Fall 2010

Congratulations to Our First-Ever Wall of Fame Inductees!

Full Wall of Fame Coverage • Winter Gathering 2011 page 6-7 page 4 The Cachaletter Greetings, Alumni! District Updates Upcoming Events and Important Dates Copyright ©2010, Vic Sylvia, Association Chairman Peter W. Ashworth, Cachalot District Executive Camp Cachalot Alumni Association January 15, 2011 Cachalot Alumni at The Cachaletter is the newsletter of the I first attended Camp Cachalot in the summer of 1958 as a Scout with Troop 11 chartered to What’s happening with in the districts, you ask? Plenty!! But instead of the usual Klondike Derby Camp Cachalot Alumni Association. Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC in New Bedford and, with the exception of fours year of military report on the number of units and the amount of kids, here is something different. Last year, Camp Cachalot, Plymouth, MA It is published twice annually: once service in the late 60s, have been going back to camp every chance I can get. Like so many the set a record with 278 Scouts attaining Scouting’s highest rank, in the spring and once in the fall, by of you, Cachalot holds a very special place in my life. Whether it was the location where we Eagle Scout. Those Scouts and those they led gave over 33,000 hours of service to their January 22nd, 2011 the Communications Committee. could exercise our leadership or Scouting skills, or simply a place where we could get away communities. 11:00 am through 3:00pm from work or the city, walk the trails, do a little fishing, and breathe, Cachalot remains a home Winter Gathering 2011 Questions or other feedback related to away from home. What did that mean more locally? Going by the numbers, between Cachalot and Massasoit, Our Lady of Grace Church Hall The Cachaletter can be sent via email to there were 30 Eagles scout representing 18 local troops giving more than 3200 service hours Sanford Road, Westport, MA [email protected]. To be certain that current and future Scouts have the opportunity to build friendships that to their local communities. Projects included: last a lifetime and memories that stay with us forever, the Alumni Association is committed to May 27th through Editor preserving our past and building for the future. The key ingredient in doing this is membership. • Revitalization of courtyard garden and pond of Dartmouth Council on Aging Center May 30th, 2011 Dennis J. Wilkinson, II As our membership grows, so will our ability to provide support to Camp and to develop new • Built four benches for Westport Watershed Alliance Memorial Day Family Camping Weekend and exciting programs for our members. This can only be accomplished with the help of • Fix sidewalk at Mattapoisett Congregational Church Camp Cachalot, Plymouth, MA Contributors our membership. Our membership committee continues to reach out to our communities to • Organize Safety Awareness Day at Freetown State Park Peter Ashworth attract new members through press releases and informational advertisements, but the surest • Built bat boxes for the Town of Marion June 30th, 2011 Brian Bastarache way to attract new members and increase our rolls is with one–on–one contact. I ask that you • Refurbish St. Patrick’s Church hall End of 2010-2011 Membership Year Jeff Dumais take a few minutes to reflect back on those special times shared with friends at Cachalot, and • Organized a blood drive in New Bedford Karrie Dumais make an effort to contact them and invite them to join our Association. Together we can • Coordinate blood drive at St. John Neumann’s Church George Ramos build up our membership and provide the needed assistance to the Narragansett Council in • Restore buildings at Pope Park in Acushnet Vic Sylvia insuring that Camp Cachalot will be there for future generations. • Repair ledge at Acushnet Library John Woolley • Build parking area for new boat ramp for the Town of Dartmouth Finally, I would like to thank Jeff Dumais, our outgoing chairman, for guiding us over the last • Build boat ramp for the Town of Dartmouth three years. Jeff and the members of his executive committee have left a strong foundation • Construct historic marker for Judah Chase Sawmill for us to expand on, and with everyone’s help our future looks promising. • Construct Osprey platforms on Westport River on Lloyd Center grounds The Camp Cachalot • Sippican Trails Maintenance Alumni Association Feel free to contact me at [email protected] to discuss how together we can • Build owl boxes for Audubon Society Executive Committee improve our service to our members and to Cachalot, that special place that draws us all • Refurbish St. Patrick’s Church Rectory deck and Other e-Mail Contacts The Camp Cachalot Alumni Association together. • Historic Rochester Animal Compound restoration was founded in 2004 with the • Build dog park fence at Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany Victor Sylvia express purpose of supporting Camp • Clean Acushnet Community Center Association Chairman Cachalot and being a social organi- • Hold food drive for animals in Somerset [email protected] zation for the extended family of the • Clean camp site behind St. Louis de France church Camp. Anyone who has ever had any Looking Back • Clean historic cemetery in Swansea Michael McCormack involvement with Camp Cachalot, the • Create parking plan for transfer station in Westport Association Vice Chairman former Moby Dick Council, or any of Jeffrey P. Dumais, Immediate Past Chairman • Clean Quonset Air Museum [email protected] the predecessor camps or Councils is • Convert room to a school room at Holy Trinity Episcopal eligible for membership. It is a not-for- Holiday Greetings Alumni! • Fix and reseal tables at Wilbur and McMahon School Richard F. Partridge profit organization operated under • Clean and refurbish O’Neil Field Complex Treasurer the auspices of the Narragansett …and a fond farewell from your outgoing Chairman. As we look forward to a New Year and • Improve cosmetics of interior of Old Town Hall Somerset [email protected] Council, . all the mystery each day brings, it is time to look back on successes and learn from missteps. • Refurbish St. Francis CCD Center Over the past three years we have seen success in membership retention through the offering David A. Goldrick Our membership year runs from of multi-year membership options, the increased opportunities for summer program staff Maybe you have noticed these projects in your community. If you have, thank a scout. Even Secretary July 1st through June 30th, and retention through the offering of a second scholarship and the inception our Wall of Fame with all this done the greatest benefit to the community will be the leadership that these new [email protected] all membership fees contribute program, including the induction of our first class Eagle Scouts will provide to our communities, states and nation in the years ahead. directly to our endowment fund, the of honorees. We have also seen some missteps Peter W. Ashworth proceeds of which go directly towards …it is now time to open as we struggled to gain new members at the Council Representative the support of Camp Cachalot. same time as retaining current ones, struggled [email protected] our eyes to the rising to meet operating costs as the economy took its More information about the Alumni sun of a new day. toll on investments and occasionally missed out Membership Committee Association, including member- on opportunities for publicity, programming and [email protected] ship forms, back issues of The possibilities. Cachaletter, Camp history, and Staff Scholarship Information online discussion forums, can be Even more importantly, it is now time to open our eyes to the rising sun of a new day and walk [email protected] found online at our web site: briskly off into possibilities. I look forward to continuing to help the Association in whatever ways I can as we walk together into the future. Gathering 2011 Information http://www.cachalotalumni.org/ [email protected] Please welcome your new Chairman, Vic Sylvia, and his newly slated Executive Committee. We can also be reached via US I know they will be seizing on every chance they get to make this a better Association for Family Camping Information Mail at the following address: tomorrow, next week, next year, and on into the coming generations. All of it for the benefit of [email protected] Cachalot Scout Reservation and the youth this wonderful place serves through the Scouting Camp Cachalot Alumni Association program. To Submit Historical Information c/o Narragansett Council, BSA [email protected] P.O. Box 14777 Please feel free to drop a line through cachalotalumni.org to any of the Committee to lend Providence, RI 02914 your support to the Association. Other Inquiries On the cover: Wall of Fame inductee Al Hall (center) is flanked by the sons of fellow inductee L. Fred [email protected] Thanks to all you ‘men of faith and courage’! Prefontaine at our 2010 Wall of Fame induction ceremony. 2 3 Winter Gathering Returns in January Letters from Camp 2010 Staff After a Year Off in 2010, We’re Rested and Ready for 2011! George Ramos, Summer Camp Program Director Scholarship Greetings from “CSR”, Alumni members! This year was nothing short of a groovy experience for campers, staff, and Scouters alike, as Cachalot entered its 65th season of summer camp Winners At our last Winter Gathering, back in 2009, If you do plan on joining us for lunch, please operation. Understandably, it is always a challenge keeping the numbers up during a National We are again pleased to announce the winners we got together to discuss the big fire of ’64 RSVP either on the event page on our Jamboree year, not to mention when it’s Scouting’s 100th anniversary. Nonetheless, approxi- of our two Staff scholarships to members of with some of the people who were there. At Facebook group, or by visiting our web site at: mately 390 campers came to camp to enjoy our several new programs: Ca.P.S. ll, an expanded the 2010 Cachalot Scout Reservation summer our Homecoming that year, we talked a bit paintball course, a state-of-the-art “water rocket”, geocaching, tie-dying, and much more. camp staff. Award checks were presented about the immediate recovery from http://cachalotalumni.org/gathering to our scholarship recipients at the end of the fire. In 2011, we hope you’ll drop As our anniversary season ended, Cachalot bid “farewell!” to Camp Director Mike Brown, as he summer camp. in to join us (and our guest speaker) While we kick of our Wall of Fame nomina- moves on to other responsibilities. Mike came to us during a chaotic period of transition, having talk about the Restoration Committee, tion process this year, we also hope to give to tackle budgeting and staffing issues. After three years directing Cachalot, Mike has managed The $500 Thomas P. Whelan Chairman’s awhich conducted a series of events in everyone an update on what our current to bring us up to par and on the fast track to success. Camp has seen quite a few improvements, Scholarship was presented to Cachalot’s the 1970s at both Cachalot and Noquochoke thinking is on the actual, permanent Wall of to say the least, these past few years and the results are self-evident. The 2010 Camp Staff would Assistant Business Manager, Sean W. Tolland aimed at reforestation and conservation Fame itself. We’re always interested in your like to thank Mike for all he has taught us and all the hard work he invested in Cachalot. Mike of Swansea, Massachusetts. In addition to projects. ideas, too, so if you have any suggestions will continue to play a vital role in our Scouting community as Narragansett Council’s Program serving on summer camp staff, Sean is a for the Wall, or are willing to help with Director. member of Troop 24 in Swansea. He attends The 2011 Winter Gathering will take the planning or construction, be sure to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. place on Saturday, January 22nd, 2011, stop by the Gathering and chime in. With one leader exiting, another comes on board. Eric Oulette has signed on as Cachalot’s new from 11:00am through 3:00pm at Our Reservation Director. He comes to us from Camp Three Point at Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Our $250 scholarship award was presented to Lady of Grace Church in Westport, As with previous Gatherings, our Rhode Island. Eric actually joined us last minute this year as our Waterfront Director. He is also Stephen A. Mantia, of Carver, Massachusetts. Massachusetts. Along with our guest History committee will be on-hand to the District Executive for Netop. Eric was a longtime staffman at Yawgoog, having worked on Stephen was a Camp Commissioner during speaker, we’ll be doing a few other scan in photos and slides and photo- the Waterfront as a lifeguard, assisted in the CIT Corps program, and went on to become the summer camp, and is a member of Troop 48 important things at the Gathering, graph memorabilia that you bring with Assistant Camp Director and later the Camp Director. His experience at the ‘goog promises to in Carver. He is a student at the New England including: you. Our ability to scan things in will be bring fun and new ideas that will continue to make the place we know so well grow beyond our Institute of Technology. limited by the time we have available, so expectations. In just over 4 weeks, Eric captured the respect and admiration of the entire camp • Updating you on what the Association’s if you are able to scan things in yourself, staff. We are very proud and honored to welcome him to the Cachalot family. We established our staff scholarship program been up to over the last year feel free to bring them along in electronic in 2005, with a single $500 award and a goal form (CD- or DVD-recordable, USB or Firewire We would also like to wish two of our Senior Staffers the best in their futures as they head off to to fully endow the scholarship. We added a • Kicking off the nominations for our 2011 drive—contact [email protected] serve our country: Brady Hill, our Kitchen Manager, has enlisted in the National Guard; and Chad second scholarship in 2008. Since its incep- Wall of Fame inductions if you have any questions about the formats Lubertowicz, our X-Treme Scouting Director has taken a post in the Air Force. tion we have presented 9 scholarships totaling we can cope with.) The higher the resolu- nearly $4000 to members of our summer • Giving a preview of some new tion, the better. camp staff, in the hopes of helping to retain upcoming events (and some minor our skilled senior staffers from year-to-year changes to our Family Camping weekends More information about the Gathering, as they cope with the costs of higher educa- that we think you’ll like) including any late-breaking news, will be on tion. While we have endowed one scholarship the web site. If you have any questions about completely, we still have a way to go towards an • Displaying collections of Camp Cachalot • Showing off the Association’s archive of the Gathering, please drop us an email message endowment that will enable the second award Camp Noquochoke, and Scouting memora- photos and video of Cachalot at [email protected]. to pay for itself going forward. If you’d like bilia both from the alumni’s collection and to make a donation towards our scholarship from the personal collections of several of We’ll have food and drink available for lunch. The more alumni we have at the Gathering, fund, or have questions about the program, our members This year’s event is free, although we’d appre- the more fun we seem to have, so we hope Cachalot Wish List please email our Scholarship Committee at ciate a small donation if you join us for lunch, you’ll stop by and pay everyone a visit! [email protected]. to help cover costs, if you’re able. Some Requests from Our Ranger

Cachalot’s Ranger, Karrie Dumais, passed along this wish list of items they’re looking for at camp. Some of the items would be for program use, some are projects she’d like assistance with, and About Our Guest Speaker Winter Gathering 2011 others are general maintenance items. Details Everett Graviel is an Eagle Scout and long- • Refrigerator (we could even use the little dorm size) time Scouter, having served both as a Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 • Tow chain and hooks volunteer and as a Scouting professional. 11:00 am through 3:00pm • Exterior doors (preferably out swinging), insulated windows (with casement) Included among Everett’s long list of Free • Washing machine/ dryer (propane) Alumni at the Scouting accomplishments is his leadership • Water heater (electric or propane) of the Restoration Committee of Moby Dick Lunch available • Carving blanks–large pine logs (24” diameter or bigger?) Klondike Derby Council through its entire existence, from ($5 suggested donation) • Nature items–taxidermy, wasp nest, wild animal bones, antlers, a new “tree ring demo”, new 1972 through 1978. Boy-run for all but 1 of identification boards (leaf, track, sign…) those years, the Restoration Committee Our Lady of Grace Church • Spars Members of the Alumni Association’s organized over 60 units participating in 569 Sanford Road • New insulation (batting, foam board) executive committee will be heading out multiple conservation-oriented events Westport, MA 02790 • Reflective vinyl adhesive (for car decals, signs) to Cachalot on January 15th, 2011 to man at Cachalot. Its work earned a number of • Lime the warming house for the annual Klondike awards from the National Council of the Email questions to • Grass seed Derby. We’ll have the coffee on, and we’ll be BSA. Everett will be regaling us with stories [email protected] • Loam, gravel, stone…(sand?… no thank you) handing out snacks and hot chocolate while and sharing some pictures from the days of • Help with maintaining equipment providing a place for Scouts and Scouters to the Restoration Committee with us at the Register online at: • Help maintaining trails get out of the cold and warm up for a spell. Gathering. http://cachalotalumni.org/gathering If there’s anything on the list that you might be able to help with, please drop Karrie an email If you’ll be out at Cachalot for the day yourself, message at her email address, [email protected]. stop in and say hello!

4 5 betterment of Cachalot and the programs that Nominations are open right now for the 2011 April 30th, 2011. We know there are a lot of Cornerstones of Our Wall of Fame take place here. Wall of Fame induction, which will be held at people still to be honored, but we need our Homecoming in July. Information on eligi- members to let us know who they think those Our First Four Inductees Helped in Very Different Ways to Make Cachalot What It Is Today Our plans for a permanent Wall of Fame are still bility and a printable nomination form can be people are, so grab a nomination form today! ongoing, and we will be sharing our thoughts found on our web site at: July 10th 2010 was a bright, beautiful day The history of Cachalot is the history of the those who carry the traditions forward, those with you over the months to come, starting at Camp Cachalot—and the weather was people of Cachalot. who have done so much to make everyone at our Winter Gathering in January. Until we http://cachalotalumni.org/walloffame/ pretty good, too. Over fifty alumni came out in Cachalot’s family have so many wonderful establish our permanent Wall, our memorials to Cachalot that day to help us celebrate the Buildings and trees can last lifetimes. Ponds memories in our decades of history. You may to our honorees will be displayed prominently The more complete the nomination, the induction of the first four members of the and landscapes can last millennia. People, not have known who they were when they year-round here at Camp, and, going forward, better your nominee’s chances are for getting Camp Cachalot Wall of Fame, while grabbing however, last only as long as we remember were doing these things; many of those with the Wall of Fame will also be available “virtu- onto the ballot in 2011, as the Wall of Fame a few burgers and enjoying the camaraderie them. That’s what the Wall of Fame is all about: the biggest impacts on Cachalot have worked ally” in a form that can travel to our events with committee has only limited time to research of their fellow alumni. remembering those people who have helped quietly. We hope with their inclusion on the us, and for the world to see on our web site. and vet nominated individuals. Nominations shape Cachalot’s landscape, those who have Wall of Fame, everyone will know who they are must be submitted before March 15th, 2011. One of the primary goals of our Alumni helped build and preserve our buildings, or were, and what they did to make Cachalot Ballots will be made Association is to record and what it is, for as long as there is available very soon preserve the history and tradi- a Cachalot family to remember after March 15th, and tions of Camp Cachalot. them. With 2010 being the 100th voting will run until Knowing when the buildings year of Scouting in the United were built and the dates of major States, it’s an excellent time to Honoree Al Hall events is really only a small part start populating our Wall. (right) during his of Cachalot’s history. A Scout induction to the camp isn’t just a place filled with Those selected for the Wall of Wall of Fame. trees, ponds, and buildings, it’s Fame are nominated by anyone a place filled with Scouts and in the Cachalot family, and Scouters. It’s the people that elected by the membership of Presenter Brian build the buildings, and keep our Association. Our inaugural Bastarache them in good condition. It’s the class of honorees sets the bar embraces Al Hall people who plan, run, and enjoy very high for future nominees, (his Scoutmaster) the events. It’s the people who representing over one hundred after inducting Mr. swim in, fish in, and go boating years of service to Cachalot, Hall onto the Wall of on the ponds, and who care for whether it be for programs for Fame. the trees. It’s the people who Scouts, physical labor to keep the do the things that become the facility running, contributions by very traditions we’re trying to professional Scouters above and preserve. Vic Sylvia (standing) presents L. Fred Prefontaine’s Wall of beyond the ordinary, or financial Additional photos of the Wall of Fame Induction and Homecoming 2010 on page 11 Fame plaque to Mr. Prefontaine’s son, Dennis. contributions explicitly for the

Albert “Al” Hall has served on the staff of many L. Fred its people was varied: helping to Sumner H. time of the 1964 fire that destroyed The George W. P. councils of the BOY SCOUTS OF district and council events at evacuate units and fight the fire much of the forest canopy over AMERICA as are located in the Cachalot, and as both a unit leader Prefontaine of 1964, running the small resi- Morse Camp Cachalot. As the fire occurred Magee Fund Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a commissioner during the dent program at Cachalot in 1964 mere months before the opening and as, in the opinion of said summer Al was a tireless volunteer and 1965 whose sole purpose was of summer camp, something had Trustees, are performing the at camp. Along with serving as a to clear debris from camp after the to be done to ensure that a summer most efficient service, the said member of the Restoration Com- fire, serving many years on various program took place for the Scouts net income to be used, so far as mittee in the 1970s, Al was always committees, being an active in the Cachalot Council. This took possible, for the purchase and on hand at “Beaver Weekends” adviser to Agawam and Neemat the form of a joint operation of the maintenance of summer camps or tackling service projects, and Lodge, and serving as Cachalot’s Cachalot and Squanto councils at training camps in New England for spent a good deal of his own time summer camp director from 1971 Camp Squanto, and Sumner was the use of Boy Scouts.” Through the to help with plumbing projects out until 1975. He was a frequent very involved in operating this joint fund’s contributions, Mr. Magee’s at camp, whether it was replacing participant at Beaver Weekends, program, as its assistant director in name appears on buildings at toilets or completely redoing the and once led the Council’s contin- 1964 and as its director in 1965. Cachalot and other camps, and on hot water system at the shower gent to “Magee Night” competitions held house. He even came out to help in New Mexico, helping provide He returned to the newly-formed during summer camp. the ranger shut down the seasonal local Scouts with a backcountry Moby Dick Council as Scout water system at the close of sum- adventure. Executive in the late 1970s, right at Since its establishment, the Magee mer camp through much of the the height of the “Save Our Camps” Fund has contributed more money 1980s. His skills as a carpenter and cabi- campaign, with protestors on the towards the ongoing maintenance, netmaker also served Cachalot lawn of the council’s offices on his program, and expansion of Camp Mr. Hall also provided instruction well. He coordinated the construc- first day on the job! He helped to Cachalot than any other single Albert “Al” Hall, a veteran of four and leadership to a large number tion of the Trading Post, designed Sumner H. Morse served two sepa- defuse that situation and helped The George W. Magee Memorial entity, and it continues to make Scout units in the New Bedford of young men during his Scouting L. Fred Prefontaine, member the current kitchen area for the rate stints of his career as a profes- prevent the sale of Cachalot, and in Trust Fund was established upon contributions today. This money area, and a highly-decorated career. Many of Cachalot’s summer and sometime Scoutmaster of camp’s Dining Hall, and, lever- sional Scouter at Camp Cachalot, his decade-long tenure, his efforts the death in 1939 of George W. has enabled the construction and Scouter (recipient of the Silver camp staffers counted Mr. Hall Troop 1 New Bedford, began his aging his role as an instructor with with very different impact each helped to transform the Moby Dick P. Magee, the former manager of repair of many of the buildings Beaver, the Pelican Award, Scout- among their unit leaders, thanks to long service to Cachalot in 1958, New Bedford Regional Vocational time. Council and Camp Cachalot from the Boston Opera House, who left at camp, has purchased program ers Key, St. George Award, Wood his involvement with several units, and made many contributions to Technical High School, helped nearly-broke entities to financially- a substantial portion of his estate equipment, bought and repaired Badge, and a Vigil Honor member and many Scouts built their first camp, right up until his death in keep the camp supplied with tent His first service to Cachalot came sound ones. He retired, leaving to establish this permanent trust vehicles, and has recently helped of the ), has hobo stoves or got their first taste 2001. He was a recipient of many platforms, picnic tables, and other as a professional in the Cachalot a legacy of a substantial perma- fund in his name, to “distribute enable the replacement of the been a fixture at Cachalot from the of dutch oven cookery under his of Scouting’s highest awards, carpentry projects with the help of Council, in the early 1960s. Sumner nent endowment to help finance the balance of the net income of camp’s main power line in from late 1960s to the present time. He tutelage. and his service to Cachalot and his students. was employed by the Council at the Cachalot into its future. the said Trust Fund to such of the Wareham.

6 7 Family Camping for the “Other Parent” Family Camping …or, “the Great Outdoors is Not the Space Between the Car and the Mall” Changes in 2011 by Sarah Whelan as an opportunity to do the things you always bathroom. It is no fun to leave the warmth More Time for Family at Family Weekends wanted to do with your children, if you only of the tent and walk in the dark, by myself How about a merit badge for Moms who go had the time. This is your chance to make a all the way to the bathroom. But what other We’ve been holding Family Camping week- camping, even though they are terrified of the fun craft together, go on a hike, organize a option do I have? I once thought I had the ends, free to our members and their families, great outdoors? I may be a wimp, but I can’t scavenger hunt, play hide and seek, fly a kite, perfect solution, but boy was I wrong! At the since our very first year of operation. These stand bugs, pine needles on the floor, dirt go fishing, tell stories, sing songs, and make time, I had just finished potty training my two weekends are usually well-attended, and we everywhere, and no electricity. The truth is… s’mores. Use the time at camp to enjoy simply toddlers, and I had the kind of portable potty always have a good time sharing Cachalot I hate camping! being with your children. chair that allows you to pour out its contents with friends old and new. We’d love to see later on. I thought I could stay inside the tent, even more people come out and enjoy camp, That said, you will find me at Camp Cachalot Camping and Cleanliness use this potty chair throughout the night, and and we’ve been listening to feedback from our on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends simply get rid of the evidence in the morning. attendees in the hope of making these week- for the Alumni Association’s Family Camping Take my word for it. Within fifteen minutes of Unfortunately, these chairs are designed ends even more enjoyable for everyone. One events. I camp because my husband (an Eagle arriving at camp, your children will be filthy. to hold a toddler-sized bathroom visit, and thing we’ve heard over and over is that, even Scout, Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, and past I tell you this so that you won’t be surprised apparently Mom’s bladder is somewhat larger though people are interested in giving back Chairman of the Alumni Association) and my or distressed (like I was) when you find that than that. Needless to say, the potty chair to camp by helping with our optional service children absolutely love it. More importantly - your normally spotless children look as if they overflowed, and I had an embarrassing clean- projects, the projects we’ve been doing have and I remind myself of this repeatedly during haven’t bathed in weeks. up job the next morning. Moms, do not try taken a lot of time away from spending a family camping trips - camping is a family-strength- this one out for yourselves. weekend, with, well, your families. ening activity that provides the opportunity My children dig and play in the dirt of the for us to spend truly quality time together. Camp Cachalot pine forest, and they love If you, like me, cannot avoid a middle-of-the- Beginning with our upcoming Memorial Day every minute of it. While playing with friends night bathroom visit, there is something you Family Camping Weekend in 2011, we’ll no Somehow, I survive these family camping they see only twice a year, their faces are soon can do. Before you go to bed, get together sustain my family for weeks. But I have found • I have to admit that the Dust Buster was longer be conducting our organized service trips, although I have made my share of covered with not only dirt, but also smiles everything you need for a nighttime bath- that it is better to have too much than to overkill, but a small dustpan and broom projects as part of our family weekends (if embarrassing mistakes and learned some from ear to ear. I have the pictures to prove it! room trip, including a flashlight, jacket, flip- find out that you are missing something. My are a necessity for me. I can’t stand dirt and people want to volunteer to do something hard-won lessons along the way. I would like flops, and toilet paper. This will make it easier advice for parents is to bring everything you pine needles on the floor – even if it is just while they’re at camp, that’s wonderful, but not to think that my suffering has not been in You must resign yourself to the reality that for you to get to the bathroom and back in think you might need for your camping trip. a tent! required). The weekends will be unchanged vain. By sharing my stories with other parents, your children are going to get dirty at camp. your warm sleeping bag as quickly and pain- Here are a few items you simply must not otherwise: open to all of our currently–regis- I hope to encourage them to give camping a To get through this, assure yourself, as I do, lessly as possible. forget for your next camping trip: I have not yet received my merit badge for tered members and the members of their try. Here are my tips on how to survive a family that you will only be there for a few days. By camping, but I suppose I can live with that. The household, free of charge, with sites going camping trip when you would much rather all means, wash them up before eating and Sleeping Strategies • Several pairs of shoes for each person. Kids’ smiles from my children and the camaraderie first–come, first–served. We hope that the stay home: before bed, but that’s about all you can do. shoes tend to get wet, dirty, and/or lost with other families are a sufficient reward. extra time will allow you to take a longer hike The dirt won’t hurt them, and you can make There is nothing like sleeping in a tent with during camping trips. Participating in the Camp Cachalot Alumni with your kids, play another game of Frisbee Positive Attitude them soak in a hot bath the second you get your entire family. On my first camping trip, Association’s Family Camping Weekends in Tom Cullen Field, launch a few extra water– home. between my husband’s snoring and the • Two or three outfits for each day. Pack for brings families together, fosters friendships, bottle rockets, or catch an extra fish or two. For me, it is difficult to have a positive attitude sounds of the great outdoors, I thought I both warm and cold weather, as outdoor and helps ensure a continued commitment to about a family camping weekend. When our Bathroom Time would never fall asleep. Falling asleep and temperatures can vary greatly - even in the Scouting. What about giving back? It’s clear that our campsite is finally set-up and I look around at staying asleep while camping come easily to summer months. members want to do that, too, so our service our third-world-style accommodations, I have There are functioning bathrooms for you to some, but they are more difficult for others I hope other Moms will be brave enough and projects aren’t going away, we’re just moving to fight the urge to run for the car and attempt use at Camp Cachalot. Be aware, however, (like me). If you are not used to sleeping • Bathing suits, towels, and sand toys. Even inspired enough to try camping with their them to a different weekend. We’re still an escape. that these facilities will not be as clean or well outside, earplugs are an absolute necessity. if it is too cold for Mom to go swimming, families. You can use some of the strategies working out all of the details (which will be stocked as your bathroom at home. Always Using earplugs will block out the sounds of the kids will still enjoy playing at Camp outlined above and learn from my camping made available on our web site and in the What works for me is to “make it about the bring your own toilet paper with you to camp the forest and the other campers and help Cachalot’s beach. Plus, the sand toys mistakes. Your children will appreciate your spring Cachaletter) but we’re currently looking kids.” I don’t enjoy camping, so I remind - and remember to take it with you every time you get some rest. can also be used to play in the dirt at the efforts, and your family will benefit as a result. at a service project day at Cachalot, before the myself that this is not why I am there. I focus you go! campsite! First, adopt a truly positive attitude about it, start of camp, like the old “Beaver Weekends” on making sure that my children and husband Be prepared and then go ahead and experience camping of the 1980s. We’ll pick a project, and the plan have a great time and that we spend time Another challenge for a Mom is the middle-of- • Towels and face cloths – one per person per together with your family. Perhaps when is to provide lunch for everyone who comes together as a family. the night bathroom trip. I know I am not alone The Boy Scout motto definitely applies to day. your children say, “I can’t wait to go camping out to work. There are still a few things to work on this one. No matter what I do, I have to get Family Camping Weekends. Much to my together!” You can say, “Me too!” And almost out (will it be a single day or will camping be My advice to other parents is to view camping up at least once during the night to go to the husband’s chagrin, I pack enough stuff to • Plastic bags to store dirty laundry and wet mean it. Hope to see you at the next Family made available, what the project will be, et clothes. Camping Weekend! cetera) but look for more information at the Winter Gathering and on the web site in late • Entertainment for yourself and your chil- Sarah is a mom and a freelance writer from Winter. Note that attendance at Family week- dren. I usually bring books, sports equip- Connecticut (and just happens to be married ends and the service day are completely unre- ment (balls, hula hoops, jump ropes, base- to a former Chairman of our association who lated: members are welcome to attend just the ball bat, etc), and art supplies to keep really enjoys our family weekends). We thank her Family weekend, just the service day, or both. everyone busy and happy. for sharing her perspective and advice for other parents who might be similarly apprehensive We think this is the best of both worlds: more • Folding camping chairs, so you can be about coming out for a weekend at Cachalot! family time on Family weekends, and an extra comfortable while sitting by the campfire, day to spend out at Cachalot giving just a little reading by yourself, or sitting and social- back to the “place we know so well”. We hope izing with friends. you’ll agree!

• Band aids for the inevitable bumps and Information on Family Camping can always be scrapes. The photos accompanying the article are a few found on our web site at: scenes from our 2010 Memorial Day Family • Bug spray and sunscreen for the adults and Camping weekend. http://cachalotalumni.org/familycamping/ the kids. 8 9 Wild Cachalot More Scenes from Homecoming 2011 Nature Caught in the Act Celebrating Our First Class of Inductees on the Cachalot Wall of Fame

During our last Memorial Day Family Camping of Scouts and shotgun blasts, Brian collected Brian plans to bring these turtles back out to weekend, a few of the kids spotted a painted the eggs to incubate away from camp (Brian camp to be released during this coming year’s Honoree Al Hall talking with other alumni Some of the alumni in attendance listening to the semi-annual turtle digging in the sand in the Bill Joyce is the director of the Natural Resources Memorial Day Family Camping weekend, after his induction onto the Wall of Fame Association update Memorial Flag Field, and came running over Management program at Bristol County and will take the opportunity to explain to to inform Brian Bastarache, who coinciden- Agricultural School and is well-versed in such the alumni kids (and interested alumni) a bit tally had recently contributed a Wild Cachalot matters). more about the process. In the meantime, he’s column talking about the types of turtles at passed along a photo (below) of one of the camp. The turtle was in the process of burying A number of these eggs have hatched out eggs during incubation. her just-laid eggs in the sand. She wasn’t the young turtles already, which Brian is “head- only one, either, as more eggs were spotted starting”. In other words, by incubating, Remember, Brian is a trained professional with being buried in the sand on the shotgun hatching, and starting to let the turtles experience doing exactly this. It is illegal to range. Since the turtle would then leave the mature a bit in a safe environment, we’ll be possess many wild turtle species in Massachusetts eggs to hatch out on their own, and the loca- able to release these turtles back into the wild without a permit. Be a citizen scientist. Report tion of the two clutches presenting signif- environs of Cachalot a little better protected turtle sightings at www.turtleatlas.org icant risks not only from natural egg pred- from predation and more likely to survive to ators like skunks but also the trampling feet adulthood.

Turtle eggs in moist sand, soon after collecting the eggs from the location where they were laid. The eggs were kept in a container surrounded by moist sand to keep the temperature warm The crowd at the beginning of the Wall of Fame induction enough and to prevent the shells from ceremony at the William Joyce Memorial Flag Field. drying out.

(Photo courtesy Dennis Wilkinson)

Dennis Wilkinson (L) and Ed Tavares (R) during the Wall of Fame Induction, showing one of the award plaques to the audience

Members of L. Fred Prefontaine’s family (seated) listen in during Mr. Prefontaine’s induction onto the Wall of Fame

One of the collected turtle eggs in late June 2010, lit from behind to show the developing turtle inside the shell.

(Photo courtesy Brian Bastarache) All of our Homecoming and Wall of Fame photos come courtesy of Cachalot alumni John Woolley. Check out his photography online at http://www.johnwoolleyphotography.com/

10 11 Share this Newsletter! Know Other Cachalot Alumni? Help Us Make Sure They Know About the Association!

We know they’re out there–fellow Cachalot when they went to summer camp, whether call it “going green”–we hear that’s all the rage alumni who don’t know about the Alumni it was the 1940s, 1960s, or the 2000s, to tell these days). Association just yet. We might even know their history. We need those people who who they are. We just don’t know how to get packed into the 21 Club on cold January week- If you’re really feeling generous, give them in touch with them. ends, braving the cold for another weekend at their own membership in the Association as a Cachalot. gift for their birthday or some other occasion. But some of our members just might. So, if you know another alumni who isn’t For you super-ambitious types out there, we’re Many of our goals as an association depend already a member, what can you do? always looking for extra people to help out on us finding all those other alumni: the ones on our Membership committee. For anything who may not be involved with Scouting any Simple: once you’re done reading it, share this related to membership in the Association, more; the ones who have moved out of the newsletter with them. whether it’s to update your own information, area; the ones who don’t hear us on the radio pass along the name of another interested or who haven’t found us on the Internet. We Coming out to one of our events? Invite them alumnus, or volunteering to help out the need people who remember the people along! Nearly all of our events are free, so Membership committee, you can drop us an who should be on our Wall of Fame. We need filling the spare seats in your car with friends email at [email protected]. people to share the traditions they celebrated will make the ride out more fun (plus, you can

Camp Cachalot Alumni Association c/o Narragansett Council, BSA P. O. Box 14777 East Providence, RI 02914