TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Scouts with the Combat Center’s Boy Scout Troop 78 camped at Del Valle Field Sept. 7, 2012 for their monthly outdoor activity.

Troop 78 is a part of Boy Scouts of America, a national organization found on many military bases throughout the country.

“Before this, I was a Cub Scout in Virginia,” said Matthew Burke, son of Master Sgt. Roy Burke, communications chief, Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School. “I liked being able to come here and continue in the Scouts. I like all the campouts and I like what I get to do.”

The organization provides a safe environment for kids to have fun while learning both outdoor and life skills.

Each Scout is instilled with 12 virtues of the scout law. A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. The Scouts apply these principles to everything they do and are the code by which they govern themselves.

Over the course of a month, the Scouts plan and raise funds for an outing. These outings range from activities such as camping and hiking to fishing.

All the planning and set up is done by the Scouts with the Scoutmaster. The Scouts learn to be self-reliant in the wild and society as they organize and conduct their activities.

“These guys are in charge,” said Clint Blaul, Scoutmaster, Troop 78. “The adult leadership is basically here to make sure that the kids stay safe.”

They demonstrated these skills prior to and during the campout, getting permits for campfires, planning the fundraising events and doing everything themselves on the field.

The troop spent their day at Del Valle Field practicing skills such as setting up tents, tying knots and cutting wood.

They began by setting up their tents in the center field of the baseball grounds. They each pitched their tents and helped each other overcome obstacles in the setup.

After the tents were raised, the Scouts moved on to tying knots. The Scoutmaster taught the boys different knot tying techniques and how to apply them to fasten anything from a raft to a tripod for a tepee-like shelter. The Scouts practiced their knot tying skills on lodging poles staged for them on the baseball field. At the edge of the field, the Scouts had a safety area set up, where the lead Scout taught everyone in the patrol how to properly handle hatchets, saws and pocket knives and effectively use these tools in an outdoor environment.

“My favorite part is slicing the wood with the axe,” said Burke.
The Scouts got to practice these skills by cutting through wood and making kindling, various products to start a fire.

As the sun set, the Scouts began to set up their campfire a few feet away from second base. The fire was the only bright light in the dark field, providing a great opportunity for both games and scary stories.

The Troop slept in the field through the night and packed up to leave the next day.

“Scouting is a game with a purpose,” Clint said. “They learn skills that increase their confidence and they learn leadership that helps them become young men.”

The Combat Center’s Boy Scout Troop is open to all kids in the Twentynine Palms area, on and off base. Girl Scout programs are available as well.

For more information about joining the Boy Scouts go to Building 0478 or call (760) 660-3091.

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