This weekend was our Fall Camporee at Camp Cowles. We arrived Friday evening and had a nice hot bowl of chili and built up a big fire to sit around during our campfire program.

Saturday's activities consisted of teaching cub scouts first aid in the morning and scout skill competition in the afternoon.

We were lucky to have Howard Ashby, Kevin Innes and Aaron Binns (two docs and a chiropractor) with us to help our boys develop their presentations using the EDGE method. (Explain, Demo, Guide and Enable.


Logan Binns and Daniel Springman's graphically demonstrated the himelick method of helping someone that is choking. Logan would load his mouth with munched pretzels and spew them on the thrust.

Jacob Presley and Scott Innes did an outstanding job teaching how to dress an abrasion to the arm.

Zac and Spencer discussed how to wash and bandage an eye injury.

While we weren't graded, I was very very impressed what outstanding teaching skills the boys of troop 323 have.

The afternoon was full of scout history questions at each skill station. Of course you know the scouting came to America in 1910, but when did it come to Spokane and when did Camp Cowles come to be??? 1915 and 1920 respectively.

The skills stations included the following:

First Aid-simulated life threatening injuy. The boys had to assess and address.

Pioneering-rope throw, log tie, hoist and tie off with clove hitch.

Tomahawk Throw

Team Building obstacle course

Plant Identification

Fire Building-build a fire, light it at the bottom with one match and burn a stretched string 4' above the ground-timed.

We took a third place in the fire building event with a time of 58 seconds, BUT we took Grand Champion award for best overall score in the camp.

We had a very fun and successful camp.

Mancation in McCall

Last week we had our annual mancation in McCall. We rode three days to three different hot springs. We had a hard ride and and easy ride each day...but the easy ride almost cost an overnighter for three of the group. We ate breakfast pizza, burritos and lots of trail dust. We had devotionals and prayer. We got tired, dehydrated, cranky and sweaty. Our machines were beaten, smashed and abused in the rough terrain....but we came back to our jobs and routines with memories of good times and brotherhood to support us when times are tough. This trip was not for the faint of heart. Surprisingly we only did about 25 miles per day....but it was like a marathon on motos.