For the first time since 2019, Troop 542 held a catapult-launching competition during its October 28-30 tent camping trip at Parvin State Park, NJ. Leading up to the trip, patrols collaborated on blueprints, concepts, and mechanisms to create trebuchets and catapults capable of launching projectiles. Each trebuchet or catapult needed to be dismantled for transport and reassembled at the competition campsite.
On Saturday afternoon, the patrols began setting up the catapults at a park beach, which would serve as a level platform. However, a park ranger approached the Troop to let us know the beach was closed and we were not permitted to launch softballs into the lake. After some consultation with Scoutmasters and the park ranger, the Scouts assembled and dry-fired the catapults with the Cobra patrol taking first place.
On Sunday morning, Troop 542 began to break down the campsite in preparation for departure. After an interfaith service led by the Troop’s Chaplain Aide, the Scouts left Parvin State Park and returned home to Supplee Presbyterian Church to unload equipment.