Blog Posts

Preparing for Canoe Camping

5/19/2025

The SAIL Senior Unit spent a day on the water practicing for the upcoming canoe camping trip. In addition to improving tandem canoe coordination, we practiced various strokes, honed our steering and communications skills by maneuvering under overhanging trees and between bridge columns, and practiced entering and exiting canoes along shorelines and at docks. Then came the fun. We practiced how to deal with a capsized canoe by intentionally rolling our canoes. We practiced rescue and recovery with a partner canoe, lifting the overturned canoe over the gunwales of the recovery canoe to empty the water, and we practiced solo recovery by swimming the overturned canoe to shore to empty and relaunch from there. By experiencing an overturned canoe in a controlled setting, the Pathfinders will be better prepared to deal with any emergency we may have on the river in a few weeks. And the cool spring water felt great in this hot Texas weather!

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Texas Pathfinder Camporee: The Upgrade

4/22/2025

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The SAILs took part in the Texas Pathfinder Camporee this weekend, along with some 4000 other Pathfinders from around the state. We faced high winds (lost another kitchen canopy), dust, heat, rain, mud, and all manner of typical Camporee weather, all with a smile and confident spirit. The SAILs performed well, particularly in the Drill competition, where they made no mistakes and performed the required routine in a club-record time. The SAILs also presented about the history and activities of the club - The SAIL Way - and competed in a knot tying competition, where they showed precision in each knot, bend, and hitch. The SAIL TLTs had some of their own responsibilities, the Junior Unit visited the lake, and joined other activities. As with all our outings, the SAIL Pathfinders themselves take charge of setting up and breaking down camp, of cooking the meals and cleaning the dishes, and taking responsibility to move the club to each event together. The programs were exciting and inspirational, filled with music and message. Two of our TLTs were called to assist in flag duty, and one called all 4000 Pathfinders to attention to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and kick off the Sabbath program. We marched in a parade of clubs, passing by the review stand, passed our campsite and uniform inspections, and were thrilled to find out we were recognized as an Elite club for our activities last year. Camporees are busy times, but that didn't stop the SAIL Pathfinders from meeting many friends from across Texas and making some new friends - ones we are looking forward to meeting again next year when we attend the Union Camporee. Though we were ma little cramped for our travel (our rented van didn't work so they downgraded our vehicle), and we dealt with weather, delays, and the usual unpredictability of a large event, the SAILs remained unperturbed, positive, and eager to face our next challenge.

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Easter Service, Camporee, and Global Youth Day II - A Busy April

4/16/2025

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The SAILs performed a musical program at the Church for Easter (a week early), and are now getting ready for a long weekend at the Texas Pathfinder Camporee. Camporee marks a time to meet with Pathfinders from across Texas, seeing old friends and making new ones, all in a wonderful outdoor setting. (Of course, we DO expect "Camporee Weather," meaning high winds and plenty of rain. But we persevere. A week after Camporee the SAILs will join Pathfinders and other youth from across Central Texas for the Global Youth Day II outreach, fellowship, and sports night. April is proving to be a full month!

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Preparing for Canoe Camping

Texas Pathfinder Camporee: The Upgrade

Easter Service, Camporee, and Global Youth Day II - A Busy April

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