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Balmy weather greets Scouts’ Freeze-Out
CANFIELD
Saturday’s 2016 Cub Scout Freeze-Out at Boy Scout Camp Stambaugh might well have been called, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, the “Thaw-Out.”
Compared to the 2015 Freeze-Out, called “Simply Cold,” when Cub Scouts and their adult leaders braved sub-freezing temperatures and lots of snow, the weather at this year’s “Star Wars”-themed event, “Join The Force,” was balmy, said one leader.
Obviously, “The Force” was with them.
Despite the lack of snow, the Cub Scouts enjoyed the events and got exhausted, at least in the sled race in which one smallish Cub Scout rode and the rest of the team either pulled via rope or pushed.
The winning team perhaps remembered the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare” and paced themselves to first place.
Divisions of Scouting are Cub Scouts for boys in first through fifth grades (age 6 to 10); Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts for males age 11 to 18, and Venturing and Sea Scouts, for males and females, age 14 to 21. All programs for those 18 and over are co-ed.
An estimated 225 Cub Scouts and 150 adult volunteers participated in the Whispering Pines District, Greater Western Reserve Council, Boy Scouts of America’s annual winter event.
This year’s Freeze-Out, with two identical sessions, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1 to 4:15 p.m. to accommodate the large number of participants, was hosted by Cub Scout Pack 25, sponsored by Canfield United Methodist Church.
Stephanie Kelly, whose husband, Patrick Kelly Jr., is assistant Cub master of Pack 25, was program director for the Freeze-Out.
“We are an outdoor- and value-based organization that offers age-appropriate activities. What sets us apart is that in a world with lots of technology, Scouting offers more basic skills and fun,” said Stephanie, whose son, Patrick III, is a member of Pack 25. Another son, Bruce, is waiting eagerly to advance to first grade so he can join.
Each Cub Scout, in staying with the “Star Wars” theme, called Padawan (a Padawan learner or Jedi trainee), rotated through six stations where they were taught skills by Jedi leaders (Scouting adult volunteers) and Jedi Masters (parents).
Stations were Padawan Health and Repair – first aid; Padawan Survival – fire building; Padawan Crafts; Padawan Training; Padawan Marksmanship – javelin throwing; and Padawan History – Scouting.
A couple of mothers who accompanied their sons during the afternoon session said their boys enjoyed the activities.
Liz Soich of Poland said her son, Alex Mamounis, 9, a member of Pack 44 at Poland Presbyterian Church, likes Scouting because it has a lot of things such as camping and fishing that he enjoys doing with his grandfather, Mark Phillips of Poland.
The “Star Wars” theme particularly intrigued Connor McNinch, 7, said his mother, Amanda McNinch of Poland.
Connor is a member of Cub Scout Pack 02 at Poland United Methodist Church, said Amanda, who was at Camp Stambaugh with her husband, Mike.
And, Amanda said: “It’s such a beautiful day. We’re lucky.”