! What’s next?

  • Should have written it sooner, but the rest of camp was amazing!

    Daily camp summaries seemed like a great idea, but once you get finished with the week and don’t get it all written down… well, time flies and it doesn’t happen. So after the first couple of days, we present…

    THERESTOFTHEWEEK

    Highlights include:

    Hammock time — hanging out in the hammock, chilling, laughing. This is when we get to catch our breath.

    Girls in a hammock
    Hanging out in the hammock in the shade is a lot cooler.

    Wednesday is Troop Night, and we went into Bedford to the Golden Corral. An air-conditioned restaurant was a great treat — as was the chance to pick whatever we wanted to eat (and drink) — and desserts. The family behind us was celebrating Grandma’s 94th birthday, and we joined in singing “Happy Birthday” to her, much to her joy.

    Happy diners!
    What have we done? Caffeine?

    Firecrafter — a council-wide camping honorary — gave our scouts something to do when we weren’t in classes or activities. The first level of Firecrafter (Camper) involves Scout skills and service — and we had helpers in camp as well as at the Firecrafter shelter. Two of the boys from 183 next door had Firecrafter programs for the final rank, and we got to enjoy them in our camp area!

    The Safety Patrol and the Dragon played a role in Adam’s program
    Stuart demonstrates the features of his headlamp in Sebastian’s program.

    The Ransburg Triathlon was Thursday night — and several of our scouts joined in! Who knew so many of our girls wanted to paddle their way through the challenge, but it was a blast!

    Scouts with leaders Annie and Troy (and cheerer Callia) had a great time canoeing in the triathlon. Camper also ran and biked to finish the challenge.

    Friday, we had camp clean-up duty and took on the Jackson shower facility — it only took about half an hour to clean the bathroom/shower rooms. Thanks to everyone doing their part, the showers were safe and clean for everyone — but we felt pretty tough for doing our cleaning job!

    Mission accomplished! The Jackson was clean when we were finished!

    Camp was amazing. We finished a bunch of merit badges, got involved in camp life, and tried a bunch of new things! Troop 222 took on Ransburg and emerged proud, strong, and excited for whatever is next!

    Scouts gathered at the Ransburg Office chimney
    We made it through an exciting week — this was our last picture together before we headed out on Saturday!

  • Summer Camp commences: The first full day of camp

    Flag raising

    The morning at camp started at 6:15 — for most of us. Some of us were up before that, but everyone was up at 6:15 when SPL Nora got everyone up. It was smacking the tent doors and calling out “Good morning! Wake up!” that got everyone going.

    Nora wakes up the troop.
    Callia and Nora are ready to head up for breakfast

    Hoppers reported to the dining hall at 7 am to get everything set up. Hoppers set the table, bring the food to the tables (we eat family style). Each table seats eight, and so our troop gets TWO TABLES! (They’re not both full.) Our hoppers are waiting for us when we get sent in.

    Each troop gets dismissed in turn. We start with grace, led by Chaplain Ken, and then some sort of silly song — on and on and on, until the leaders get the sign from the dining hall that the tables are ready. Then the troops are challenged to act the most like something silly. For the first couple meals, we were charming enough to get sent early…

    After breakfast, the whole camp gathers at the flagpole for flag raising. Then first meal group heads back to camp to get ready for classes, that started at 9. Annie was also taking some classes, and Scoutmaster Jenny went to the Leaders’ meetings, which included camp information and some short presentations.

    GIFT BAGS

    Nora made gift bags for each of the scouts in the troop. The bags included personalized bookmarks, flamingo necklaces, bracelets, and more. They were so great! What a thoughtful thing for her to do as an SPL! She even hand-lettered a tag for each girl, and the adults got gifts as well.

    Stuart brought friends for the entry for our campsite: Jim and Francesca!

    Francesca
    Jim
    Our Fancy Founding Flamingoes — “Don’t forget the sunglasses!”

    Monday was a long, hard day, and by night, we were all pretty tired. Going to bed got a little rough, but we worked through our challenges, and I took the time to read another chapter or two of Nancy Drew before bed. (There was logic to my choice: Nancy Drew books are filled with some suspense, but — spoiler alert! — there are a whole lot more books to follow, so we all know that Nancy will be fine to sleuth another day, but Nancy’s problems might serve to distract the scouts from their own fears or concerns.)

  • Summer Camp orientation: My head is spinning!

    Troop 222 Scouts are ready to go to Ransburg for summer camp!

    One of the biggest events for a Scouts BSA troop is going to summer camp. Everyone packed their own stuff — and we gathered to load the trailer and get on the road!

    Scout camp is an amazing chance to earn merit badges, work toward rank advancement, meet other scouts, sleep at camp — all the things. But we were all nervous about it as well. First time at Ransburg Scout Reservation!

    We got to camp and had a whirlwind orientation — they checked health forms, told us (very quickly) how the dining hall runs — hoppers and A meal and everything — and waterfront orientation and a quick look at the Jackson and the Trading Post and off to Bison Trace, our campsite.

    Troop 222 scouts and leaders!

    Mr. M had parked the trailer, so all we had to do was check over the tents, unload everyone’s totes, move into our tents, learn about the campsite, check out the area, and OH MY GOODNESS we need to get to dinner!

    We waited at the flagpoles for dinner; while we were there we met other troops who were also waiting. That was fun to start figuring out who’s there and everything. But what ho? There’s a patrol with the same patrol patch as we have!

    The Fancy Founding Flamingoes meet the Fresh Flamingo patrol!

    The evening ended with an all-camp campfire. It was so fun! Everyone was there, and there was energy and excitement and all those camp counselors and all those “inside jokes” that we would understand at the end of the week (“not with that attitude”).

    Stuart captures Hannah and Evelyn dancing as everyone filled the campfire area.

    By the time campfire was over, it was time to head back to our campsite and head toward bed. Scoutmaster Jenny brought a book to read with high hopes of reading several chapters before lights out — distract everyone, get us tired, and, of course, get our minds off being away from home and in unfamiliar surroundings. (Spoiler alert: four chapters)

    Lindley shows off her tent

    Off to bed — lights out — camp starts in the morning (and breakfast is at 7:15).

  • Overgrowth and Archery — Aiming for Service and a Challenge

    Overgrowth and Archery — Aiming for Service and a Challenge

    Who needs Service Hours? (Everyone) And service with friends is even better.

    Girl Scouts and Scouts BSA pose on a structure
    Troop 222 girls and Ginny’s Girl Scout troop ready for our work

    Ginny invited us to join her and her Girl Scout Troop for a day of service and fun at Girl Scouts Camp Ada. We started the day with a drive from Bethel to the camp. Who knew it was State Road 38 Garage Sale day? Navigating the cars that seemed to have just stopped on the side of the road was kind of exciting, especially when those garage sales looked so inviting. (That one had a FOOD TRUCK!)

    But Scoutmaster Jenny would not stop that van!

    Girls gathered for flags
    Ginny leads Girl and BSA scouts in the flag ceremonies.

    Ginny started our day with a flag ceremony. It was neat to have both the Girl Scout and Boy Scout opening flags — the World Scouting Movement is a great bond. Then it was off to work!

    Our first task was to clear a couple of overgrown campsites. Ginny and her troop had previously cleared several, but there were still a few to uncover. We moved tree limbs and pulled out some invasive Japanese honeysuckle (pretty to smell, but it blocks out all the native plants) and cut the tall weeds down so someone can use the space again.

    Girl with weed cutter
    Hannah trims weeds in the campsite.

    We got to use tools like a weed cutter, loppers, and a saw, and cleaned out the areas. It was cool to see the change in the sites we worked on.

    Girl with weed cutter
    Evelyn also gets a turn to cut the weeds.

    After we finished cleaning in the Little Woods, we hiked through the Big Woods. Scoutmaster Mary surprised us (later) with Turkey Trot Trail patches! There were a few signs that had lost their paint, so we touched up the arrows to make sure people knew where to go.

    People hiking in the woods
    Hiking the Turkey Trot Trail

    After all that work, we washed up and then ate lunch in the pavilion, then got to go to the archery range for some lessons for the archery merit badge and some practice! We’re probably not nationally competitive like our instructor, Mr. Magnuson, but we had fun.

    Three scouts with compound bows aim at targets
    We had some time to practice our archery skills — maybe some of us will earn that archery merit badge.

    We had a lot of fun, and it was great to support Ginny’s Girl Scouts as they finished their Silver Award project.
    Want to join? Check out our Resources page for youth and adult applications, and meet us at Bethel Lutheran on Mondays at 7pm.

  • More First Aid, Still No Emergency — but we are ready

    If she’s hurt, we can carry her out!

    It took some time to get all the First Aid requirements finished, but after a couple of meetings, we’ve looked at them all. (We also practiced here.) When new scouts join, we hope that we can then teach them these techniques through the EDGE method. One thing for sure — we’ll probably remember these by how much fun we had learning and practicing. Remember when we carried each other in blankets? Or Mr. Sherrill’s “broken” arm?

    Taaa-daa! Mr. Sherrill’s arm is in a sling, and he is ready to get treatment.

    We laughed a lot, but we learn and remember better when we have fun. Scouting is “fun with a purpose,” and we definitely had fun doing this stuff. But did Scoutmaster Tiffany trust those girls who were going to carry her to safety after her fake broken leg?

    Safe carrying!

    Are you working on your First Aid merit badge? Scoutsmarts offers a guide to that Eagle-required merit badge, which is a good starting point for a lot of others (like Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving). If you missed any of the requirements or want a refresher, Scouting Life magazine has videos and more to help, found here.