Recent Activities

Campout on the Prairie

A brisk cold wind blasted nineteen Boy Scouts and leaders of Troop 59 during a Kansas prairie campout the weekend of November 7-9. The campout was held on the Kay Ranch, which is in the upland prairie west of the Republican River near Clay Center, Kansas. The ranch has no marked trails or roads, few fences and is mostly just tall grass pasture with few trees. The troop chose to camp in this area for its complete contrast to the troop’s usual woodland campgrounds like the Bromelsick property near Clinton Lake.

Camp was set up Friday night under cold starry skies, with a sharp wind blowing. The sunny skies and temperatures in the low 50s of the weekend forecast never materialized, as on Saturday morning the clouds moved in, temperatures hovered below 40 and the strong winds created a severe wind chill. To start the campout program, Clay County Soil Conservation Service agent Tom Meek met the Scouts, teaching them about the prairie ecosystem and helping them identify the dominate grasses of that particular area.

The Scouts then took hikes through native prairie grasses that were sometimes four feet tall, practicing map and compass techniques to navigate where obvious landmarks and trails did not exist. They also worked with GPS units as a way of navigating in unfamiliar terrain. Scoutmaster Mark Stogsdill and his wife Sheila made a surprise visit, driving out to visit the Scouts during the afternoon and participating in the GPS training hike. During their hikes, the Scouts discovered several animal skeletons, located a couple of animal burrows, surprised two groups of deer and even saw a large skunk.

Sunday morning the Scouts woke to bright sunshine and an eighteen-degree temperature and tents coated with a thick layer of frost. Because of the fire hazard with tall grass and strong winds, the Scouts could not build fires and had to rely on layers of clothing for warmth.

Scouts attending the campout included senior patrol leader James Windholz, Patrick Fay, Scott Ragan, Sam Corkins, Derek Kappelman, Matthew Day, Drew Sheppard, Taylor Smith, Tanner Smith, Nathan Kappelman, Sam Evans, and Justin Lewis. Adult leaders were assistant committee chair Diane Lewis and assistant scoutmasters Kirk Evans, Philip Wrigley, Clay Kappelman, Doug Fay, Patrick Smith and Keith Wood.

JLT Campout at Bromelsick

Boy Scout Troop 59 of Lawrence had ideal camping weather on September 20 as they enjoyed the Bromelsick grounds near Clinton Lake. The campout featured training exercises to usher in the leadership team of newly elected Senior Patrol Leader James Windholz (Soph., Free State High). An energetic crew of younger scouts learned about BSA history and organization, troop positions and duties, and team-building techniques as taught by the older boy leaders. Other activities included fishing at Bromelsick Lake and using the boys' lashing skills to build a sturdy picnic table with benches. Of course, campsite setup, fire building, cooking, and all the usual outdoor fun were also part of the event.

Cosmosphere • Space Exploration

On August 23rd members of Boy Scout Troop 59, chartered to the First Presbyterian church in Lawrence, went to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas. At the Cosmosphere they learned about space and rocketry then built and launched their own rockets for Space Exploration merit badge. Scouts who received their Space Exploration merit badge were Mathew Day, Frank Depenbusch, George Depenbusch, Sam Evans, Jacob DiVilbiss, TJ Everett, James Fredrickson, Ty Hartman, Dustin Hauptman, Nathan Kappelman, Luke Oberrieder, Sam Oliver, Geoff Peard, Jack Powell, Tanner Smith, Taylor Smith, Kyle Vogelsang, Jakob Walter, Evan Williams, and Reid Williams. Cub scouts Charlie Evans and Keifer Smith also joined in the activities. Troop 59 leaders and adults attending were Sandy Day, Kirk Evans, Chris Everett, Clay Kappelman, Dave Oberrieder, Mike Oberrieder, Kelley Smith, Patrick Smith, Audrey Taylor, and Brian Walter.

Troop swim night at the outdoor pool

A troop swim night is a great end to our summer activities and celebration for the start of a new school year.

Eagle Projects in July and August 2008

Bartle Scout Reservation • July 7-16, 2008

Scouts from Troop 59, chartered to First Presbyterian Church, participated in a 10-day summer camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation near Osceola, Mo.

Activities included merit badges in climbing, swimming, lifesaving, environmental science, woodcarving, leatherwork, geology and mammal study; a five-mile hike to Scott’s General Store in Iconium; rifle shooting and archery; three campfires with Scouts performing skits and three ceremonies for the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, the honor camping society at Camp Bartle.

Several Scouts completed rank advancements: Tenderfoots — George Depenbusch, Justin Lewis, and Jack Powell; Tenderfoot Second Class — Jacob DiVilbiss, Ty Hartman, Sam Oliver, Tanner Smith, Taylor Smith and Evan Williams; First Class — T. J. Everett and Jakob Walter; Star Scouts — Josh Hodge and Jake Rogers; Life Scouts — Chase Low and Frank Depenbusch; Foxman Recognition by the Tribe of Mic-O-Say — Matthew Day, Frank Depenbusch, James Fredrickson, Liam Inbody and Reid Williams; Braves advancing to the rank of Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say — Connor Caldwell, Sam Corkins, Patrick Fay, Harrison Helmick, Riley King, Alex Kong, Trevor Leslie, James Windholz and Dom Reiske, Troop 52, also attended; Orange Paint of a Firebuilder — Henry Chapman, John Fredrickson and Derrick Weishaar; and Green Paint of a TomTom Beater — Keagan Taylor.

Rich Bailey, a member of the Troop 59 Committee and also the assistant advancement chairman for the Pelathe District, was elevated to White Paint as a Sachem in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, a member of the governing Tribal Council.

Gary Weishaar served as the Camp Scoutmaster for the session, and was assisted by eight other full-time adult leaders, plus 17 other adult leaders who were in camp for a period of two to seven days.

Green River High Adventure

Troop 59 organized its own high adventure where they canoed the Green River in Utah. (photos)

On June 21, 34 members of Boy Scout Troop 59, chartered to the First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, participated in a Scouting High Adventure. During the 10-day trek, the Scouts visited four national parks. Eleven adult leaders and 23 Scouts visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Four Corners Monument and drove through Monument Valley. They spent five days canoeing on the Green River, out of Moab, Utah, which runs through Canyonlands National Park, and they also visited the Arches National Park on their return trip.

The group broke into four crews in Moab. Crews 1 and 2 canoed Labryrinth Canyon for 68 miles. Crews 3 and 4 canoed the Stillwater Canyon for 65 miles.

Members of Crew 1: Tristan Alfie, Henry Chapman, Matthew Day, James Fredrickson, Liam Inbody and Ryan Marienau. Adult leaders were Ed Day, Kevin Fredrickson and Fred Inbody.

Members of Crew 2: Philip Gabler, Chase Low, Colin Phillips, Ben Seybert, Josh Seybert and Reid Williams. Adult leaders were Paul Gabler, Kirk Low and Russ Seybert.

Members of Crew 3: Chip Allen, John Fredrickson, Alex Kong, Derrick Weishaar and Eric Yowell. Adult leaders were Mark Workman, high adventure trip coordinator, Patty Allen and Jon Standing.

Members of Crew 4: Connor Caldwell, Riley King, Trevor Leslie, Scott Ragan, Adam Wangler and James Windholz. Adult leaders were Tim Windholz and Ron King.

The crews practiced “leave no trace” camping skills. Everything that went into the park was carried back out of the park. The Scouts and leaders practiced canoeing and “leave no trace” skills during extra campouts.

Devil's Den State Park Mini High Adventure

Twelve miles of hiking during a three-day weekend campout highlighted Troop 59’s mini-high adventure trip to Devils Den State Park in northwest Arkansas June 12 to June 15, 2008. Seven Scouts and five adult leaders started the weekend on the Devils Den trail which explores a honeycomb of narrow slot caves, muddy crevices and a deep cave called the Devil’s Ice Box that has very cold air flowing out of it. One Scout accidentally dropped his water bottle into one of the slot caves. Thinking it lost, the Scouts started to leave when a girl with another group who was down in the slot found it and tossed the water bottle back out.

The second day included a hike to Yellow Rock Bluff that towers hundreds of feet above the Lee Creek Valley. Scouts standing on the edge of the bluff waved to campers in the river that runs through the park several hundred feet below. Nearby was an overlook shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s as part of the whole project that developed the state park. The Scouts took a snack break there and had fun reading the graffiti all over the inside of the shelter house. The afternoon was spent exploring the CCC-built dam that forms the park’s lake and having fun in the swimming pool. Local thunderstorms failed to dampen the Scouts’ fun as they organized kickball games that included Cub Scouts from nearby Rogers, Arkansas. Just before supper, the Scouts spent about half-an-hour skipping rocks in the river.

The thunderstorms did have a major impact after supper. A really heavy downpour forced the Scouts to huddle under the dining flys. When the storm let up enough, the Scouts scurried into their tents but leader Joe Stellwagon discovered that his tent was in a low spot. Water was puddled around his tent and was getting inside. Fortunately his gear did not get wet. He moved his gear into a car trunk and shared another leader’s tent for the night.

The major event of the trip was a seven and a half-mile day hike on Saturday along the Butterfield Hiking Trail. The trail parallels part of the old Butterfield Stagecoach Line that connected this area to the American Southwest over what is now Arkansas’ Boston Mountains. The trail circles a typical Ozark Mountains-like ridge with elevation changes of almost a thousand feet. Many of the trails are also used by horse riders, so some sections were really chewed up and difficult to walk upon. At the end of the hike the Scouts enjoyed cold sodas. A closing campfire gave the Scouts a chance to talk about their trip and the fun they had.

Scouts Luke Oberreider and Kiefer Stellwagon served as the crew chiefs for this trip. Other Scouts participating were Sam Evans, Nolan Kappelman, Ryan Bellinger, Brandon Botkin, and Levi Sedlock

Adult advisors for the trip were Mike Oberreider, Joe Stellwagon, Kirk Evans, Mike Botkin and Keith Wood. Also on the trip was Leda Sedlock who provided transportation and her daughter Anelise.

June 2008 Campout

Seven scouts and four adults camped at Clinton Lake for the June campout. Scouts worked on cooking and cleaning skills. They also got in a hike on part of the blue trail.

Family Canoe Trip • May 2008

Scouts and families from Troop 59 and Venture Crew 2052 attended the annual canoe and rafting trip down the Niangua River Oasis in Missouri on May 16-18. There were 124 participants, which included 74 family members, 46 Troop 59 Scouts, and four venturing Crew 2052 Scouts.

Scouts who participated: Jeffrey Ahle, Chip Allen, Ryan Bellinger, Brandon Botkin, Conner Caldwell, Henry Chapman, Matthew Day, Frank Depenbusch, George Depenbusch, Jacob DiVilbiss, Sam Dowell, Sam Evans, T.J. Everett, Patrick Fay, John Fredrickson, Harrison Helmick, Derrick Kappelman, Nathan Kappelman, Riley King, Alex Kong, Trevor Leslie, Justin Lewis, Logan Littrell, Luke Oberrieder, Sam Oliver, Geoffrey Peard, Luke Peirce, Jack Powell, Scott Ragan, Jake Rogers, Levi Sedlock, Ben Seybert, Josh Seybert, Tanner Smith, Taylor Smith, Keifer Stellwagon, Joe Stogsdill, Keagan Taylor, Kyle Vogelsang, Derrick Weishaar, Evan Williams, Reid Williams and James Windholz.

Venturing Crew 2052 who participated: Erica Hernly, Elizabeth Love, Brianna Spence and Kelsey Taylor.

Congratulations to the new Scouts who were inducted and received a Troop 59 Scout neckerchief. New Scouts present were George Depenbusch, Jacob DiVilbiss, Justin Lewis, Logan Littrell, Sam Oliver, Geoffrey Peard, Jack Powell, Tanner Smith, Taylor Smith, Kyle Vogelsang and Evan Williams.