All troops part of the Chinese American Scouting Association competed against each other in a test of scouting skills and Chinese heritage. Each year's CASA Camporee has a different theme--this year's was the Silk Road. And there was no shortage of competitions, each of which our scouts tried to best the others. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy: with a lack of senior scouts, each patrol was missing the necessary skills. Though the scouts each had their dose of fun, as arrows whizzed through the air, Chinese calligraphy skills came up to the test, and shoes and fingers gripped the rock climbing holds. Others competed in timed fire-building, first aid, and knot tying events, and more, meeting many other troops and learning from their strong suits. The event concluded with an awards ceremony, where although no awards were won, they got to hear the interesting yells of other patrols and troops.
In this service event, Scouts distributed flyers around the local neighborhood. The purpose of these flyers was to inform residents about the food drive and encourage them to contribute non-perishable food items. Once the donations were collected, the Scouts sorted the food items and prepared it for distribution to those in need within the community.
During this exciting Archery event, Scouts had the opportunity to dive deep into the world of archery while working towards earning their Archery Merit Badge. They began by learning essential archery techniques, including proper stance, aim, and release, with guidance from experienced instructors. Scouts then had the chance to put these skills into practice, shooting at targets from various distances. In addition to practicing target shooting, they also participated in a hands-on activity where they crafted their own arrows, gaining a deeper understanding of the equipment involved.
The District Award Night was nothing short of a gathering for old dudes. But really, scouts and adults marveled at the dedication and achievement that all Scouters present had for the organization. To help young people develop into responsible citizens and models in their community, leaders--both present and former--were awarded during the event held this year by our troop. Scouts acted as volunteers to help the event run smoothly, such as participating in the formal opening and closing ceremony, setting up, and work as servers.
Doubters say "Nay," but horses say "Neigh." For this reason, while the salty air whipped through hair and hooves rhythmically eating the ground, scouts found themselves loosening their grip on their reigns. And as the heads turned loose, a rockier ride ensued, bouncing the bottoms of the scouts up and down. During this fun event at Half Moon Bay, scouts were able to ride horses in the foggy morning, on a trail and down to the beach, while others came a bit later after some playtime on the beach.
This quarter (2024 Q4) we celebrate the advancement of three scouts to Scout, four scouts to Tenderfoot, four scouts to Second Class, three scouts to First Class, four scouts to Star, and one scout to Life. Three patrols won the NHP award. Finally, the Committee Chair, Committee Sub-Chairs, ASMs, Scoutmaster, and SPL all were sworn in, marking the beginning of the new year.