What Do Scouts Do?

A LOT!

From the Boy Scouts of America website:

Boys experience a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster to achieve the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness. Camping, fun with friends -- and more. It’s the adventure of a lifetime!

Camping

Troop 8 camps out at least nine times a year. Past locations have included the Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation near Waubeek and various state and local parks such as Maquoketa Caves, Pictured Rocks, Pinicon Ridge, and Eagle Cave.

In Troop 8, the boys plan everything, from choosing where to go to planning the activities they will do and what they will eat. Scouts work with their Patrol to plan their menu and duty roster, set up their own tents, buy their food, and do their cooking.

Summer Camp

Summer Camp is an annual week-long resident camp at the Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation. Summer Camp is an opportunity for Scouts to earn merit badges and do all kinds of fun activities including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, rifle and shotgun shooting, archery, and much more.

High Adventure

High Adventure trips are week-long camping trips to exciting destinations such as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota, Apostle Islands in Wisconsin, Colorado, South Dakota, Tennessee, or Maine. Troop 8 scouts have done backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, horseback riding, white water rafting, and zip-lining. Scouts have seen national monuments, hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail, explored caves, and toured an Air Force base.

Merit Badges

Merit Badges are an important part of Scouting. Merit Badges are a way for scouts to gain knowledge and skills in over 130 different areas. Scouts in Troop 8 work on merit badges as a Troop, in a Patrol, or individually. We also attend several organized merit badge events, known as Merit Badge Universities.

Service Projects

Service is an integral part of developing character in youth. Troop 8 participates in a number of different service projects, such as food drives, and cleanup events. In addition, Scouts working on their requirements for the rank of Eagle must do a community project, which may include the entire Troop.