Fall Fest, Silver Turtles, S’mores, and More
Pack 334 spent a fantastic fall weekend camping at Musser Scout Reservation, in the Native American Village campsite — a beautiful and historic spot within the Cradle of Liberty Council’s property.
We’ve been planning and prepping for our October camping trip for weeks, and all the hard work paid off. What a fantastic weekend!
Friday, October 17
We arrived after 6 p.m. on Friday evening and parked near the main lot before hauling our gear down to camp. It was a bit of a challenge in the dark — there weren’t enough carts to go around — but spirits stayed high.
I learned that the Rangers will set up a trailer for the Pack, and everyone can put their gear in there, and then they will drive it down to the campsite. And then on Sunday, they will come pick it up and drive it back to the parking lot. I wish I had understood that before we arrived, but at least we know for next time!
While tents went up, a campfire was built (shout out to Greg, Stephanie, and Justin) and soon Scouts were roasting marshmallows and making s’mores under the stars. The temperature dropped quickly, giving everyone a real taste of autumn camping.
Saturday, October 18
Saturday morning began early, with leaders firing up the kitchen and filling the campsite with the smell of breakfast. Scouts and parents enjoyed a hearty meal of French toast, sausage, and bacon, along with cold cereal, muffins, fruit, and plenty of coffee and hot chocolate.
After breakfast, we set out to catch the bus to the Fall Fest program hosted by the Cradle of Liberty Council. A limited number of buses meant a slow start — only one bus was running — but Den Leader Greg saved the day by shuttling Scouts and parents in his car.
Once on site, Scouts jumped right into a full day of activities, including fishing, archery, leatherwork, bouldering, and more. Lunch was a popular taco bar before the afternoon continued with more fun and adventure.
When the day’s stations closed, the Pack made its way back to our campsite. Some Scouts opted to hike the steep trail back instead of waiting for the bus — showing true Scout spirit and determination!
Dinner that evening was a hit: “silver turtles” (foil packet meals) filled with each Scout’s custom combination of proteins, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. We used charcoal with Troop 334’s custom made charcoal grills, and we were able to cook 40 at a time! It took some practice to get the timing right, but everyone loved their meals.
The night ended with another campfire and more s’mores, of course.
Sunday, October 19
Sunday morning brought clear blue skies, golden leaves, and plenty of running and laughter through the woods. Breakfast was pancakes with sausage and bacon — and, yes, more coffee and hot chocolate.
This time however, the bulk of the cooking was done by Cub Scouts! Everything turned out amazing.
Afterward, everyone pitched in to pack up and clean up, practicing Leave No Trace and leaving the campsite even better than we found it.
Once cleared by the Ranger, we made our way home — tired, happy, and full of great memories from a wonderful weekend.
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