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OKINAWA, Japan (11/3/2011) - The Scouts swarmed from their
tents with the rising sun. The camp quickly came to life as
they prepared the morning meal, cooking fires ignited, and
the smell of breakfast filled the air. The Scouts were ready
to start the day.
Boy Scouts render a scout salute to the American flag during the
opening ceremony of the Ryukyu Rendezvous at Kin Blue Beach Oct. 29,
2011. During the rendezvous, the Boy Scouts taught the Cub Scouts
the fundamentals of scouting. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Erik
Brooks |
Approximately 50 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, sons of service
members stationed at various military installations on
Okinawa, participated in the Ryukyu Rendezvous, an annual
scouting event, at Kin Blue Beach Oct. 28-30.
The
rendezvous' purpose was to bring the Boy Scouts, ages 13-18,
and Cub Scouts, ages 5-13, together, so the Cub Scouts could
learn from the Boy Scouts, said Kelly Johnson, the district
commissioner for the Okinawa District, Far East Council, Boy
Scouts of America.
During the trip, the Boy Scouts
taught the Cub Scouts the fundamentals of scouting.
“The fundamentals of being a Boy Scout are: training
leaders, first aid, swimming and making the boys
self-reliant,” said Daniel J. Richard, the district
executive for the Okinawa district, Far East Council, Boy
Scouts of America.
The Scouts started the day with an
opening ceremony including the posting of the American flag,
the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scouts' oath. After the
ceremony, they took part in a contest, challenging the
scouts' knowledge.
The challenge was set up in
similar fashion to CBS television's "The Amazing Race," said
Johnson.
During the challenge, the Boy Scouts taught
the younger boys four different scout skills: knot tying,
stretcher making, starting a fire, and lashing. Each task
was at a different location, requiring the scouts to use
land navigation skills to get from station to station.
Each obstacle had its own challenges. The knot-tying
station brought the challenge of executing all of the
required knots within a limited amount of time. With the
stretcher, it was being able to secure the blanket to the
poles. Fire starting was challenging in that the scouts had
to start one with one match and each additional match was
counted against their time. Lastly, the lashing had the
scouts bind logs together using ropes to make a platform to
stand on.
“Best part about Boy Scouts for me is
camping,” said Anthony J. Keller, a 12-year-old Boy Scout
with Troop 110. “I like to be around other troop members
doing all the fun activities.”
“These camping trips
give the [boys] the ability to showcase the skills that they
know,” said Johnson. “These skills that the Boy Scouts are
teaching are the basic scout skills that the Cub Scouts will
need to know.”
By USMC Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks
III Marine
Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installation Pacific
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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