: : Our main activity this year was our trip to the United States of America. This was a Regional camp with troops from Bandon, Glanmire,Togher, St Peter and Pauls and Ballinora taking part. The entire party consisted of 200 Scouts and Leaders with 51 of us from Bandon. The first two weeks were spent camping at Camp John H Ware 3rd. This is a BSA camp site and is part of the Horseshoe Scout Reservation in Pennslyvania. Week one was spent enjoying the programme on site with most scouts qualifying for Merit Badges in Archery, Rifle , Shotgun, swimming, Basketry, Woodcarving, Art, and many more subjects. On the middle Sunday we held an all Irish day. The menu for the day was traditional Irish food. WE had Hurling and Football, Camóige and ladies football and at night we had a Céilí Mór.
Week two was spent touring to places as far a field as Philadelphia; Baltimore; Strasbourg in Lancaster County,and Hershey Park. Very many interesting and exciting places were visited. At the end of two weeks, when everyone else went home, the Bandon group went to New York where we stayed for three nights. Our accomodation was in Jazz on The Park Hostel right next to Central Park West. This must be the friendliest and most welcoming Hostel in New York as we were treated like old friends by Mr. Jazz Jordan and his staff. During our New York trip we visited the Statue of Liberty,St Patricks Cathedral, The Empire State building, The Natural History Museum and many more places of interest. A massive shopping trip to Woodbury Commons outlet Centre was one of the highlights of this visit. This was one of the most adventureous and exciting trips ever undertaken by our Troop and will be remembered by our scouts for years to come.
The Irish colour party for evening retreat.
A view of the Dining Hall.
John Reilly shows off a black rat snake to some scouts.
Irish night and the Bandon set dancers take the floor for shoe the donkey