This past weekend 12 Scouts and 2 Assistant Scoutmasters from North Star’s Troop 56 camped on the grounds of the Governor’s Residence for the Third Annual Governor’s Campout.
Scouts from Troop 56 along with 8 other troops from throughout the CAC took part in the event. The Scouts met at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and hiked with their packs to the Governor’s Residence accompanied by a police escort assisted by the Lawrence Explorer Scout Post #160. There they set up camp, met Governor Eric Holcomb along with First Lady Janet Holcomb and First Dog Henry.
After a few words from Governor Holcomb congratulating the youth for being selected to participate, he added, “you Scouts are the best of the best that Indiana has to offer.”
The Indiana National Guard was on site with a rotation of activities for the Scouts including inflatable jousting and a trailer that housed a shooting training simulation.
Tours were also offered where the Scouts learned about the history of the Residence and the opportunity to play a fifty thousand dollar grand piano. The Residence’s butler and tour guide, Dexter, was very impressed at how musically skilled some of our Scouts were.
The Scouts also got a surprise at the end of the tour by playing a little basketball with players from the IUPUI Jaguars.
After dinner, which was provided by the Fire Crafter Cooking Crew, a multi-denominational worship service was led by Chaplain Ken Steppe with guest Speaker Muzaffar Ahmad. The service began with an educational session where the similarities between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam were discussed so that our Scouts would understand that the values we all share far outweigh the slight differences we have.
Saturday night concluded with a Campfire Program with counselors from Belzer and Ransburg along with a Cracker Barrel snack.
The Humane Society of Indiana stopped by after Flag Raising and breakfast Sunday morning and the Scouts served by making dog and cat toys by braiding old t-shirt material and making cardboard cat toys for the pets being housed in shelters.
Troop 56 was honored to be selected for this great opportunity and would like to thank the Indiana State Government for its continued dedication to Scouting, the Indiana National Guard for contributing their time, the IUPUI Jaguars for taking time to connect with the youth, and all the Scout volunteers and speakers who served this weekend.
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