Boy Scout Troop 45

Scouting from a Christian Perspective

Christian Academy of Knoxville

Troop 45

Boy Scout Troop 45

Recent Events

Pioneering was the theme for the Toqua District 2005 Spring Camporee held at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.  In addition to building a “Gateway”, and “Camp Gadgets”, eight competitive events were place at various stations.  Despite the damp weather, each scout increased his knowledge in knots and lashings.

Every year, Troop 45 practices our winter camping skills.  While we did start the day with a frosty morning, the temperatures warmed quickly as the sun appeared.  After playing some neat scout games and working on our dutch oven cooking skills, members of the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad discussed with us how search and rescue operations are conducted.  We even tested our search capabilities with a mock search.

Spring 2005 Camporee

2005 Winter Freeze Campout

On November 11, 2004, the troop hiked to the top of Frozen Head (in Frozen Head State Park) near Wartburg, TN.  Frozen Head State Park has over 50 miles of very scenic and challenging trails.  The hike to the top of Frozen Head has a vertical climb of 2,000 feet.  While the hike is challenging, the view is outstanding!  Plus there are tables at the top thanks to an Eagle Scout project.

Hike to the top of Frozen Head (Frozen Head State Park)

On November 6, 2004, the troop traveled to Damascus VA to experience the downhill beauty of the Virginia Creeper trail. The Virginia Creeper train last ran in 1977 and the rails were removed shortly afterwards.  The trail is a shared-use trail (mountain biking, hiking, and horses).  On this day, we rode our mountain bikes 17 miles from the Whitetop trailhead to Damascus (only the last 3 miles or so required pedaling).

Virginia Creeper Bike Ride

On May 28, 2005, seven scouts and five adults left CAK at 7:00 AM to hike 8.5 miles in the Cumberland Gap National Park to Sand Cave and White Rocks Overlook. While it was lightly raining when we left CAK, the weather was clear by the time we got to the trailhead near Ewing VA.  With a partly cloudy sky, moderate temperatures, blooming wildflowers, and blooming rhododendron, it was a PERFECT day for hiking!

Hike to Sand Cave and White Rocks Overlook in the Cumberland Gap National Park

The Fall 2004 Camporee was held at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.  Various Scouting skills (orienteering, cooking while backpacking, dutch oven cooking, leave no trace, etc.) demonstrations were conducted.  In the afternoon we did a service project by helping the National Park Service clear some fallen trees.

Fall 2004 Camporee

On August 14, 2004, the Wandering Coyotes patrol went on their first backpacking trip on the Angel Falls Overlook Trail in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.  We learned how to protect our food from animals (hang in bear bags), prepare meals,  and three ways to make water safe to drink while in the backcountry.

Wandering Coyotes’ First Backpacking Trip

Summer Camp at Camp Buck Toms is always a great time to spend with friends, develop new friendships, learn new skills, and develop new hobbies while working on some requirements for merit badges.  In addition to merit badge work, “free” time can be filled with a game of horseshoes, a volleyball game, waterfront activities, or other campsite games. 

2004 Summer Camp

At the top of Sand Cave!

After reaching Camp Buck Toms, we always head to the waterfront (see photo on left) to take our annual swimming test.  The week at Camp Buck Toms is always filled with lots of merit badge work and just enough “free time” that we fill with games of horseshoes, volleyball, waterfront activities, or other campsite games.  Every year we do a small service project for the camp. 

2005 Summer Camp

Troop/Family Whitewater Rafting/Camping

August 20-21, 2005

The raft trip with outfitter Big Creek Expeditions (www.bigcreekexpeditions.com)on the Upper Pigeon River went through the Cherokee National Forest with mostly Class III and Class IV