Winter Skills Adventure Program Campout 

Date: February 24-26, 2023

Troop 60 attended the 52nd Winter Skills Adventure Program campout as students and return staff.  It was a bit chilly but a Blast! 

Early Saturday Morning - Waiting for Attendees to arrive

Troop 60 heading to camp via Cardiac Hill

Follow the sign

Heading to camp

Over the river and through the woods

Divvying up property

Scouts making blocks

Trenches looking good

A-Frames coming together

Digging out common area for adult shelters

New Snow Tool

Made quick work of making snowblocks 

Adult Camp mid construction
Look at those super thick blocks

Adults starting A-Frames

Shelters looking good

Kitchen
Note instructor tent in background

Another Kitchen

Adult Village coming together

Lunch Break

Just needs an entrance

Completed Shelter

Tarp Entrance

Adult Village completed

Adult Camp at nightfall - note arrows used to mark sites by archery instructor

Fire on Snow

The Cracker Barrel

Insta-Fire

Almost time to wake up on Sunday

Wood Board over pot to protect cook area from overnight snow

Making water with fresh snow

Making Strawberry Jell-O Hot Brew

Breakfast of Champions

Morning Campers

Hey Adults!  You need to get up too.

Signs of life from Adult Shelters

Scouts are up

Roof integrity test

Troop 60 Survived the Night!

Early Bird Instructors
Already had Morning Leadership Meeting
Now ready to start Sunday Activities

Attendees slowly arrive

Instructors still waiting

Still Waiting

Morning Anouncements

Assembly for Snowshoe Adventure

Enjoying a break in the snow

Snowshoe instruction

Collapsing of Shelters Commences

Leave No Trace - Shelters demolished and area flattened

Ready to head home

Made it to the parking lot - looks like we might have to dig out

NWAC Weather Data Portal Graph - Northwest Avalanche Center 

Overall, the weather was perfect.  It was a bit cold for the camp staff who arrived on Thursday and Friday where the temperatures dipped into the negatives.  But on Saturday, when the program attendees arrived, it stayed sunny and clear throughout the day.  Temps went from the teens to just below freezing.  For snow shelter construction, it felt warm and didn't get too warm to melt our work.  Late Saturday night, snow fell and covered everything with several inches overnight and continued falling throughout most of the day.  By the time we demolished our structures and got to the parking, snow had covered and hidden evidence that we were there. 

Staffers

Staffers hanging out at the Lodge the night before Attendees arrive

Staffers arrive 1-2 days before class to set up camp and build their own shelters.  When Attendees arrive on Saturday, we are all ready for them and can help out as needed. 

Staffers build an assortment of shelters to include A-Frames, Igloos, Snow Caves, Treewell shelters, Teepees, 3-4 season tents and sometimes quinzhees. 

Image here shows an Instructor-made A-Frame completed on Thursday.

Prior to bedtime it was 1°F outside and 30°F inside.  Temps dropped into the negatives Thursday night. 

Improved Treewell Shelter
Saturday Morning

Open Cave Shelter
"Good Morning!"

Staffer taking a lunch break

Tarp used to keep snow out of cave

Time for Staff to get up

Heading home after Attendees have packed up and left