FULKS RUN, Virginia USA — BSA Troop 40 Massanutten District-Stonewall Jackson Area Council, and the TRA Prefecture & NAR Section Valley Aerospace Team (VAST) are co-hosting a District Fall Camporee, "October Fly!" this October 12-14, 2007 at Ruritan Park in Fulks Run, Virginia.

Based around Space Exploration and Rocketry, and in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Flight of Sputnik I, the birth of the modern Space Age, the hosts have designed a slate of Scouting activities that build upon the ideals of Scouting while capturing in small part the adventure and excitement that comes along with rocketry and related skills.

The primary rockets to be launched for this event will be constructed by patrols, on-site, using parts obtained through their participation in team-oriented activities.  Along with the launch there will be separate instructional areas for Scouts to earn the Space Exploration Merit Badge as well as completing requirements for several other merit badges.  Adults will also learn interesting things about rocketry, particularly in running launches for groups.  In addition to the Scout rocket launch and Merit Badge activities, there will be activities for Cub Scouts and WEBELOS, such as rubber-band rockets and mini-Sputniks.

Part of the registration fees will cover the cost of rocket kits and engines for each patrol.  But because of the need to order sufficient materials, and the relatively limited space for camping, pre-registration is extremely important. Pre-registration does not mean prepaying — they hosts simply need to know how many Scouts, Scouters, and Cub Scouts are planning on attending.

The Valley Aerospace Team (VAST) prefecture which will be running the launches, providing safety checks, and displaying a variety of large, high-power rockets.  If conditions permit, there will be demonstration launches of some of these rockets, as well as a night launch after the Campfire Program.

Camporee details can be found in the accompanying document, along with contact information and directions to the park site, which includes areas for parking, camping, Scout events, merit badge classes, launches, and campfire.  Water and restroom facilities will also be available on-site.

Document: BSA Troop 40 Fall Camporee 2007 - October Fly - Brochure (96K Adobe PDF)

10-15-2007 07:26 AM  #1
Aphyle Hot HCl and rubber @ AM   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 107	Follow-Up I just wanted to leave a brief note for follow-up on our camporee. A longer note will follow, once I recover from my lack of sleep! We had a fantastic event, hosting 284 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Adult Leaders/Scouters. We had so many people that we had to order extra patches!!! And this was only a district event (we are part of a 4 district council) We launched over 70 Sputnik Toos, made over 40 Aerotech Airspike launches, and launched a host of other Estes kits and RTFs (including a Dude). The Valley Aerospace Team provided a number of demonstration launches, starting with "reveille" mid-power launches and a variety of mid- and high-power launches during the Saturday events. We guessed that the launch buttons were pushed over 150 times! Bill Fredricks of NASA-Langley inspired dreams of space flight, giving a campfire presentation on the Ares booster project. And the night launches were fantastic in the 35 degree cloudless starry night! Overall, the troops and packs left happy, inspired, and ready to launch a few more rockets on their own!