Area boy scouts are out in the wilds

Matamoras — Boy Scouts from Troop 77 have returned from another successful campout, this one highlighted by the construction of a monkey bridge. All told, nine Scouts joined the campout on Nov. 2, 3 and 4 at the Rivers Bend site along the Delaware River in New Jersey, operated by the National Park Service. Led by Senior Patrol Leader Joe Nied, older scouts constructed a monkey bridge, a three-rope bridge anchored at either end. The bridge is a classic lashing and pioneering project, with a thick rope along the bottom forming the footpath, and the two other ropes serving as hand rails. Logs lashed together at either end serve to hold up the ropes, though Troop 77 Scouts found an appropriately placed tree to anchor one end. Meanwhile, Scouts who did not yet have their “Totin’ Chip” worked toward earning it. The chip signifies a Scout knows the safe handling, use and storage of a knife, axe and saw, and that he has agreed to abide by the Outdoor Code. Troop 77’s Totin’ Chip is especially rigorous. Each Scout not only receives instruction in safe use and handling of the tools, but he must make a wooden mallet and three tent stakes, and then use the mallet to pound in the stakes. Saturday night of the campout, the Troop 77 Scouts joined some 25 Scouts from Troop 12 in Livingston, N.J., for a campfire. They were staying at the same group of campsites. Besides Nied, other Scouts on the campout were: David Shankler, Kyle Teune, Dakota Hendricks, Luke Reno, Dan Reno, Ben Cunningham, Jack Brighton and Cody Fitzsimmons. Leaders onsite were Scoutmaster Bill Nied and Assistant Scoutmaster Jessica Brighton. Parent volunteers on the trip were Garrett Teune and Doug Cunningham. Troop 77 meets at 7 p.m. most Tuesdays at the United Methodist Church in Matamoras, Pa. New Scouts are always welcome.