Cub Scout Fun Day Coincides with “The Ordeal”

Cub Scout Fun Day at the Ernest Thompson Seton Scout Reservation saw dozens of boys in grades 1-5 enjoyed the fresh air and activities including archery, riflery, climbing walls, and even cooking s’mores over a campfire.

Camp Seton boasts 250 acres, which affords five miles of hiking without leaving the camp. Greenwich’s Police Chief Heavey, an Eagle Scout himself, extended warm welcomes to all the boys who came to explore the reservation.

A happy surprise was that a giant teepee was erected on Saturday by a group of scouts participating in “The Ordeal.” That meant the boys assembled the teepee in silence.

The Ordeal is a challenge of the Order of the Arrow, which is Scouting’s National Honor Society. The Order of the Arrow recognizes Scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.

The candidates who are participated in “The Ordeal” this weekend wore wooden arrows. Once they complete their “Ordeal,” they get an arrow without the triangle and hearts. After a year they will hope to get into the brotherhood, which will be represented by red bars on their sash.

Chief Heavey explained the requirements of The Ordeal. The boys have to do four things, starting with sleeping under the stars for a night, not speaking for 24 hours, eating scant food and and spend a day in service for the camp.

One of the stations at Cub Scout Fun day was leather bookmark making. Credit: Leslie Yager

During Cub Scout Fun Day at Seton Reservation boys enjoyed the archery range. Credit: Leslie Yager

Mad skills on the climbing wall with James Tesei at Camp Seton on Cub Scout Fun Day. Credit Peter Tesei

The Bernstein boys at the leather book mark making station on Cub Scout Fund Day at Camp Seton, Sept. 19, 2015

William McKay and Alex Nanai at Camp Seton explained “The Ordeal” weekend on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager

Hammering the stamps into leather bookmarks at Cub Scout Fun Day, Sat. Sept. 20, 2015

At Cub Scout Fun Day, boys enjoyed the climbing wall. Credit: Leslie Yager

Making s’mores with the benefit of an open campfire at Cub Scout Fun Day, Sept. 19, 2015

Good aim, Arjun Kishore, a 5th grader at Old Greenwich School. Credit: Leslie Yager

Boys from grades 1-5 were invited to Cub Scout Fun Day at Camp Seton, a 250 acre reservation, which, on Saturday featured a teepee! Credit: Leslie Yager

Inside the teepee at Camp Seton on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015

Boy Scouts participating in the weekend long “Ordeal” didn’t speak for a day, ate scant food and did some good old fashioned manual labor around Camp Seton. Credit: Leslie Yager