Two hundred six Scouts and adult leaders participated in Circuit Rider 33, a camporee filled with activities Sept. 8-10 at West Virginia University’s Jackson’s Mill, near Weston.
On Friday evening, Sept. 8, Scout troops began to check at Jackson’s Mill for the Circuit Rider, a camporee sponsored by the Methodist Men.
Scouts camped on the mill’s big green lawn and participated in a variety of activities on Saturday that ranged from throwing a tomahawk to scaling a climbing wall to learning how to fly remote-controlled airplanes. About a dozen Scouts and adult leaders attended Bible classes that were taught by Rev. George Webb, pastor of the Humphreys United Methodist Church in Sissonville.
Classes on fire suppression and tree identification were offered throughout the day by Mitchell Gruver of Buckhannon, a forester with the West Virginia Division of Forestry. Classes on drug awareness and an explanation of the equipment carried on the sheriff’s cruiser were offered by Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard and Chief Deputy John Schultz.
Late in the day, Scouts from four troops participated in a Dutch oven cook-off that featured dessert recipes. A pumpkin surprise cooked by Troop 40 from Bridgeport took first place, earning the troop a new Dutch oven.
Sandra Steiner Ball, the resident and presiding bishop of the West Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference, participated in many of the weekend’s activities.
Everyone who attended the events received a patch honoring the bishop that was designed by Steve Herron.
Steven Scheid, director of the Center for Scouting Ministries at the General Commission on United Methodist Men in Nashville, also was with the scouts during the weekend.
The Scouts and Methodist men joined together Saturday evening for a dinner at the Mt. Vernon Dining Hall provided by the Methodist men, followed by a concert by the New Diesel Trio. The trio is composed of Pam Kennedy of Taylor County and Jarrod DeVault and Greg Mason of Fairmont. During an intermission, each of the three female Scout troops affiliated with the BSA who attended Circuit Rider were awarded a free tent by the Methodist men.
Bishop Steiner Ball led a Sunday morning worship service. Pastor Gregory Godwin was service worship leader and communion celebrant. Godwin is a retired elder in the United Methodist Church and the resident chaplain at the Scout’s Summit Bechtel Reserve near Glen Jean.
Scouts served as chaplain aides and received special patches designed by Steve Herron. The offering collected during the service — $577 — will help fund scholarships for Scouts who want to attend future Jamborees.
Circuit Rider photos taken by Bill Eades of Beckley are posted online at UMM CIRCUIT RIDER 33 9/9/23 & 9/10/23 | Flickr. Photos taken by Pastor Kerry Bart of the Epworth United Methodist Church, Ripley, are posted online at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAU4xG. Eades and Bart are members of the West Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference’s Communications Team.
For more information contact: George Hohmann g.hohmann48@gmail.com (304) 419-1916
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