05/21/2026
Cub Scout Pack 428 Wraps Up the Year
with Campout at Avondale
Cub Scout Pack 428 held its final campout of the year at Camp Avondale in pleasant, breezy weather. Families arrived throughout the afternoon and took part in the annual nature walk, games, shared meals, an evening flag retirement and badge ceremony, overnight camping, and a morning breakfast followed by cleanup. Pack meetings will resume in August when school is back in session.
Camp Avondale provided warm but comfortable conditions, with plenty of shade and a refreshing breeze from the lake. As families continued to arrive, campsites were set up and a fire was started to roast hot dogs for lunch. The annual nature walk was led by Bruce Hammatt, who guided Scouts and several parents in identifying tree species, distinguishing plants, and observing local wildlife. The walk lasted about an hour and a half and covered roughly half a mile of trails at Camp McGee site.
Before dinner, Scouts played gaga ball and enjoyed free play around camp. Parents, along with Angie Murray, helped prepare the evening meal. Dinner featured ziti pasta with shrimp and cheese sauce, served with salad and bread. Dessert included s’mores, which is always a campfire requirement, as well as peach cobbler cooked over the fire. After sunset, one of the fathers built up the campfire for the end-of-year ceremony.
During the ceremony, three American flags were retired according to Scout tradition, with Webelos and Bears taking part in the observance. Scouts quietly and reverently read their assigned scripts. Two Scouts folded each flag in the traditional manner and handed it to the young lady leading the group to place on the fire. Badge awards recognized the Scouts’ achievements from the past nine months, beginning with the Lions (kindergartners), followed by Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos. There were no Arrow of Light Scouts this year—the first time in many decades—because two Scouts did not renew and one moved away. Even so, the remaining group was eager and excited to receive their badges. After a full day of activities, everyone turned in for the night. The weather remained pleasant and made for great sleeping conditions.
The next morning, a fire was started to heat biscuits and coffee was put on to perk. Breakfast included Manda sausage, grits, eggs, and fried biscuits coated in powdered sugar—a beignet-style favorite of the kids. By 11 o’clock, tents were down and gear was packed. Before leaving, the Scouts conducted a police patrol to pick up trash so they could “leave nothing but our footprints.” Pack meetings will resume in August when school is back in session.
