Water Skiing Merit Badge Campout
Lake Hiawassi, OK

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ski1.jpg (5399 bytes) Troop 168's Water Skiing Merit Badge Campout was a natural to follow the Swimming Merit Badge Campout this summer.  Lake Hiawassi, north of Lake Arcadia near Edmond, is a private late just the right size for a bunch of kids (adult and boy sized) to learn how to stand on two sticks and slide over water at 20 or more miles an hour.  The Mastercraft 200 HP ski boat was powerful enough to jerk even the biggest Scouter out of the water ... the Scouts were no problem at all. 

Not every boy earned the merit badge as the requirements are difficult and first-time water skiers couldn't expect to complete them all.  Camped out in an adult leader's cabin backyard was an unusual experience for the Troop, too!  We're used to the woods and state parks.

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ski5.jpg (11739 bytes) Retrieving isn't a merit badge requirement, but still has to be done! 
ski6.jpg (12907 bytes) Needless to say, water skiing is fun ... tiring ... but fun.  After a demonstration of slalom expertise, this adult leader needed to take a rest before climbing out.