Troop 688 participated in the Skyline Trail Hike which is organized by Troop 546. 5 Scouts and 8 Scouters along with 1 WEBELOS Scout started the 10.5 mile hike by skipping the 2 mile bus ride and hiked up the road to the starting point of the hike. We were all pretty sore by the end of the hike but we had fun.
SUMMER CAMP 2002
Troop 688 attended summer camp at Circle X at Bighorn. 16 Scouts and 4 Scouters attended and interestingly enough only 13 Scouts made the return trip (there's a story there but that's for another time). The pathfinder program helped the younger boys earn a lot of signoffs for advancement.
The Venturing crew participated in a long term campout near Frasier park. Six Venturers attended the campout which included various hikes and other adventures.
SCOUTING FOR FOOD 2002
November 16,2002
Troop and Pack 688 once again participated in BSA's national good turn. Starting things off with chorizo and egg burritos, the Scouts gathered up, organized and hit the streets to drop off bags and returned hours later to pick up food and later delivered all the food to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors organization which helps the needy with food, clothes, and other necessities of life.
SCOUTS WALK FOR LIFE
Four Scouts and two Scouters from Troop 688 joined about 400 other people from several area churches March 16th, 2002 in the Walk for Life. to benefit the Whittier Life Center which helps women in crisis pregnancies. The four Scouts made the one way trip which is supposed to be five miles (but I measured it at about four) and the two over-forty Scouters made the round trip!! A bar-b-que lunch was available after the event which started and ended at St Bruno Church.
FALL CAMPOREE 2002
Twelve Scouts and five Scouters from Troop 688 attended Rio Hondo District's Fall Camporee, the Bob Hopper Memorial, on October 25th thru 27th. The Camporee was held at Schabarum Park in Rowlnd Heights. The park proved to be a great location for the camporee which featured a midway of events that tested the Scouts skills and teamwork. At least 3 events tested the Scouts lashing and knot tying skills. Other events featured flapjack flipping, nail driving and splitting matches with a hatchet. Many thanks to the Steads and all of the others Scouters who volunteered their time to help out at the camporee.
LASER TAG
Venture Crew 688 organized a trip to Laser Quest in Fullerton on April 13, 2002. Five Venturers, six Scouts, and four adults played two games and had a great time
* Non Camper
.15th Annual Pancake Breakfast
Whittier's absolute best pancake breakfast was once again hosted by the boys and adults of Troop 688. April 21st 2002 was the date. On the menu.... Buttermilk and blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, orange juice, milk, and coffee. We then congregated at Spires to thank them for their donation.
CHANTRY FLATS HIKE
Eight Scouts and three Scouters participated in a Good Friday hike on March 29, 2002 which began at Chantry Flats. The morning was perfect for the hike with overcast skies clearing later in the day. We hiked up to Sturtevant Falls, back up to the main trail and then the boys voted to hike to Hoegees camp or lunch. See the photos at the Hoegees Hike page.
BOY SCOUT RELAYS
June 8,2002, Monterey Park, CA
Once again, Coach Bob Miller and his staff organized and ran the Boy Scout relays at East Los Angeles College. Rio Hondo District was well represented and Troop 688 did particularly well. With 10 Scouts in attendance, 688 came home with 3 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medal along with a division trophy. The winners were: Matthew E. with a bronze in the 400 meter run, Mike E. with a silver in the softball throw, Tim L. with silvers in the 50 meter dash, the 400 meter run and the long jump, Chris L with gold in the 50 meter dash and the long jump (17' 1"), and the team of Jerome T, Tim L, Mike E, and Chris L with the gold in the 4 x 100 relay. The troop won the divisional trophy for overall best score in the 15-16 year old division. Congratulations Scouts!!
SPRING CAMPOREE 2002
Ten Scouts and six Scouters from Troop 688 attended Rio Hondo District's Spring Camporee on April 26th thru 28th. The Camporee was held at Lake Perris. We had a lot of fun and won some honors including 3rd place in Dutch oven cooking, 1st place in the Venturing volleyball tournament and 1st place in the Venturing division of the triathlon. Pack 688 also won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the WEBELOS division of the triathlon. Some of the boys spent a lot of time fishing and we all spent some time pulling weeds for a conservation project. Kudos go to the Steads and the Siwinis lodge of the Order of the Arrow for putting on a terrific Camporee.
