Cub Scout Pack 19, of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, was among 42 Cub Scout Packs from the Circle Ten Council that participated in the week-long 2009 North Trail District Cub Scout Twilight Camp held at Breckinridge Park in Richardson.    Twilight Camp was open to any registered Cub Scout in the First through Fifth Grade for the 2009 – 2010 academic year. 

With the theme of “A Camping We Will Go,” the annual event involved nearly 900 people, including 505 Cub Scout campers and 290 adult “Walking Den Leaders,” who accompanied the Scouts to each event.  Twilight Camp was staffed by 50 adult volunteers, 50 Boy Scouts and four Girl Scouts.

Twilight Camp began each afternoon at 4:00 p.m. when all of the scouts and their leaders gathered around a flagpole for a flag-raising ceremony.  The scouts then separated into grade-level smaller groups and rotated through various activity areas, include games, outdoor skills, arts and crafts, archery and BB gun ranges.  The camp concluded each evening by 8:30 p.m.

With so many different activities going on each day, each Scout seemed to favor something different.  Jacob Wizeman, a Third Grader from Withers Elementary, said “I had a great time. I made friends. The BB and shooting and crafts were my favorite.”  Providence third-grader Trevor Burke’s favorite activity centered around the “Dry Gulch Mining Town” activity area where he threw rocks at pie pans, pottery, and skeet clay pigeons, sifted for precious gems and “gold” hidden in sand-filled one-gallon buckets, and used a metal detector to find coins scattered in a field.  “It was really fun finding coins in the ground,” Trevor said.  Webelos Scout Nathaniel Mann’s favorite activity was archery.  He added, “Twilight camp was awesome.  I don't think I have ever seen so many cub scouts in one place."  

Twilight Camp continued the tradition of Cub Scouts and adults exchanging “swaps.”  “Swaps” are small items that represent each camper’s interests and personality and can be attached to hats with safety pins.  Campers then trade or swap their items with each other. Webelos Scout Dillon Mosman, especially loved trading swaps with other scouts.  His favorite swap trade was swapping a "real" metal miniature wrench for some feathers. Other more memorable “swaps” this year included homemade s’more, miniature working binoculars, fishing bobbers, rubber snakes and worms, and handmade American flags.

A highlight of Twilight Camp occurred on Friday evening with the annual egg drop.  Campers were given a week to design a contraption or container around a raw egg.  On Friday, each container was then dropped from a height of approximately 19 feet.  Campers whose egg survived the fall received a special prize and bragging rights – until next year anyway. 

Most evenings featured special entertainment.  Monday night, Arrowmen of the Yanush Chapter, Mikanakawa Lodge, Order of the Arrow, dressed in authentic regalia, performed Native American dances and encouraged campers to join in.  Tuesday night, Jay Wilson performed camp songs, and Wednesday night, ExoticAnimalUniversity delighted all campers with a number of animals not often seen at BreckinridgePark.

“In spite of a little wind and rain, camp was a great success,” said Barbara Richer, CampDirector and   adult volunteer with Pack 895 from Waterview Church of Christ.  “Thank you to all the hard-working volunteers who made it happen,” added Terri Groom, CampProgram Director and adult volunteer with Pack 570, SpringCreekElementary School. 

The North Trail District comprises more than 50 Cub Scout Packs and 50 Boy Scout Troops in North Dallas, LakeHighlands, ParkCities, Preston Hollow, and Richardson.  It is one of 19 districts in Circle Ten Council, Boy Scouts of America, which includes Dallas, Corsicana, Sherman, and south central Oklahoma.

Story by Nancy Burke. Photos by Carolyn Stalder