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Troop 463
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Del Valle Overnight Campout Every year in October, Troop 463 invites Second Year Webelos from neighboring
packs to join us on a weekend campout. This year's attendance was astounding!
We had Del Valle is part of the East Bay Regional Park District only 10 miles south of Livermore and 90 minutes' drive from the Bay Area Peninsula. Lake Del Valle is nestled in a valley framed by oak-covered hills with the campgrounds lying by the lakeshore. Numerous walks and footpaths cover the hills and fishing is plentiful (for the fortunate!). The theme of the Del Valle Campout is introducing Webelos and their parents to Boy Scoutingand in particular to the Boy Scouts and adult members of the Boy Scout Troop 463. We had Webelos from Packs 419, 436, 457 and 462 with boys from the following elementary schools: Laurelwood, St Martins, Stocklmeier, Cupertino, Bishop, Ellis and Cumberland - a very diverse representation! A full schedule was planned which kept everyone enjoyably occupied. The Saturday morning started with assembly at the Church. Then we headed to Del Valle. After renting a pontoon boat, we loaded it with camping gear, backpacks and food. While the boys and parents did the 15 minute hike on foot, our equipment coasted along Del Valle Lake to the Hetch-Hetchy group campgrounds. On arrival at the campgrounds all available hands unloaded the boat. Three patrols were formed next: red, blue and yellow, with Troop 463 Boy Scouts as their patrol leaders. The group split into two, some to instruct and learn how to pitch tents, while another group of senior scouts built a 20-foot tower, using poles provided by the Troop 463. Before lunch we had the flag raising ceremony - with the flag hoisted to the top of the tower. The Webelos also took part in a Treasure Hunt - a combination of "Jeopardy!" and "Millionaire" rolled into one! We all learnt a lot about Scouting and each other in the process. After lunch, each patrol took part in scout-craft activities: boating, compass orientation and fire-lighting, all planned and organized for their enjoyment by the Scouts. As dusk approached, a small band of boys could be seen doing a spot of fishing under instruction from a Scout Parent. A nourishing and sumptuous camp dinner was enjoyed by all, followed by a demonstration of camp-site washing up by the Boy Scouts - using the three bowl method (soapy wash, hot rinse, hot sterilize). Campfire was a non-stop, multi-media extravaganza with no gags untried.
All patrols, and even parents, provided skits and sing-alongs. The senior
scouts provided dessert The morning mist at dawn was amazing - hovering over the lake, wisps streaming in between the oak trees and along the slopes of the valley. Of course, all the boys were awake long before then (!). Busy parents provided a filling breakfast which was consumed with gusto. Then it was time to break camp and return to the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan Bay Area. We had a pleasant surprise on the hike back - a pair of bald eagles nesting in a treetop on the far side of the lake. Everyone had a chance to view these magnificent specimens; a local orthinthologist had a telescope set up and gave a short talk about these regular visitors. What a perfect finishing touch to the weekend!
A footnote: Outdoorsman #3 - take part in a camp overnight with a Boy Scout Troop
Check the Photo Album for pictures of this outing as well as other outings |
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over 60 boys and their parents join us, a few for only the day but most
for the whole weekend. 
demonstrating the use of a Dutch Oven to make cake. Of course, there were
S'mores galore! A reluctant lights-out followed.