Joe Dehler, Kieran Donlon, Dakota Locke and Josh Stetson, all of Scout Troop 39 in Scarborough, try their skill at corn hole on Saturday at the Pine Tree Council’s Scouts BSA Spring Camporee at Old Orchard Beach. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune
OLD ORCHARD BEACH — They aimed, they tossed and some of them hit the mark in the game of corn hole that was just one of the activities at the Pine Tree Council’s Scouts BSA Spring Camporee this past weekend in Old Orchard Beach. Other activities the Scouts took part in included the standing long jump and others were engrossed in the underwater Sea Perch submarine exhibit.
About 350 Scouts from Maine and other New England states descended on the seaside community to camp for the first time in 100 years, said Rob Barry, chairman of the York District of the Pine Tree Council.
The event was hosted by Troops 310 of Saco and 308 of Biddeford.
A Scout tries his luck at the standing jump on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park, where the Pine Tree Council of Scouts BSA held their spring Camporee. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune
One hundred years ago, in 1919, the Scouts tented on the hill, looking down toward the water, said Dan Bastarache, Scoutmaster of the Biddeford troop, For this Camporee, the Town of Old Orchard Beach supported the Scouts’ request to camp seaside; they set up camp down the beach a bit to the left of The Pier.
The Scouts arrived on Friday night and settled in — and awoke to a full day of events Saturday, capping the day with a parade and traditional Scout campfire.
Most of Saturday’s events were held at Veterans Memorial Park.
Among the Scouts was Troop 59 of Peabody, Massachusetts, taking their turn at the first aid relay. The Scouts were to see a mishap occur – one of them “injuring” their ankle, and then they had to quickly diagnose the problem, fix a splint and fashion a litter to take the injured “victim” for additional care.
Twins George and James Grace, with help from others in the troop, tried it out, with James as the victim and George as the medic.
James was unimpressed by his brother’s efforts.
Three members of Troop 310 of Saco carry their Scouting flag from the beach to Veterans Memorial Mark in Old Orchard Beach on Saturday. About 350 Scouts attended the three-day Camporee. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune
“He had to re-do the splint three times, “ James Grace said, as he headed off to the next event.
Despite the issues with the splint, he said he was having fun.
“I love camping here,” said James Grace.
There was at least one mishap. Bastarache and Barry said on Friday night, some of the Scouts had to move their tents back a bit as the tide crept up the shore. But the Scouts coped with the problem and were ready for the next days activities..
At 5 a.m. on Saturday, 25 to 30 of the Scouts went on a run and later, about 20 dove into the ocean in what was billed as a “Harbor Seal Polar Dip” to benefit the nonprofit Marine Mammals of Maine. Many who didn’t plunge into the chilly ocean water also contributed to the cause, Scout leaders said.
Among the Scouts camping were Isabella Messer and Moira Danzig, both of Troop 851 in Raymond, an all-girl troop formed in February.
Nate Lucas, Aiden Dyer, Lucas Edstrom and Hunter Stearns, all of Troop 308, Biddeford, check out the progress of a Sea Perch underwater submarine at the Pine Tree Council Scouts BSA Spring Camporee in Old Orchard Beach. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune
The girls said there was a lot that they liked about Scouting., such as “all the positivity, and the friends you can make,” said Danzig.
Messer, who recently returned from Washington, D.C. as Maine’s delegate to a national Scouting convention, said her father, Jeffrey was also a Scout.
“He told us a lot of interesting things” about Scouting, said Messer. And, she said, she likes the outdoors, so decided to join.
Danzig’s family also has a Scouting tradition, her father and two brothers were Scouts, she said.
On Saturday night, the Scouts planned a parade that was to wind down with a flag-raising ceremony in Veterans Memorial Park to honor veterans who have passed away, and were to later take part in a traditional Scout campfire on the beach.
Looking around the park as the Scouts took part in activities, Barry said, “This is or biggest district Camporee in years. And we got to (host it) in Old Orchard Beach.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
