Fall Camporee an Exciting Event - by Trish Love

Message

The Fall NASCAR-themed Camporee was great fun for all! Our two car entries did very well despite several crashes, bent wheels and subsequent repairs. The Irish car came in third overall and the Greyhound car ran a number of races before finally getting beat twice in this double-elimination event. You will find video of both cars below. The Irish video features the much-anticipated crash video with Joe taking the roll. I also posted a good one of Penn crashing the Irish car.....we got smarter and took off the seat belt on that one so when it rolled he just fell out!

The Greyhounds


Saturday evening, our Mic-O-Say tribesmen and one OA member from another troop worked together to come up with a very cool campfire opening that was very successful! Read the detailed account below:

The crowd arrived just as dark was falling. A Wood Badge beading ceremony that lasted until it got good and dark, then lanterns were lit as footlights and we were on. Adult leader John Gray was dressed Osage style with a tunic, sash, cloth pants and some very cool fringed ankle boots he had made. He was wearing a bear skin on his back with the head over his head and tied under his neck. Mr. Gray led Tracy Jandebeur and I in and we took seats at the big suspended OA drum.
Mr. Gray stood as John Brunner entered. He was dressed in his MOS Warrior costume with ribbon shirt, fancy style back and arm bustles, Apache leggings, headband with feathers and breech cloth. He approached Mr. Gray and asked, "Wise One, are you ready to light the campfire?" To which Mr. Gray answered, "Brave Warrior, you may light the fire."

John then turned to me at the drum and said, "Tom-tom beater, summon the flames!" and I let go with a drum beat call that was echoed in the distance by another Tribesman (Nick Webster). Then in ran Isaac, screaming loudly with a flaming torch in his hand (very impressive). He circled once and then tossed the torch onto the fire --- which went up fairly quickly, having been well doused with "girl scout juice".

After he ran out, Mr. Gray welcomed people to the campfire and mentioned the OA lodge chapter and basically stalled for a moment while Isaac got his arm bustles on.
Then, with a "Let the dance begin!" I drummed in the running dancers. There were 6 total -- John, Joe, Nick, Isaac, Cameron and one OA guy, Jeremy, from another troop. We had split my costume stuff between Cameron and Jeremy so they could look the part, since they have not yet built costumes.

At this point, our original plan was for Tracy and I to listen to the chant in one ear via I-Pod and drum and chant, with the boys also chanting. Unfortunately, we had some technical difficulties that prevented that from coming off as we hoped. So, we just drummed, which turned out just fine. The dancers performed the Warrior's Dance and then upon completion, ran back out and into the night.

The boys did well and the audience was impressed. We had several adults comment that it was good to see an OA presence again, so we feel like we achieved our goal. I was proud of them and they were delighted with the response and the way it all worked out.

Here are pictures of the weekend. Many pictures of cars from the other troops -- there was an amazing variety! Remember, you can click on the little Picasa color wheel in the corner to open the album and save copies of your favorites.