Eight members of Girl Scout Cadette Troop 3849, based in Montclair, took home the top prize in the first-ever Teens in the Timber Outdoor Survival Competition held May 22 to 24 at Camp Brighton Woods in Mary-land.
During the competition, organized by Girl Scout leader Denise Haskins of Frederick, Md., Troop 3849 competed against 12 other Girl Scout teams from around the Washington area.
The teams competed in first aid, emergency survival, fire building, orienteering, lashing, leave no trace and knots.
The girls used their knowledge and teamwork to complete the tasks given at every station. For example, at fire building the girls' task was to collect wood, start a fire and keep the fire going in order to fully bake a pan-cake using only tin foil. The girls then had to show how to safely and correctly extinguish a fire and disperse the cooled ashes. The tough part: Under no circumstances could the adults help, including no whispering and no helpful glances.
Preparing for Teens in the Timber was a lot of hard work. The troop had to practice its survival skills in four catego-ries. Getting lost while orienteering was a small price the Scouts paid to learn how to use compasses and read maps.
The troop also held a camp-out to make sure the girls knew everything they needed to succeed.
Many things happened during Teens in the Timber that the troop will never forget, such as an "over-cooked" giraffe-shaped pancake, our painful homemade stool (the Crackin) and the little night buddy the girls named Jeremy, a sneaky raccoon that got into their lunches. Yes, raccoons do like Subway sandwiches, too.
Four different levels of awards were handed out at the end of the competition. They included: Ash, Birch, Maple and the Mighty Oak. Five teams earned the Ash award, four received Birch and three teams got Maple. Then it was time for the Mighty Oak. When the troop's number was called as the first-ever winners of the Teens in the Timber Survival Competition, the shock and pleasure of the moment were its own rewards. All of the troop's hard work and preparation finally paid off.
Nina Lindsay and Kristin Poole are members of Girl Scout Troop 3849.
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