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Central Texas Camporee

11/10/2025

The SAIL Pathfinders spent a warm, windy weekend out in Driftwood to take part in the Central Texas Camporee, with 17 other Pathfinder Clubs from all over the region. This was a chance to test out our new equipment, enjoy time outdoors, practice and hone our skills, take on some leadership roles, enjoy fellowship, strengthen our faith - and run an obstacle course. As is often the case, the SAILs arrived in the evening, but the Pathfinders have be become experts at setting up in the dark, and the campsite was ready quickly, letting the club take part in the evening program. Very early Sabbath morning it was time for flag raising, then a good breakfast and on to the church service.

In the afternoon, the SAILs honed their camping and wilderness skills, and the TLTs helped teach camp safety. After flag lowering and the evening program, it was time for more honor work, time to meet folks from other clubs, and even a night-time volleyball tournament.

Sunday morning was the obstacle course race (the TLTs helped man the stations as part of their service component). 22 obstacles stretched over a mile and a half, with walls, mud crawls, rope bridges, and plenty of other challenges that tested the individual skills and the club's ability to work together as a team.

When the closing program came, it seemed like the Camporee had only started a few minutes earlier!

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Bats Come to a SAIL Pathfinder Meeting

10/30/2025

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The Austin Bat Refuge visited the SAIL Pathfinder Club for our final meeting of October, and the final part of our work on the Bats honor. The SAILs were excited to welcome our guest - and the two Mexican Free-Tailed Bats that she brought with her. Through an interactive session, the SAILs learned all about the lives of bats, what they eat, how they hunt, and the many myths around bats. Bats are wonderful creatures, keeping pest insect populations under control and protecting our crops. By better understanding these flying mammals, the Pathfinders learned what they can do to help keep bats safe and protect their environment.

Of course the favorite part of the meeting was getting an up close look at the bat ambassadors, listening to them vocalize, and watch them eat their vitamin-and-mineral-dusted mealworms. For most of the Pathfinders, they found the bats to be cute, not the frightening creatures often portrayed in myth and media. To conclude the meeting, several Pathfinders read poems they had written about bats, sharing creatively their appreciation for our fuzzy flying friends.

Some SAIL Pathfinder Club Bat Poetry

Bats glide gently through the sky,
Silent wings as they fly by,
Eating pests, they help us all,
Tiny dudes, brave and small.
___________________________

Bats fly under moonlit skies,
Catching bugs with watchful eyes,
Don't be scared, they mean no harm,
Helping farms, with nature’s charm
__________________________

Wings weaved in darkness
Stars shine over hunters at night
Freedom in wind's breeze
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How lovely are bats
They are so cute and fuzzy
How lovely are bats
_________________________

The sun goes down,
They stir, emerge, and take flight
Winging through the night
__________________________

A little brown bat with wings so wide
Zoomed through the sky on a moonlight ride
It zipped and it dipped so fast so free
A tiny explorer of night’s mystery

Nighttime bats flying into the night
Going back to roost when they see the light
Swift and fast catching bugs in the air
Going around the world without care
_____________________________

Bats fly softly through the night
Catching bugs in midair flight
Helpful creatures, small and bright
Nature’s friends beneath moonlight
____________________________

bats flutter softly
midnight’s whispering keepers
drinking stars and echos
their wings hum ancient night songs
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They fly at night
To snare a treat
They hunt with sound
The bugs they eat
Then back at dawn
To roost and sleep
Their help to man
Just can’t be beat!
__________________________

Bats are lit
So get down
With it
Bats are cool
So tell everyone
At school
Bats = Cool

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Bat Boxes and a Week of Prayer

10/20/2025

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Building Bat Boxes

The Oct 15 Wednesday night club meeting became a construction site with the building of two bat boxes. One of the staff prepared the kits ready to be assembled and brought his power tools to do the job. The Junior and Senior units each had a box to build as a team, each Pathfinder taking a turn using the staple/nail gun, then drilling in holes and screws. Besides learning to measure accurately and handle power tools, they learned what makes a bat box inviting for bats to use (narrow slots with grooves to hang from, etc) and how to hang it where predators like hawks, raccoons, snakes and such will not have easy access to having a bat dinner. The finished boxes look great and were a fun project! We will be hanging them later this year, and watching to see if we can attract some bats to the neighborhood.

Week of Prayer

The Pathfinders did an excellent job helping out during the regional church service at the end of the week of prayer. They showed great teamwork and respect throughout the event. They helped by handing out flyers to everyone, welcoming people at the door with friendly smiles, and assisting with collecting the tithes and offerings in an organized way. Their good behavior and willingness to serve made a positive impression on the congregation and showed their dedication and responsibility as Pathfinders. Even the speaker was impressed by how attentive the Pathfinders were. While we spend a lot of time in the outdoors, focused on nature and adventure, we are also called to service and mission as a core of the Pathfinder program.

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Central Texas Camporee

Bats Come to a SAIL Pathfinder Meeting

Bat Boxes and a Week of Prayer

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