From the Scribe’s point of view:

Trapper's Rendezvous was an awesome and exciting campout for all this January. Each Scout had a great time and was very interested in the trading and authenticity of the Trapper's of yesterday. Mr. Lippert and his son, a visiting Scout, were a tremendous help to our troop on this little adventure. Mr. L. brought wood and the tools to split it, to get us through the cold days and nights of a Kansas winter weekend, a BIG thank you to them. The Scouts learned a lot and did many new things on this weekend filled with sneaky trappers and scoundrels. The Sscouts earned a wooden nickel each time they found one of the two of these mountain men. Shooting arrows, B.B. guns, black powder, and throwing tomahawks were just some of the myriad of activities found at the rendezvous. Trading was one of the biggest activities at Trappers. It was an overall great campout filled with fun and adventure (besides the bitter cold) and I hope we will go back again next year. (With a few more things to trade.)

Assistant Scoutmaster's Report:

January 17th 2003, three Troop crews departed Oklahoma City and converged on the Trappers Rendezvous in Harvey County Park near Newton, Kansas.  The early crew, composed of Jeff Brouster, Luke Lucas, Tom Lippert (a Webelos Leader guest) and their respective sons, landed a near perfect campsite and set up all the tents prior to the arrival of the later crews.  That first night was cold, the temperature dropped to 21.8 degrees.  Fortunately, our guest was gracious enough to bring a pickup load full of firewood and burn barrels for us to have campfires. Saturday morning the Dud Patrol had the usual Mountain Man breakfast.  The combined Viper/Scorpion Patrol attempted Mountain Man, but realized they had left a few key ingredients off of their grocery list.  After KP we all headed off to see the events. 

Trappers Rendezvous offered a little something for everyone.  Coleman had a store with deeply discounted prices.  We learned (a little late) that they sell out early.  Note for next year: Line up early!  Coleman also had an interesting display area with demonstrations of their new equipment.  Other events included BB gun range, archery, black powder rifles, flint and steel competition, tomahawk throwing, drumming demonstrations, a running race, and of course the trading.  Our Scouts enjoyed the trading so much, they discussed making items as a troop, to be traded at the event next year.

Sunday morning we had a fairly efficient camp break down and clean up.  After a well presented devotional by Gavin P., we actually left on time.  Arriving at the church we had to unpack the tents to dry off the frost in the warm sunshine.  What a difference a day makes.  The high Saturday in Newton was 33.8 degrees; Sunday’s high was 62.6. 

 - Peggy Wood