Troop 50 spent an exciting but very strange week at Worth Ranch for
Summer Camp. There were over 500 scouts and scouters out for the
first week of Summer Camp this year. The weather was hot as usual,
and with the area in the midst of a severe drought there was a fire ban
this year. In fact the huge Palo Pinto complex fire just a few weeks
before summer camp started actually threatened the ranch and came
very close to the property. We camped in Breitling Campsite this year,
sharing the campsite with another troop because of the overcrowded
camp. We had a total of 10 young men and 3 full time adults, with 2 part
time adults attending camp. Tense times started Monday afternoon as a
large brush fire (approx 2200 acres) started N of the Ranch. The
Northern sky over Kyle mountain was filled with thick yellow smoke.
Luckily the South wind and the efforts of the local volunteer fire
departments and Forestry Service kept the fire from threatening the
ranch. With a lightning storm building up to the North 10 troopers and 2
adults decided after climbing up on Kyle for our annual overnighter and
sunrise club decided to head back down off the mountain. This turned out
to be a very good decision. About one o'clock am a dry lightning storm
moved over the ranch, and struck the peanut field across the river from
the ranch. The lightning strike was so loud and shook the ground, by the
time we realized what had happened the staffers were already
evacuating the campsites. Troop 50 worked like a well oiled machine as
we evacuated camp to the Camp Dining Hall. All the troops made it
safely to the Dining Hall and we spent the rest of the night in the Dining
Hall. The fire never crossed the river, and with the prevailing winds
moved North. A 5:45 am Scoutmaster Meeting was held in the SM
Lounge and we were just about to make the decision to evacuate the
camp when we were notified that the fire was under control and the
camp was once again safe. The decision was made to cancel the
morning activities after breakfast and allow the scouts to rest since most
of us had not had any sleep all night. But most of the scouts from Troop
50 stayed at the Council Ring and watched the Forestry Service
helicopter scoop water from the Brazos and drop it on hot spots all
morning. On Wednesday night the camp once again turned out for the
annual Scoutmaster vs Staff softball game, it was a hard fought game as
usual and due to darkness ended in a 15-15 tie. For the first time in 15
years Troop 50 had no active participants in the game. After the softball
game the troop enjoyed our annual ice cream treat that was delivered by
Steve and Shirley Eubanks. As if the fires that had already threatened
camp this week weren't bad enough we got word Thursday morning at
the morning SM Meeting that a stomach virus was spreading rapidly
through the camp. The Camp Medical Director warned us if we had any
boys who were sick we should contact their parents and have them
come and pick their boys up. As of breakfast we did not have anyone
sick, but that was soon to change. By 10:00 I had 2 boys already down
with the illness and it spread rapidly. I contacted parents and asked them
to please come and pick their scouts up. The other troop that was
camped in Breitling with us also had over half their scouts ill. After
sending 4 of my scouts home and 2 more were sick but were waiting for
their parents to come out for our Troop 50 Family Night I decided that
Troop 50 would pack up and bug out that night. When I went up to the
office to inform the camp director of me decision there were already 4
other troops either heading out or on their way out. The Troop 50 dads
who came out for Family Night assisted in breaking down camp with the
4 healthy scouts we had left after we ate some of the great food that
was brought out for the Pot Luck Dinner. I checked us out and found out
that at least 3/4 of the troops were leaving that evening due to the virus.
The Parade grounds that are usually packed for the OA tap outs and
Family Night Campfire was deserted. I spoke with the OA Commissioner
and asked him about the tap outs, he told me there would be none as
everyone had gone home sick. It was not confirmed but we also heard
that the Camp Director and 1/2 of the staff also caught the virus. Troop
50 arrived back at the SAM building at 10:15 on Thursday evening with 4
scouts out of the original 10 who went to camp with us. The Troop 50
dads once again helped us unload all the gear and stow it in the SMUT.
Unfortunately because of the fires, lightning, and the virus this was the
first time Troop 50 has ever left summer camp early, which meant we
were not able to complete the merit badges that the scouts started
(some have since been completed but unknown on the exact number.)
We were also not able to complete our Wrangler Award, any Captain
Kidd and no Order of the Arrow. This was definitely a very strange and a
very dangerous Summer Camp at the Big Adventure, it should be
interesting to see what next year brings.
We were notified in late June that the illness was caused by a norovirus,
the Health Department confirmed there were no shortcomings at Worth
Ranch in regards to their dish washing procedures, sanitation or water
temperature. The Health Department also pointed out that there was no
way to control what people have when they arrive at camp.
D.W. Burke
Scoutmaster Troop 50
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