Neuse Basin Cub Scout Family Campout
175 Cub Scouts and their families from Jones, Craven, and Pamlico Counties
participated in the Neuse Basin Cub Scout Family Campout which was held for the first
time in Trenton, Jones County, November 14 – 16, 2014.
Scouts and their families set up camp on Friday afternoon, prepared their food
on camp stoves or field kitchens, and slept overnight in the freezing temperatures to
earn the Polar Bear Patch!
Activities began on Saturday with Troop 111 Boy Scouts of Jones County
leading a Flag Ceremony to start the festivities and then taught the Cub Scouts proper
flag-folding techniques.
Retired Forest Ranger from Weyerhauser’s Cool Springs Environmental
Education Center, Craig Manzene, shared many interesting facts on trees and plants in
our area, how to identify the age of a cut tree by counting the rings, and distributed
handouts.
Scouts hiked to Brock Mill Pond where the previous owner’s grandson Charles
Jones discussed the historical significance of Brock Mill as a saw mill, cotton gin, corn
mill, and supplier of electricity to the town of Trenton. In 1964, the grist mill operations
ceased. Now Brock Mill and the Mill Pond are remembered on the county seal as the
symbol of Jones County.
Restoration is underway to restore one of the grinding stones to working
conditions by Jones County’s Heritage Day in September 2015. Donna Morton from
the Brock Mill Foundation was on hand to sell T-shirts featuring the original design of
the corn meal bags.
After the trek back to Trenton Fairgrounds, Scouts then participated in BB
Shooting and Archery activities earning metal belt loops which are worn as part of
their uniform.
After lunch prepared on site by the scouts, all packs designed, decorated
cardboard canoes in preparation for a Canoe Race! The Scouts’ sisters also joined in
on the fun along with the parents!
Dell Murphy, Pack 111 Parent, showed how Native Americans made bows and
arrows out of wood and feathers.
After another Scout-prepared dinner, everyone gathered around the campfire
for a Flag Retirement Ceremony led by Troop 111with participation from Veterans.
Campfire festivities included skits or songs by each pack. More freezing temperatures
gave Scouts another opportunity to earn the Polar Bear Patch by camping Saturday
night!
A Sunday morning non-denominational worship service was offered by Diane
LeBlanc. She complimented the Scouts on being everyday heroes and challenged
them to continue learning and growing. Pocket Bibles were available from Joey
Collins of Gideon’s International.
After packing up with “Leave No Trace” principles – leave it better than you
found it, Scouts went home. All Scouts received a patch featuring the Mill Pond to
wear on their uniforms.
A special thank you to everyone who made this fun Scouting experience
possible – Glen Spivey, American Legion, use of the Jones County Fairgrounds, Zack
Koonce, Pack 111 Cubmaster, Ricky Hawkins, Troop 111 Leader, Jennifer Potter,
Neuse Basin District Membership Chair, and all the dedicated parents for supporting
the values of Scouting. To contact someone for more info on all the wonderful
adventures available in Scouting, in Jones County: Zack Koonce (252)448-3281; in
Craven County & Pamlico County: www.eccbsa.org or www.neusebasinbsa.org .